You have seen this before, back in 2017. It looks like a nice update to the platform, so I’m glad they’re bringing it over. Hopefully IWI will be releasing a version with a factory optics cut.
Tag Archives: jericho
The IMI Magen-1
So, today, I’ve got something VERY special for you. Courtesy of reader Marcin at POLARMS, I am pleased to show you pictures of a true unicorn: an IMI Magen-1. The Magen-1 has been a real mystery to me. There is a single reference to it online, with basically no useful information other than “it’s 9mm”. Well, now we’ve got pictures, and they tell a lot more of the story. More after the break!
The Jericho B Revealed
I’ve previously referenced the Jericho B as being a bit of a mystery, but thanks to Marcin at POLARMS (which is, well, in Poland), I am very pleased to present to you pictures of the production – or possibly pre-production! – version. As I had previously guessed, the “transitional” Barak is VERY similar to this gun – it just has a different slide design in front.
You can find his photos after the jump.
Magazine Compatibility
A reader recently asked me to give the low-down on magazine compatibility vis a vis the Jericho. I’ll go a step further for you, and finally put a bunch of Internet misconceptions to bed based on personal experience.
The Israelis mostly made two types of guns:
Tanfoglio full-size, small frame: BUL Cherokee (gen 1 and gen 2), BUL Storm, all full-size and semi-compact Jerichos
Tanfoglio compact-size, small frame: BUL Storm Compact, Jericho Compact
Read on for my findings, plus some information about BUL M5 magazine compatibility.
Racking that Jericho slide
I was looking at a review of the new IWI-US imported Jericho over on LooseRounds, and noticed that the author had a very interesting comment about it:
… the action and slide of the Jericho sit tight inside the frame and as a side effect, reveal little of the slide itself for weapon manipulation. Unlike say, my square Glock which gives me lots of real estate for racking and manipulation, the Jericho gives much less purchase. Consider this a negative if forced to manipulate the weapon when wet or in slippery conditions.
Fair criticism, of course. IMI apparently took this to heart when they designed the Barak, which has the large, easy-to-grab, and ugly rear sight “hump”.
But… this is also specifically a problem with the newest generation of Jerichos. The sights on the new imports are of the “snag-free” variety. However, if you look at the older IMI guns, they’ve got a much different design – very vertical, thick, and “snaggy”. The advantage is that the old style sights make the slide much easier to manipulate. You simply grab the top of the slide and push back against the rear sight.
Want to be a real operator and do a one-handed-against-the-table slide manipulation? The old-style sights were awesome for that. In fact, the old-style sights were pretty great in general, so I’m not sure why they changed them. Snag-free isn’t everything.
The BUL Storm
Historically, BUL Transmark’s third pistol line was the BUL Storm. Arguably, it’s the least known line of their pistols in the US, excepting perhaps the new SAS line (which hasn’t gotten very much play in the US yet). The Storm is a straight-out Tanfoglio TZ-75 clone, which is a slightly modified clone of the CZ-75.
Clever readers will note that this is pretty much the same situation as the Jericho, which is a clone of the Tanfoglio as well. What do I think of the Storm versus the Jericho? Read on.
Want a compact Israeli handgun? Buy soon.
While reviewing the product catalogs from Magnum Research and IWI-US, I noticed that neither of them are going to be importing the “compact” versions of either the BDE III or the Jericho. Perhaps they don’t feel these guns can compete in the concealed-carry marketplace? Assuming that Magnum Research drops the BDE II line, there will no longer be an option for a compact-size Jericho on the market.
Battle Ready International, however, did mention to me that they were trying to import the BUL M-5 Ultra-X, so there may be some hope in the future. The BUL M-5 Ultra-X will no doubt be expensive, but it is arguably the best choice out there for an “officer”-size double stack 9mm 1911.
Please note, though, that MR and IWI-US will both be releasing “semi-compact” guns that feature a shorter barrel/slide with the same-sized grip. These are perfectly fine guns, but many find them less usable for concealed carry due to the long(er) grip.
IWI-US website updated
The IWI-US website has been updated with the new Galil ACE, Uzi Pro pistol, and Jericho pistol models. No surprises as far as I can see.
The law enforcement section has listings for the Negev LMG (including short barrel config) and the Uzi Pro SMG, because, as you know, law enforcement really needs access to light machineguns. Again, nothing new, albeit the Uzi Pro section does a nice job of showing it off.
Tavor Prototypes
TheFirearmBlog has a great post about the original prototype designs for the Tavor. Versia Military Design has designed a few clever items, including the Jericho B, and I recommend poking through their gallery and case studies if you’re interested in their work. Alas, no hidden gems – their redesign of the Tavor has been floating around for a while, and looks a bit impractical for full production.
The Hebrew Hammer 