Desert Eagle
Summary
| Country | 🇮🇱 Israel |
| Category | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Manufacturer | Israel Military Industries & Magnum Research Inc. |
Technical specifications
| Desert Eagle | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 20 - 30 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | .357 Magnum (9 x 33 mm), .44 Magnum (11 x 33 mm) and .50 Action Express (12,7 x 32,6 mm) |
| Magazine | 7 rounds |
| Length | 375 mm (14.8 in) |
| Weight | 2.05 kg (4.5 lb) |
| Range | 200 m (656 ft) |
Description
Magnum Research Inc. (MRI) initiated the design and development of the Desert Eagle pistol. The design was refined, and initial manufacturing was performed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) until 1995. Manufacturing then shifted to Saco Defense in Maine, before returning to IMI in 1998. IMI later commercialized its small arms division as Israel Weapon Industries. Production relocated to MRI's facility in Pillager, Minnesota, starting in December 2009. Magnum Research was acquired by Kahr Arms in 2010. The design origin traces to a US patent application for a gas-actuated pistol filed in January 1983 by Bernard C. White and Arnolds Streinbergs, establishing the basic layout. A refined version, developed by IMI Systems for production, was patented in December 1985 and became the production model.
The Desert Eagle is a single-action, gas-operated, semi-automatic pistol. It utilizes a gas-operated ejection and chambering mechanism, a design more common in rifles. When fired, gases vent from the barrel into a tube, pushing a piston connected to the slide rearward, causing the bolt to rotate and unlock. The rotating bolt has three radial locking lugs and resembles the M16 rifle bolt. This gas operation enables the use of powerful cartridges like .50 Action Express. Downsides include its large size and potential issues with unjacketed lead bullets clogging the gas port. The pistol has a manual safety on the slide that locks the firing pin. Chambering can be changed by replacing the barrel, bolt assembly, and magazine. Common barrel lengths are 6 inches and 10 inches. Mark XIX barrels have integral scope mounting bases. It is fed by detachable magazines holding nine rounds (.357 Magnum), eight (.44 Magnum), or seven (.50 Action Express). The barrel features polygonal rifling. Intended uses include hunting, target shooting, and silhouette shooting.
Variants include the discontinued Marks I and VII and the current Mark XIX. Key features of the Mark I include:
- Steel, stainless steel, or aluminum alloy frames
- Differences in safety lever, slide catch size, and shape
The Mark VII introduced an adjustable trigger, retrofittable to Mark I pistols. Both Marks I and VII were available in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum; the Mark VII also in .41 Magnum. Their barrels featured a 3/8 inch dovetail rail. Later Mark VII models offered in .50 Action Express had a 7/8 inch Weaver-pattern rail, leading to the Mark XIX. Barrel lengths varied by caliber.
The Mark XIX is produced in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .429 DE, and .50 Action Express, and offered in various finishes. Limited numbers were produced in .440 Cor-Bon. Mark XIX barrels are typically 6 or 10 inches. Most current Mark XIX models have Weaver rails on the barrel tops; some have ported barrels or under-barrel Picatinny rails. A California-approved Mark XIX version features an automatic firing pin block and a two-slot Weaver rail.