The Jericho 941: An Iron for Space Cowboys

The Jericho 941 is one of the most iconic CZ75 copies. It bridges the gap between old school style and modern function. This pistol was made in Israel from parts of the Italian Tanfoglio plant. It quickly outgrew its original purpose as a sidearm for the Israeli government forces. It became one of the most popular wonder nine variants on Earth, inspiring a lot of clones. Its fascinating history touches on the end of the Cold War, the caliber-conversion craze in the ’90s, and is finally immortalized in an iconic piece media. Some variants are still available today, making the Jericho 941 a viable option for those who refuse to give up DA/SA handguns. Both magazines can be interchanged between them in their original 9mm configurations, as well as some other small internal components. The Jericho 941 is named after the West Bank’s ancient city. It was created by Israeli Military Industries in 1990 to meet the need for a new sidearm for the Israeli government forces. The wide range of Israeli surplus handguns sold on the U.S. markets is evidence of Israel’s use of a variety of small arms since its inception. Hi Powers, CZs, and Sigs that you see for sale are likely surplus. This is due to the proliferation of Jericho pistols through the Israeli military. Jericho 941 parts are actually made in Italy at Tanfoglio, where TZ-75 clones from the CZ-75 have been manufactured for many years. The original Czech pistol was well-known and loved by many Israelis, who had previously used other versions. Although the exact details are not clear, it is known that the Israeli government required that their new sidearm have some Israeli origin. IMI fulfilled this requirement by assembling and finishing guns in Israel. Tanfoglio was only responsible for the prefabricated parts. Photo: Wikipedia.941 Design PointsThe contract went smoothly and the Jericho-941 was in service with the Israeli military, police, and other government forces in 1990. A silver Jericho-941 F is in service with the Israeli Border Police. Photo: Wikipedia.941 Design pointsWhile the Jericho 941 mechanically is identical to the CZ-751, there are some differences that can affect the handling. The most obvious change was in the pistol’s exterior appearance. It replaced the CZ’s hi-powered profile with one that looked more like the IMI Desert Eagle. The gun was over half a pound heavier due to this change. This change may not be appreciated by people who carry a gun all day. However, it improved the gun’s ability to absorb recoil. While this may not seem like a significant issue when shooting 9mm, there were other calibers that made it necessary. The Jericho 941 has polygonal rifling, which is not the same as the CZ-75. They are both DA/SA wonder 9s that use a Browning tilting barrel, linkless cam shortrecoil action, derived primarily from the Hi Power. Both pistols feature the “internal rail” system, which allows the slide to ride inside the frame and not outside. This change has the advantage that it reduces bore offset, which can reduce recoil and improve accuracy. However, it also reduces how much space one can grab onto the slide. Some people find the slide too small to grip comfortably, while others find it worth the tradeoff. It’s all personal preference. There have been many variations of the Jericho 941 over the years. These variants include changes in the caliber, safety style, and frame material. Since its introduction in 1990, the Jericho 941 has been renamed many times. This version was known as the Jericho 941 R. Shortly afterward, the 941 F was introduced. The only differences between the 941 R and the 941 F were the removal of the decocker function and the relocation of the safety to its frame. Versions have been produced in both compact and semi-compact configurations. They come with a steel or polymer frame with chambering options that range from 9mm to 9.40 S&W to 1.45 ACP. Picatinny rails were also introduced to later generations. The most recent variants were made from both steel-framed and polymer-framed parts. They are still imported from IWI (formerly IMI). A modern, polymer-framed Jericho 941. This round, called.41 Action Express or.41 AE was very similar to.40 S&W, but it lost the battle for larger cartridges in 9mm-sized guns. It had a 9mm-sized, rebated rim that made it possible to convert a 9mm handgun into.41AE by simply swapping the barrel, magazine, and guide rod/recoilspring. Jerichos came in kits that included the standard 9mm variant pistol and all the accessories necessary to convert it into.41 AE. These kits can fetch quite a bit on the used market today, mainly because they are attractive to buyers who appreciate their interesting history. Photo: Wikipedia.Jericho 941’s Cultural Legacy. Much to the dismay of many who treasure old-school Jerichos because of their history or functionality in particular, recent years have seen a rare explosion of an entirely new kind of collector–the anime enthusiast. Fans of Cowboy Bebop, the 1998 classic. This show follows a group of bounty hunters in a dystopian future. It is a cult favorite that is still enjoyed by many, even those who don’t normally watch Japanese cartoons. The show is heavily influenced by Western themes and John Woo movies. It features a lot of animated shootouts with iconic firearms that are animated in incredible detail. Spike Spiegal, the show’s main character is a Jericho 941R model. He carries it in all 26 episodes. The K.B.I. import mark. Photo: IMFDBThe animators of the show displayed a level and detail that is rare in the industry. They even went so far as to include historical import marks on the Jericho’s frame. Fans of the show have been buying every 941 R they can find for many years, causing an increase in their prices on the used market. You might find an old Jericho 941 with slide-mounted safety, no rail, and a K.B.I. If you find an old Jericho 941 with the slide-mounted safety, no rail and a K.B.I., it is likely that someone will pay a lot for it. Although anime isn’t for everyone, there’s one anime that’s worth the effort. Regardless of their unlikely fame, Jerichos remain one of the most charming and soft-shooting wonder nines. They are an excellent choice for anyone looking for a DA/SA-9mm handgun. One thing is certain when you buy an original full-size steel model: They weigh more than two pounds.
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