The Jericho 941 is a double-action/single-action semi-automatic pistol developed by Israel
Military Industries (now: Israel Weapon Industries) that was launched in 1990.
The original Jericho 941 was modeled on the well-respected CZ-75 pistol designed and
produced by Česká zbrojovka (CZ) of the Czech Republic and built using parts supplied by
the Italian arms house Tanfoglio, which had been making their own CZ-75 clones. Using a
well-tested design allowed IMI to avoid the teething problems most new pistol designs
experience, and subcontracting much of the basic fabrication work to Tanfoglio allowed
IMI to quickly and economically put into production a pistol that would have enough
Israeli content to satisfy government contract requirements.
While the R-versions of Jericho 941 feature a combined safety/decocker (the decocking
lever also acts as a safety and remains on "safe" when actuated), the decocker version of the
CZ-75 (CZ-75BD) features a simple decocker (the pistol is always ready to fire in doubleaction mode when decocked). The barrel of the CZ-75 is traditionally rifled, while the
Jericho 941 features a polygonal barrel, furthermore the Jericho 941 is substantially
heavier. These differences translate into substantial differences in the condition in which
the gun is carried. Magazines for the CZ-75 and Tanfoglio T95 will function in the Jericho
941.
One innovation by IMI was a new, much "hotter" cartridge, the .41 Action Express (see
below) to go along with the Jericho 941. The difference between 9mm and .41 AE is the
same as .44 Magnum and .50 AE. The AE bullets have rebated rims which are the same
diameter as the less powerful rounds, but the case is wider, providing more power. This
allows these pairs of calibers to be used in the same firearm with only a change of barrel,
recoil spring and magazine.
The .41 AE was less commercially successful than the 10 mm, and was soon discontinued.
Experience with heavily loaded rounds gave IMI a considerable lead, however, in
chambering for the soon-to-be successful .40 S&W and also allowed the Jericho to "upchamber" to the very popular .45 ACP. The Jericho 941 design has been modified to
include accessory rails on the frame for mounting lasers or flashlights, a feature found on
many current-generation semi-automatic handguns.
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