Bul Impact

     Notes: The company of Bul Transmark was founded in 1990 by a group of gunsmiths and shooters who have experience in both military and competitive areas.  They do not often sell their products in the US, due to the restrictions of the Brady Gun Bill (though this, of course, may change in the future with the demise of the Bill this year).  The Impact is one of these pistols; it is a polymer-frame weapon also known as the Impact Hi-Cap due to the size of its magazines.  The weapon has multiple safeties, including an automatic firing pin safety and a manual safety catch; in addition, the weapon can be locked with a key that prevents any part of the mechanism from working.  The Impact is relatively small weapon, despite the magazine capacity; a variant known as the Impact Longslide has a more normal barrel length.

     In 2002, Bul began marketing an improved version of the Impact, called the Cherokee.  Though designed primarily for military and police use (they are, in fact, used by several military and police units worldwide), they are also having minor sales success on the civilian market.  Like the Impact, the Cherokee uses a modified Browning operation, and most of the design changes have to do with the use of higher-strength polymers in the construction and a more ergonomic shape.  Original production Cherokees were “one size fits all,” but starting in 2006, more improvements were made.  The Cherokee now comes in a standard frame and the “G-Frame” Cherokee, which uses a wider grip for shooters with large hands.  (A by-product is that the G-Frame versions can also accept a shoulder stock, attacked to a hole in the bottom of the grip. The standard model does not have this hole, nor is the grip wide enough to put such a hole in it.)  In addition, a MIL-STD-1913 rail was molded into the dust cover of the 2006 Cherokees.  There is also Cherokee Compact; although G-Frame versions exist of the Compact, the Compact still cannot accept a shoulder stock.  Currently, Cherokees are chambered only for 9mm Parabellum; no word has been given on whether or not other chamberings will be made available in the future.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Cherokee does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Bul M-5

     Notes: The M-5 is a 1911-type pistol on steroids, designed to be equally useful as a combat pistol and a competition pistol (the M-5 IPSC actually passes the rules for Limited and Standard IPSC classes).  It has a frame of Xanex synthetic material, and is available in several calibers.  The trigger pull is adjustable, and has an adjustable rear sight.  On the M-5 IPSC, the front and the back of the slide have cocking grip grooves, and there is an ambidextrous safety catch.  The magazine catch is enlarged, and the magazine well is beveled to facilitate quick reloading.  The magazines that are delivered with the M-5 IPSC are chromed.

     The M-5 Modified is a more normal sort of pistol; however, it is still equipped with an Optima 2000 optical sight on the slide in place of the rear sight for quick target acquisition.  The M-5 Modified has an ambidextrous safety, and a frame made of Xanex synthetic material.  The magazine catch is enlarged, and the magazine well is beveled.  The trigger is adjustable, though not to the degree that the M-5 IPSC’s trigger is. 

     The M-5 Target appears to be a long version of the M-1911; however, it has a Xanex synthetic frame, Aristocrat adjustable rear sight, and a polished stainless steel slide.  The safety is normally on the left slide, but can easily be converted into an ambidextrous safety.  The trigger is adjustable in the same manner as the M-5 Modified.  The M-5 Target is perhaps the most “normal” of the M-5 series.

     The M-5 Ultimate Racer is just the opposite; it is the most “tricked out” of the M-5 series.  It has a large compensator at the muzzle of the weapon, a slide that is partly open to reduce weight, a scope rail, an enlarged magazine release, an ambidextrous safety, and a beveled magazine well.  The trigger is adjustable in the same manner as the M-5 Modified and M-5 Target.  The M-5 Ultimate Racer comes with an optical sight included in the cost of the weapon, but other optics can be mounted.

     The M-5 Government is sort of a melding of the M-5 and 1911 designs; it looks like an evolutionary update of the M-1911A1. The frame is also of Xanex  It is a full-sized pistol, with a 5-inch match-grade barrel, and as with the rest of the M-5 line, available in several chamberings. The slide is stainless steel, with low-profile front and rear sights. The Commander is, as the name suggests, a commander-sized version of the Government, with a 4.25-inch match-grade barrel.  Despite the Commander-sized slide and barrel, the frame is full-sized. The Street Comp is the same pistol, but ported, and the Jet is the same pistol, but with an actual muzzle brake tipping the barrel and slide.

     The M-5 is also sold in the US under the Charles Daly name.

Bul Storm

     Notes: The Storm is Bul’s first all-steel pistol, i.e., it does not have a polymer frame.  This was a response to fans of Bul who liked their pistols, but who wanted a non-polymer, non-light alloy frame. Finishes are Blue, Chrome, and Two-Tone; however, the polymer grip panels are uniformly black (and stippled sides, backstrap, and frontstrap).  It is otherwise similar to the Impact. The Storm also comes in a compact version, with a 3.85-inch barrel, as opposed to the Storm’s 4.75-inch barrel. Both have external extractors.  Like other Bul designs, the barrel is match-quality.

IMI Barak

     Notes:  Called the SP-21 in the US, the Barak is a modern polymer pistol that is ergonomically shaped and described as a pleasure to shoot.  The front of the trigger guard is recurved for the index finger of the off hand.  The controls are ambidextrous.  The mechanism is an updated pattern based on the Czech CZ-75 pistol, though the recoil mechanism is more reminiscent of the Desert Eagle series.  The sights are 3-dot, and are dovetailed so that they can be removed and replaced with other sighting accessories. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon is rare, but available, in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

IMI Desert Eagle

     Notes: Designed and built in Israel, the Desert Eagle was the first commercial automatic pistol to fire the .357 magnum cartridge. The Desert Eagle is manufactured to be scope-ready. It is a large pistol that uses a heavy rotating bolt operation, unusual in a pistol.  These weapons are popular among civilians, particularly in the US, but have not found much acceptance in military or police circles.  (Special operations use is rumored.)

     There are other versions of the Desert Eagle, but they are built almost exclusively for export and sold primarily by the US company of Magnum Research.  (Magnum Research is also licensed as the primary distributor and exporter of the Desert Eagle and other IMI products worldwide.)  These include the Mark VII Desert Eagle, which is chambered for .44 Magnum and uses a 6 or 10-inch barrel.  The Mark XIX also uses a 6 or 10-inch barrel; the Mk XIX, however is chambered for .50 Action Express.  The Mark XIX also comes in a Component System, which includes a receiver with changeable barrels in a kit allowing it to use 5, 6, or 10-inch barrels.  (The 5-inch barrel version is identical to the standard Desert Eagle in .50 Action Express for game purposes.)  Both the Mark VII and Mark XIX are available in a bewildering variety of standard and special finishes, ranging from simple black oxide to tiger-striped!  (There is even one version plated in 24-karet gold!)

     Latest iterations of the Desert Eagle add a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the slide.  For this version, add 1% to the price, and 0.01 kg.  For game performance purposes, it is otherwise identical to the standard Desert Eagle.

     New for 2016 is the Desert Eagle XIX L5; L stands for lightweight.  Available chambered in .357 and .44, the L5 is surprisingly light for a Desert Eagle, though still a hefty pistol.  The weight difference is primarily due to a frame of anodized aluminum alloy, though the slide, barrel, and muzzle also have lightening cuts (they are not ports, however, though the muzzle is ported).  The slide and barrel are carbon steel, though some of the internal parts are aluminum alloy or light steel alloy. For the most part, the controls are more ergonomic, though the ambidextrous slide release requires two hands to operate due to its position well back on the slide.  The grip is wrapped in a soft-touch Hogue rubber grip with finger grooves.  The L5, however, is not a pistol for those with small hands, due to the size of the grip.  The L5 has an extended beavertail (but no grip safety), to eliminate hammer bite.  The grip design promotes a high grip on the weapon, improving pointing qualities. The barrel is 5 inches. Sights are basic and fixed combat-style, with a notch rear and blade front. The top of the slide is checkered, as are the cocking grooves. The trigger is single-action, with a break of 4.5 pounds. The trigger guard is a bit small, a detriment to those wearing heavy gloves. Under the dust cover is a Picatinny Rail; atop the slide is a Weaver Rail.  Both are long for a pistol. Finish is matte black, including the grips.  Many shooters say that proper lubrication is essential with the L5.  Experience among shooters would seem to indicate that some lighter .357 ammunition may not have enough oomph to cycle the slide; at least 158-grain full-loaded ammunition is recommended. Magazines are the same as standard Desert Eagles.

     The L6 version is essentially the same as the L5, but fires heavier-caliber ammunition and is, of course, heavier in weight (though still lighter than a standard Desert Eagle).  It also has a stainless steel slide, and a 6-inch barrel

     Twilight 2000 Notes: It is unknown how many members of US, NATO, Australian, South Korean, Israeli, and other special operations forces used the various Desert Eagle designs during the Twilight War, but it may have numbered in the thousands between all the countries.  They were, however, primarily put to use against marauders and suchlike by civilians. 

IMI Desert Eagle 1911

     Notes: This model is made exclusively for export through the US firm of Magnum Research.  It is not really a Desert Eagle, and has little in common with the Desert Eagle; the Desert Eagle moniker is simply a marketing hook.  This pistol is simple, though excellent-quality, version of the 1911.  Desert Eagle 1911s have skeletonized loop hammers and skeletonized triggers with overtravel stops.  They have extended controls, and an extended beavertail and grip safety with palm bump.  They have single-action operation, with a bushingless stainless steel barrel and guide rod.  They have an enlarged ejection port. Construction for most models is of carbon steel, though some use stainless steel. The frontstrap and backstrap are checkered; the grips are double-diamond checkered. The magazine well is beveled. The rear sight is dovetailed in and adjustable for drift.

     The C model has a 4.33-inch barrel and is finished black. The C Stainless is the same except for the bright stainless finish.  For game purposes it is otherwise identical to the standard C model. The G model is the same as the C Model, but has a 5-inch barrel, while the G Stainless is the same as the C Stainless except for its 5-inch barrel.  The U model is the same as the C model except for the stubby 3-inch bull barrel, while the U Stainless is the same as the C Stainless except for the barrel length.  The GR is basically a G model with a short length of Picatinny rail under the dust cover.

IMI Jericho 941

     Notes: Designed and built by Israeli Military Industries, the Jericho is sold as the “Baby Eagle” or “Baby Desert Eagle” in the US (by Magnum Research; many shooters and even some firearms dealers in the US won’t know what you’re talking about if you call it a Jericho), though it is not related to the Desert Eagle in any way – internally, the derivation from the CZ-75 is obvious.  The Jericho uses an external design meant to make it look like a smaller version of the Desert Eagle, but that is a marketing hook and not actually required for the operation of the Jericho.  Since its introduction in 1990, the Jericho has proven itself to be a rugged and reliable weapon, and the marketing campaign by Magnum Research has been a stroke of genius.  The Jericho was not imported for most of the duration of the Assault Weapons Ban, but is Magnum Research is now selling them again.  The Jericho is in common use as a carry weapon by Israeli civilians and off-duty Israeli military and police.

     The Jericho is built almost entirely of high-strength steel, with only a few minor portions such as the grip plates and trigger guard being made of other materials such as plastic or light alloy.  It makes the Jericho a relatively heavy weapon for its size, but like all weapons of a high relative weight, this helps reduce recoil.  The grip plates are of stippled plastic, with the front and rear straps having fine serrations to help the shooter’s grip on the Jericho.  The trigger guard is squared off and slightly curved inward for a supporting finger; the front edge of the trigger guard also has fine serrations.  Standard sights are usually large and wide for quick aiming, but not too large (or poorly-shaped) that they snag when drawn.  Early versions of the Jericho used fixed 3-dot-type combat sights with tritium inlays, but current sights do not have any dots or illumination.  Current sights, however, are more conducive to quick target acquisition (though not in poor illumination) and dovetailed to provide rough windage adjustments or replacement.  That’s when properly adjusted, as the sights sit on dovetails in the slide.  A Jericho’s sights require a lot of adjustment and/or practice to get accurate fire out of the pistol.

     The safeties on the Jericho are very different from its parent CZ-75 design.  They are ambidextrous, with the actual safety being mounted on the frame; when the Jericho is on safe, the firing pin retracts far enough that it cannot actually strike the primer of a round in the chamber, and the hammer then drops.  The safety can be easily switched to the safe position with the thumb of the firing hand – but you’ll need a long and strong thumb to switch back into the fire position with that same thumb.  The Jericho also has a slide lock.  The double-action trigger’s pull is long, heavy and rough for that first double-action shot, but subsequent shots are light, smooth, and quick.  The operating system itself is tough and reliable.  The Jericho is known for its ability to digest pretty much any ammunition you decide to use, regardless of manufacturer or type, and can easily handle a lot of abuse from wildcatters.

     The standard pistol is the Jericho 941.  The standard Jericho 941 uses a 4.41-inch barrel, with a blued finish and black side plates.  Other finishes include stainless steel (called the 941F), chromed, and even titanium gold.  The Jericho 941FS is a compact form of the weapon using a 3.78-inch barrel, and the Jericho 941FB is an even more compact version with a 3.5-inch barrel and a shorter grip; a lesser known version of the 941FB, the 941FBL, also has an alloy frame.  A competition version, the 941 IPSC, was once offered; this uses a 5.24-inch barrel; the IPSC also uses a single-action trigger (which is also set back further in the trigger guard), a muzzle compensator, adjustable sights, drilling and tapping for an optics mount, and a slide that narrows towards the muzzle.  Another competition version that is no longer offered is the 941PS, with a 4.09 inch barrel and otherwise having the features of the 941 IPSC except for drilling and tapping.  A short production run marked the 941FL, which has a polymer frame (called “polymeric” by IMI), and a rail under the dust cover for accessories. 

     Other minor variants include a version of the Model 941F with a frame-mounted safety.  There are also optional features available at the request of the buyer, including SA (single-action) and DAO (double-action only) operation, ambidextrous safeties, different finishes, a locking mechanism that locks the pistol with a key, the frame-mounted safety noted above, and a threaded barrel for a silencer. 

     As the designation might suggest, some other versions of the Jericho have also been put on a polymer frame.  The 941PL is chambered for 9mm, and the RPL is chambered for .40.  They have 4.4-inch barrels, SA or DA operation, manual decockers, and firing pin safeties. The PSL and RPSL are virtually the same, but have shortened 3.8-inch barrels.

     It should be noted that while the Jericho was first offered in 9mm and .41 Action Express chamberings (that’s where the “941” in the name comes from), the .41 Action Express chambering was dropped soon after the .40 Smith & Wesson round became available.  This makes Jerichos in .41 Action Express caliber a bit rare and unusual.  9x21mm was also dropped soon thereafter, also making it relatively rare.  The .45 ACP chambering is new to the Jericho, and built primarily for export to the North American market, for import by Magnum Research.  Unlike most Jerichos, the .45 ACP version uses a steel frame exclusively, and is not available with an alloy or polymer frame.  In addition, it is a semi-compact pistol, with a 3.93-inch barrel.

     The newest version is Magnum Research’s Baby Eagle FA (for “Fast Action”).  This is a striker-fired version of the Jericho, with DAO operation and a special Fast Action trigger pack which decreases substantially the trigger pull weight of trigger pulls beyond the first. Other differences include an adjustable rear sight, a dovetailed front sight, a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover, a squared-off trigger guard, and a more ergonomic polymer frame and grip.  Barrel length for the 9mm version is 4 inches and 4.15 inches for the .40 version.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Jericho 941PS, Jericho 941FL, and the Jericho 941 in .45 ACP do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline, nor does the Baby Eagle FA.

IMI Micro Eagle

     Notes: Like the Mountain Eagle and the “Baby Eagle,” the Micro Eagle is not related to the Desert Eagle in any way, but is instead a totally different pistol.  The Micro Eagle name is a hook used by the pistol’s importer and primary seller, Magnum Research in the US.  The Micro Eagle is a compact, slap-sided pistol which is largely dehorned and designed for concealed carry and self-defense.  It is very small, but the trigger guard is enlarged to allow the use of even a heavily-gloved hand and to allow the shooter to position the pistol quickly in his hand.  The operation is unusual; it uses gas-assisted blowback instead of straight blowback, which somewhat softens recoil. The extractor is external, and the pistol is DAO. Sights consist of a low ramp front and a low-profile rear notch with no-snag ears.  The shooter controls are enlarged yet low-profile. Barrel length is 2.22 inches.

IMI Mountain Eagle

     Notes: Despite the name, this weapon is not related to the Desert Eagle in any way.  The Mountain Eagle is a large polymer-frame rimfire pistol with composite barrel and an aluminum-alloy receiver.  Despite the size (nearly 27 centimeters with the standard barrel), the Mountain Eagle is a light weapon due to its construction materials.  The rear sight is adjustable, and the front sight is dovetailed so it can be removed and replaced if desired.  Two variants exist: The Compact Edition, with a 4.5-inch barrel (as opposed to the standard 6.5-inch barrel), and the Target Edition, with an 8-inch target barrel and a two-stage trigger.

IMI Uzi Pistol

     Notes: The Uzi Pistol is a very small version of the Uzi designed primarily for bodyguard and civilian use.  Introduced in 1984, the Uzi Pistol looks like an even smaller version of the Micro-Uzi, and indeed the Micro-Uzi was the base design for the Uzi Pistol.  Though the Uzi Pistol is far too large to be a true concealed-carry weapon, it can be concealed under a trenchcoat or parka, or in a briefcase-type item or a small backpack.  It can also be useful as a weapon for home defense or in places like trucks or boats (subject to local laws, of course…). 

     The Uzi Pistol is actually quite similar to its parent Micro-Uzi; in fact, the Uzi Pistol is internally virtually identical to the Micro-Uzi, except that the Uzi Pistol lacks any provision in the mechanism for automatic fire.  (The Uzi Pistol can be converted to automatic fire, but IMI has designed it in such a way that doing it so would be two difficulty levels harder than normal.)  Externally, the Uzi Pistol is also quite similar, though the barrel length is only 4.5 inches, and it has no stock or any means to attach one.  Like the all Uzis, the Uzi Pistol is made largely of sheet steel stampings.  Controls are identical to those found on the Micro-Uzi (safety atop and to the left side of the frame, a cocking handle on top of the receiver, magazine release on the bottom left side of the grip), except that the fire selector allows only for safe and semiautomatic modes.  The sights are virtually identical to those of the Micro-Uzi – an adjustable rear sight with large protective ears, and a post-type front sight, also protected by large ears.  On the Uzi Pistol, however, the rear sights have a pair of white dots and the front has one white dot; this is primarily a concession to market forces.  The Uzi Pistol also has the grip safety common to all Uzis.  The Uzi Pistol is able to use any magazine designed for the Uzi series.

     One cannot, of course, get around the fact that the Uzi Pistol is a huge pistol, and it can take a bit of getting used to the size; most shooters find it rather awkward when they first start shooting it.  However, the weight also means that the Uzi Pistol has very little felt recoil.  The grip safety (like any Uzi) can be a bit stiff and hard to keep down, but this also makes the Uzi Pistol a very safe weapon.

     A variant of the Uzi Pistol is a version chambered for .45 ACP; this chambering is nowhere near as common as the 9mm Uzi Pistol.  It of course uses different magazines, with only one capacity having been built for the Uzi Pistol.

     IWI’s US house (IWI US) offers a heavily modified and modernized version of the Uzi Pistol; this is called the Uzi Pro Pistol. Updates include full blowback operation from a closed bolt, a polymer frame, lower receiver, and pistol grip/magazine well, and relocation of the magazine release to just behind the trigger guard.  The charging handle has also been moved to left side; this allows for the placement of a full-length Picatinny rail atop the receiver and barrel.  Under the muzzle, on a projecting boss, is another Picatinny rail; this is short, but easily enough for lasers, lights, and other small accessories.  Like the original Uzi Pistol, the Uzi Pro has a grip safety; this is along with the manual safety and a passive firing pin block designed to keep the weapon from firing when dropped or bumped.  Front and rear sights are both fully adjustable.  Barrel length is 4.5 inches; it is cold hammer-forged and made of Chrome/Moly/Vanadium steel.  The magazines are special; the magazine well does not allow the Uzi Pro to use older magazines. Like the original Uzi Pistol, the Uzi Pro is a heavy pistol, awkward without a brace, and though it is fun to shoot, many firearms experts say it is too unwieldy for home defense.

IWI Galil ACE GAP39 II

     Notes: The Galil ACE GAP39 is in most ways a Galil ACE Civilianized assault rifle shrunk down to pistol form.  It uses the same internal mechanism as the Galil, with minor modifications to fit the smaller package.  The charging handle (which reciprocates when firing) is moved to the left side of the receiver.  The mechanism is otherwise the same as that of the Galil ACE (but see the Note below).  The ACE Pistol has full AK/RPK magazine compatibility – including steel, aluminum, polymer, light alloy, and those newer Russian polymer-over-steel magazines.  However, the use of RPK drums would make the ACE Pistol quite clumsy. Operation is from a closed rotating bolt, using a long-stroke gas piston.  The barrel is 8.3 inches, and made of cold-hammer forged Chrome/Moly/Vanadium steel alloy, and chrome-lined.  The barrel is tipped with a birdcage-type flash suppressor.

     The receiver is of milled steel, making the GAP39 a somewhat stable package.  However, the use of polymer furniture does bring down the weight quite a bit. The pistol grip, handguards, the Picatinny rail above the receiver are polymer, as is part of the arm stabilizer.  The bottom and sides of the handguards have attachments for Picatinny rails, though they are not included in the basic pistol. Also not included is a rail section that extends the receiver-top Picatinny rail onto the handguard. Sights have tritium inlays and are modified form of standard rifle sights. Finish is in black.

     Note: It should be noted that early this year, IWI issued a blanket recall for the ACE Pistol, due to a design fault that consisted of a pinhole for a full auto sear.  Though there is no danger of an ACE pistol suddenly going automatic, anyone with the right parts could convert the ACE Pistol into a machine pistol.  (IWI does not sell them – you’d need an extreme-specialty parts dealer who sometimes deals in illegal parts, or the auto sear from a Galil assault rifle series to make this happen.  It’s not a matter of a safety issue; it’s a matter of breaking NFA regulation in the US and similar legislation elsewhere. Just as a matter of general interest, however, I have included stats for a full-auto Galil ACE machine pistol.  Use the ROF as SA and use only the SS Recoil figure for a standard semiauto pistol.

     In 2017, IWI brought back the 5.56mm version of the ACE Pistol, designated the GAP556.  Other than changes necessary for the 5.56mm caliber, the GAP556 is the same as the standard GAP39. Magazines sold with the GAP556 are Magpul polymer magazines, with a clear window in the side allowing the shooter to see how much ammunition he has left in the magazine (for the 20 and 30-round magazines).  The issue with being able to put full-auto parts in the weapon has been solved, and the GAP556 cannot be converted to full auto by the user.

     A further modification of the ACE Pistol is the GAP51.  This is again similar to the above pistols, except for the change to 7.62mm NATO caliber.  The ACE51 is necessarily larger, and has a barrel length of 11.8 inches, tipped with a 3-slot muzzle brake. (Muzzle blast and noise are reportedly huge.)  The GAP51 is compatible with Galil, Magpul, and SR-25 magazines.

     The ACE Pistol first came out in the early 1990s, but fell afoul of the Brady Gun Bill, and it was not introduced again until 2015, with the GAP39 coming first.