Jericho Pistols

[Charles Daly]

Are any of you familiar with the Jericho that KBI sold back in the early '90's? I'm going to tell you a story that I hope does not bore you and put you to sleep...

Around 1989, through an intermediary, I was introduced to IMI with the intention of KBI entering into a project with the Israelis, to import a new CZ type double action pistol into the US. I was very interested in the idea, the gun was very well made, the multi-caliber concept was unique at that time and I was excited to be working with the world renowned IMI, manufacturer of the famous UZI sub-machinegun, among other products. One of the most fascinating features of this pistol to me is that its grip design is so ergonomic that it naturally fits almost all shooters hands, no matter what size they are. Large or small, fat or skinny, the Jericho feels comfortable to all. There is only one other pistol in the world that is so comfortable to so many people, and that is the Browning Hi-Power.

To try and make this long story a little shorter, in 1989-90, KBI entered into an agreement with IMI whereby KBI would sell the pistol exclusively in the US. Now all it needed was a name!

We needed to create a new brand name for this pistol line, and that is not always so easy, and usually very expensive. Normally, such an endeavor required at least $1,000,000 to get it off the ground! KBI was just getting started in the business and didn't have a lot or money to develop a brand overnight. It became critical that we decide on a name that would become a brand immediately; something that resonated in the consumers mind; something strong, combative, defensive and above all Israeli. Israel was (and still is) known all over the world as one of the greatest producers of firearms in the world. We needed a strong name and we needed it right away.

I was in Israel during this time and we decided to take a day off and do a little sightseeing. (I was with my Hungarian supplier, the man who supplied me with FEG firearms, and there were one or two people from IMI with us as tour guides.) On that day, we went to Jerusalem to tour the old city and then we went on to the Dead Sea. Most of what we did that day is now a blur in the cobwebs of my mind. But one thing I remember very clearly. As we were driving along the highway through the West Bank on our way back to Tel Aviv, I saw an exit sign for the town of Jericho . Immediately I called to the driver to pull off to the side of the road next to the big green Exit sign. I asked everyone to get out of the car. They looked at me like I was crazy. (I think they thought I couldn't wait to use a public toilet so I intended to go along the side of the road. But that wouldn't explain why I asked everyone to get out of the car with me... What must they have been thinking of me? Was this crazy American some sort of exhibitionist that liked an audience when he relieved himself?

As everyone got out of the car, I handed my camera to the driver and I walked over to the sign and stood in front of it. Then I asked him to take a picture of me next to the sign as I pointed to the sign and explained, "this is the name of our new pistol, The JERICHO!"

I knew it as soon as I saw it that Jericho was the name I was looking for. Jericho conveyed a battle (remember the song "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho..., Jericho..., Jericho. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down"). It was a strong name, a name that could become a brand easily and at a reasonable cost. And it was a name that conveyed a sense of Israel (even though it is in the West Bank). It was a name that I felt Americans would embrace with open arms. It was perfect. I knew it in my heart, and on that day the Jericho pistol was truly born!

Initially it was introduced to the US by our company as the Jericho 941 in a complete kit containing a 9mm pistol, a .41AE (Action Express) conversion kit that included a barrel and recoil spring/guid stem assembly, 4 hi-cap magazines (2 for 9mm and 2 for .41AE), 50 rounds of UZI brand 9mm cartridges, 50 rounds of .41AE and a Rig cleaning rod with bore brushes for both calibers. Meprolight tritium sights were also a standard feature in the package. All of this was packed in a molded plastic carrying case that retailed at the time for about $699.00.

Unfortunately, timing is everything in this world, and the .41AE was DOA (dead on arrival) in the US as the .40S&W was introduced at the same time, the result of a joint venture between Federal and S&W. Even though the .41AE was the better cartridge, with better ballistics than the .40S&W, and it was interchangeable with the 9mm, the .41AE never caught on for two reasons. The first was that KBI and IMI were no match ($$$) for Federal and S&W in the marketing department, and Americans are loathe to support a product that "wasn't invented here" when they perceived an alternative that was invented here was available. None of the major ammo manufacturers would come to produce the .41AE (though CCI did for a short while) while all the major producers could not get their .40S&W cartridges to market fast enough. It was time to discontinue the .41AE...

When the .41AE was dropped from the line, and KBI was forced to sell the Jericho as another CZ type 9mm hi-cap pistol, albeit made in Israel by the famous IMI, it was difficult for KBI to get sales to a level fast enough that was satisfactory for the factory. I will never forget the SHOT Show in 1991 (I think it was '91) when IMI representatives came to our booth to inform us that they were taking the line away from us and giving it to one of our competitors.

I'm a littly hazy on the exact sequence of events that followed, but the Jericho was briefly sold by Mossberg as the UZI Eagle, by EAA (even a briefer period than Mossberg) until finally it became the "Baby" Eagle, imported and marketed by Magnum Research Inc. (MRI). The design of the slide was similar to the famous Desert Eagle which was also manufactured by IMI, so it appeared to be a natural fit for IMI to have MRI distribute the pistol alongside the Desert Eagle. There may have been some interruptions in MRI's selling the pistol over the years, but for the most part, MRI has continued to sell the Baby Eagle in the US and Canada up until this day while the factory has always sold the Jericho brand throughout the rest of the world and to Israeli police and security services in their home market.

Over the years the Jericho (and Baby Eagle) has turned into a complete line of pistols available in 9mm, .40S&W and more recently .45ACP. It is available in polymer and steel frames and comes in 3 different sizes. This past year the Jericho II (or Baby Eagle II) was introduced and added the more modern and more desireable features of an improved "Novak" style rear sight and a picatinny light/laser rail. During all these years, MRI has sold the version of the pistol with a slide mounted safety/decocker lever while IMI (later to become IWI, but that is another story for another day) sold a version more like the original CZ-75, with a frame mounted safety with no decocker.

So you must be wondering why I am bringing up this story and asking about your feelings towards the Jericho pistol, sold all these years in the US as the MRI Bably Eagle and now the Baby Eagle II. Some of you have probably figured it out already and you are probably right... Fast forward to today and...

KBI is proud to announce it here first, to the loyal members of the Charles Daly Forum, that beginning January 1st of 2009, KBI will be the exclusive importer and distributor of Jericho pistols, manufactured by IWI (formerly IMI), in the United States and Canada! Almost 20 years after KBI first introduced the Jericho pistol to North America, the Jericho has come home to KBI!

Now we need to know what you, our loyal members and guests, think about this pistol and what we should do with it when we come to the market next year. As we did with our AR rifle project, we need your feedback to do this properly and give the market what it wants in this type of pistol.

Should we do the model with a frame mounted safety or should we use the slide mounted safety/decocker? Should we have the picatinny rail on all variations of caliber and size? Would you like to see a "loaded" version with Meprolight tritium sights, picatinny rail, Kydex holster and mag pouch a la what SA does with the XD package? How popular is the polymer frame version do you think? Would a chrome model be interesting?

Obviously, we have a large project on our hands. It won't be under the Charles Daly brand, (or should it be?). Personally I think it stands on its own. "The Jericho from Charles Daly, manufactured by IWI, imported by KBI" is too much I think. I think that "Jericho, manufactured in Israel by IWI" is the way to market this line. What do you think? The importer's name (KBI) must be on the gun per BATF regulations, but as far as marketing is concerned I think that "Jericho, manufactured in Israel by IWI" is it.

End of part 1.

[Charles Daly]

You can see some of the currnent Jericho line on the IWI Website for further information. It is not completely up do date but it should be soon as we work with the factory to fine tune their offerings for 2009.

If any of you own a Jericho or a Baby Eagle, let us hear from you. If you have a freind or a relative that has or had a Jericho or Baby Eagle, invite them to visit us here on the forum and tell us what they think of their pistols. Post pics if you can. We would like to hear it all, good and bad, so that we can learn from you/them and do this project with the care and attention to detail that it should have.

This weekend I will start a new section of the forum just for Jericho discussions. Perhaps some day soon the Jericho line or pistols and accessories will have its own website, just like Charles Daly Defense. Who knows? A lot will be determined by you and how much you want and will support such a site.

Well, I think that's enough for one night. Perhaps now you will forgive me for being inattentive to the forum this past week. I had to bring Jericho home.

Sincerely,

[dogngun]

I'll be saving my money for one.

mark

[steel609]

I've never shot one, but they are reported to be very good handguns.

I look forward to seeing the newer versions.

The more options available, the better. That's one complaint I see with many guns, is not enough options. Then again, some like Para Ordnance, have way too many options. Something like 80 different models.

I think the polymer framed guns may be able to compete with the XD's and Glocks if marketed right.

What kind of price range so you see these going for? Price ranges on gunbroker seem to be extremely wide, so it's hard to pin down a price range.

[McQ68]

Not too long ago, I owned an EAA Witness in 40 cal. The ergonomic grip fits my hand perfectly. I prefer a DAO action with a safety. This is just my preference but I don't like a cocked and locked action or a decocker. Once again, just my personal preference. I would be interested in a polymer 40/45 cal DAO. I don't need the rail system, but night sights would be good.

[partsman]

the gun gallery by me just put one in the case i had it in my hand, thinking very seriously about going back up to buy it .
i have been wanting a .40 for a while

[mid-age]

As for the safety I like it on the frame. But I know some like it on the slide. If possible make two model one on the frame and one on the slide. Like Dogngun said " I'll be saving my money for one".

[Go Blue!]

The only thing that ever prevented me from buying an EAA or Baby Eagle (or CZ for that matter) was that the trigger reach was really long. It seemed that the trigger was curved excessively and made it hard to grip and fire properly. Since you are now the sole importer of them I would only suggest an optional trigger package.

As for the name I would try to come up with something similar to what Springfield did with the XD and S&W did with the M&P. While I feel Jericho is an elegant and meaningful name, I think something more "tactical" would encourage more sales. Maybe something as simple as the "CDD". The line would be easy to name as you could have the CDD-9, CDD-40 etc. I think Charles Daly itself is a good brand and you would be able to leverage the existing brand whilecapitalizing on tactical marketing that we know drives sales.

A wise man once told me "The brand is the engine that drives the business". Charles Daly already has a good brand. Leverage it in this new product offering!

[dixondw]

I agree with STEEL, the more options the better. I think the buyer should be able to load it up as much as he/she wants or have the option to get a "stripped" version as well to reduce the purchase price. A slide mounted safety is my preference vs decocker lever. Extra magazines with the package are always a plus.

I agree, the marking "Jericho, manufactured in Israel by IWI" speaks for itself, nothing else needs to be said.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Jericho on the shelves.

[ccd]

I would think that it should definitely be offered with the night sights. Would also prefer that it have a rail slot on the frame. Would really like to see a handgun in 5.7x28 besides the FN 57. I think that if IWI could make the Jericho in 5.7x28 they would have a hit on their hands. FN prices the 57 out of the market for most users, leaving quite a market for someone to come in and undercut them.