IWI Jericho 941

The operating system is based on the modified Browning short-recoil tilting block, with the primary feature inherited from the CZ 75: the slide rails run inside the frame. This configuration allows for an extremely tight fit that reduces tolerances and lowers the bore axis, significantly improving intrinsic accuracy and muzzle flip control.

The weapon was initially constructed with a carbon steel frame and polygonal barrel rifling, a technical choice aimed at ensuring greater service life and higher muzzle velocity. Over the years, the design evolved to include high-strength polymer frame variants to reduce overall weight and safety levers mounted on either the slide or the frame depending on procurement agency requirements.

The Jericho rapidly became the standard issue sidearm for the Israel Police and various airport security units, progressively replacing a fragmented inventory of weapons. Its structural robustness and ability to operate in dusty desert environments made it a natural choice for the Israel Defense Forces, which utilize it in select units and for surveillance duties.

Beyond national borders, the pistol found extensive use abroad, being adopted by South Korean special forces, Colombian anti-terrorism units, and the National Police of El Salvador. In the United States, the collaboration with Magnum Research allowed the weapon to gain vast popularity in the civilian market and among private security operators, where it is valued for its aesthetic resemblance to the Desert Eagle.

The legacy of the Jericho 941 continues through the Enhanced series, which integrates MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails for mounting tactical accessories and customizable ergonomic grips. Although the industry has shifted heavily toward striker-fired systems, the Jericho remains one of the last successful hammer-fired designs to be actively produced and updated.

Its influence on handgun design is evidenced by the proliferation of clones and variants produced in various countries, including Vietnam, where the weapon is locally manufactured as the standard military pistol. IWI's ability to keep the Jericho project competitive after three decades demonstrates the superior effectiveness of the original CZ 75 concept reworked to Israeli industrial standards.