Magnum Research, Inc. is a privately held American arms manufacturer/distributor that was originally founded in 1979 by Jim Skildum and John Risdall, both of whom remain with the company to this day. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company is responsible for the design and production of a number of well-regarded firearms, including several centerfire and rimfire rifles as well the iconic Desert Eagle. Despite being bought in 2010 by Kahr Arms, a renowned American arms manufacturer that specializes in compact pistols suitable for concealed carry, Magnum Research, Inc. continues to move forward with their normal operations, which includes bringing the Desert Eagle to the American people.
Contrary to popular belief, the Desert Eagle was originally designed by Bernard C. White of Magnum Research, Inc. in the early 1980s. The original patent was filed in January 1983 before a second patent was filed in December 1985 after the original design was refined by Israel Military Industries. It was this refined design that went into production by IMI, a company that was merely contracted for manufacturing through 1995. Later, production was contracted to Saco Defense before eventually reverting back to the newly reorganized Israel Weapon Industries. Today, with the exception of a select few models, production of the Desert Eagle is carried out in the United States at the Magnum Research, Inc. facility in Pillager, Minnesota.
The Desert Eagle Mark XIX is one of the company's most popular offerings. The platform, which is based on a gas operation system and a rotating bolt, was designed with versatility in mind. As such, purchasing the Desert Eagle Mark XIX grants the owner access to six different pistols. How is this possible? True interchangeability offers the owner the ability to quickly and easily swap out parts (barrel, magazine and, in some cases, the bolt assembly) to transform a Desert Eagle chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge into a Desert Eagle chambered for the .357 Magnum or .50 Action Express cartridges. The barrel can also easily be converted from six to 10 inches, or vice versa.
This particular Desert Eagle Mark XIX features a six-inch barrel alongside an overall length of 10 3/4 inches. The large frame and carbon steel construction of the pistol give it a weight of just over 4 1/2 pounds, making it difficult to handle for some shooters. The pistol features a black oxide finish for enhanced protection against rust and corrosion. A single-action trigger mechanism provides for a crisp trigger pull that is rated at approximately four pounds. Additional features include fixed combat sights and a Picatinny rail that runs from the edge of the chamber to the front sight of the pistol. As noted, this particular model is chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge and ships with an eight-round magazine.
The Desert Eagle Mark XIX is now available from Keepshooting.com for $1337.11.
