Feb 19, 2008 I have a Desert Eagle.357, been in the family for at least 20 years. The serial number is only 4 digits (not sure if that is significant) My question is - Is this a MK VII or MK XIX? How the heck do you tell? There are no markings that give it away. First things first: Why would you have purchased a weapon when you had no idea what model it was? Your handgun appears to be a Mark II Desert Eagle. It doesn’t have the rail mountings that Mark IVs and later models have and it appears to have a gr. Dec 31, 2002 Call up Magnum Research (their number in on their web page) I spoke with one of the gunsmiths and he was able to tell me when they imported the gun based on the serial number. I suppose if you call up IMI you might get the manufacture date, but I don't know what long distane to israel would be. The serial numbers for these pistols start at #3001. Development of the Desert Eagle was not yet complete, however, in 1985, the barrel was changed to incorporate polygonal rifling, to help enhance the pistol's accuracy. Sep 30, 2014 Magnum Research Serial Number Dates Pre 1958 44 Mag Desert Eagle Prices Desert Eagle Model Identification The Desert Eagle Pistol was conceived in 1979, when three people with an idea for creating a gas- operated, semi-automatic, magnum-caliber pistol founded Magnum Research, Inc. Paul, Minnesota (USA).
by B. Gil Horman – Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The Magnum Research, Inc. Desert Eagle Pistol is an unusual semi-auto that enjoys a nearly universal level of recognition thanks to its regular appearance in movies, television shows and video games. In production for over three decades now, this massive pistol’s long and colorful history generates plenty of questions in on-line discussions. To find the answers to nine of the top questions folks have about this beefy big-bore semi-auto, we went straight to the expert with the inside story: master gunsmith, designer and director of manufacturing for Magnum Research, Jim Tertin. Here’s a countdown of what we learned:
9. Wasn’t the Desert Eagle originally developed in Israel?
The pistols were first manufactured by IMI (Israeli Military Industry, Ltd.), an Israeli defense contractor. However, IMI was a subcontractor of Magnum Research. They had no ownership of the design. IMI went through some internal restructuring and all of the commercial enterprises the company was involved in were sold to IWI (Israel Weapon Industries, Ltd.). In 2006, Magnum Research started to engineer production of the Desert Eagle in Pillager, Minn. By 2008, the first U.S.-made Desert Eagles were delivered starting at serial number DE0001000. Today, the pistols are manufactured using all American components.
SOLD FOR: $1,400.00
LSB#: 180709EA37
Make: Magnum Research (Israel Military Industries)
Model: Desert Eagle Mark I
Serial Number: 55315-S
Year of Manufacture: <1988-1995
Caliber: .44 Magnum
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine and Ambidextrous Safety
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “Desert Eagle – .41/.44 Magnum Pistol / Israel Military Industries Ltd.”. The right side of the slide is marked “Magnum Research Inc. Minneapolis Minn. / Made In Israel”. The right side of the frame is marked “55315-S”. The left front side of the barrel is marked “.44”.
Barrel Length: 6 3/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a bright orange ramp dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a white outlined adjustable square notch sight that is dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one piece smooth wood grip. It is marked with a falcon on both sides. The grip shows only light handling marks. The original IMI black rubberized grips are included as well, they show light wear with marring on the edges. The wood rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Matte Black Slide and Barrel with Matte Stainless Steel Frame
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mirror bright and the rifling is polygonal. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish shows light wear and handling marks. We are trying to find flaws in the finish. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun.
Desert Eagle Serial Number Date
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one 8 round magazine, the original grips, the original sights, and the original box and manual. The box shows light wear along the edges and corners. The box rates in about Very Good overall condition.
Our Assessment: . With its two tone finish and huge slide/barrel, this pistol is definitely something that will catch your eye and at over 58 oz. unloaded, is certainly a handful. If you have large hands and like to shoot large caliber pistols, this ought to Make Your Day! This is a very nice looking pistol that doesn’t look like it was shot very much.
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This handgun CANNOT be transferred as a dealer sale in California. This handgun CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.
Desert Eagle Manufacture Date By Serial Number
This pistol is a Mark VII, NOT a Mark I. The box has a matching serial marking.