The Complete List of Israeli-Manufactured Handguns

The list of every Israeli-made handgun I know of. Feel free to add ones I missed in the comments. I deliberately avoided listing all of the variants in this post; even just figuring out all the basic models has been challenging.

BUL Transmark:

  • BUL M-5 (polymer, gen 1): double-stack polymer frame 1911 clone.  The gen 1 frames have a square trigger guard and use a traditional barrel bushing system. These were imported by Springfield and LSA for a while.
  • BUL M-5 (polymer, gen 2): double-stack polymer frame 1911 clone in full-size and compact (Ultra-X) sizes. The gen 2 frames have a round trigger guard and typically use a bushingless barrel system (ie, a bull barrel). The gen 2 was previously imported by Battle Ready International,  Kimber (frames only) and Charles Daly.
  • BUL Classic 1911 (steel): single-stack steel frame 1911 clone made in Commander, Government, and Officer sizes, in 9mm and .45ACP. Imported as the Desert Eagle 1911 by Magnum Research.
  • BUL SAS (polymer/steel hybrid): BUL’s copy of the STI 2011 It looks very much like an M-5 with a square trigger guard that can use interchangeable grips. These were never imported into the US in any serious quantities, and are pretty rare in general, even in Europe. There were three variants, all of them aimed heavily at competition (mostly Open and Limited). It would not be surprising to me if these never entered mass production at all.
  • BUL SAS II (polymer/steel hybrid): The follow-on to the SAS. It looks like the grip was changed from two screws to one, which makes me think the serialized frame also saw some changes. This is BUL’s main 2011 line, and has variants for both carry and competition. One interesting recent development is that there is now a stainless steel grip that is used in a few of the guns… this adds weight and makes it more competitive with higher-end offerings from Atlas and so on.
  • BUL AXE: This is BUL’s Glock clone. The Tomahawk is optics cut and has lightening cuts (and porting, in 2024 models); the Cleaver and Hatchet appear to be more run of the mill variants. This line of pistols appears to be targeted to compete in the “semi-Gucci Glock” space with Shadow Systems.
  • BUL Impact: polymer-framed Tanfoglio clone that took BUL M-5 mags. Imported by Charles Daly as the DDA 10/45 (.45ACP) and DDA 10/40 (.40S&W), and found in 9mm in a very few imported “mix” guns. There were compact and full-length variants (same frame, different slides).
  • BUL Storm: steel-framed Tanfoglio TA-90 clone. It looks identical, but I have confirmed with BUL that it was made in Israel, not imported/remarked. Seems to be out of production now. There were two size variants (full-size, compact), but only about 300 of the compact guns were ever made.
  • BUL Cherokee (gen 1): polymer-framed Tanfoglio Force clone. It looks identical, but I have confirmed with BUL that it was made in Israel, not imported/remarked. It looks rather similar to the Impact (except for the grip angle!). Three different size variants (full-size, semi-compact, mini), but it does not appear the “Mini” was ever produced in numbers.
  • BUL Cherokee (gen 1.5): polymer-framed Tanfoglio Force clone.  It looks rather similar to the Impact (except for the grip angle!). Three different size variants (full-size, semi-compact, mini), but it does not appear the “Mini” was ever produced in numbers. The gen 1.5 is unique in that it has a gen 1-style grip with an accessory rail. It is unclear how many of these were produced.
  • BUL Cherokee (gen 2): polymer-framed Tanfoglio clone, but with significant deviations from the first generation. Previously imported by LSI/Howa and Battle Ready Arms. Three different size variants (full-size, semi-compact, mini). The Mini is being produced in .380ACP, but has never been officially imported to the USA. Uses the 17rd EAA Witness small frame magazines (but is backwards-compatible with 16rd Tanfoglio mags).
  • BUL Cherokee (gen 2.5): similar to the gen2, but with stippling alterations (similar to the newer SAS II and AXE) and a switch to the newer BUL logo.
  • BUL Cherokee (gen 3): very similar to the Cherokee gen2.5, but with a removable front sight.
  • MRI/BUL Baby Desert Eagle III (polymer): BUL Cherokee gen2 with branding changes and a slide decocker safety. Imported by Magnum Research.
  • MRI/BUL Baby Desert Eagle III (steel): improved BUL Storm with frame changes and a slide decocker safety. Imported by Magnum Research. I am unaware of it being sold under the BUL name.

KSN Industries / Israel Arms / JO Arms:

  • Kareen MkI: BHP clone that’s a mix of Israeli and Hungarian (FEG) parts – supposedly mostly the latter. Imported by JO Israel Arms, but never seen with the KSN Industries markings. Uses the “hog-nose” fixed barrel bushing, like the FEG BHP clones.
  • KSN Kareen MkII: BHP clone that appears to be built using Arcus tooling and/or parts. Produced in full-size and compact sizes. Imported by JO Arms, with stock inherited by Century when they went out of business. Cosmetically, it looks very similar to the Arcus 94 (but not the same).
  • KSN Kareen MkII Transitional: BHP clone that appears to be built using Arcus tooling and/or parts. Produced in full-size and compact sizes. Imported by JO Arms, with stock inherited by Century when they went out of business. Looks identical to the MkIII, except that it has MkII written on the slide.
  • KSN Kareen MkIII: BHP clone that appears to be built using Arcus tooling and/or parts. Imported by JO Arms, with stock inherited by Century when they went out of business. The MkIII seems to have manufacturing optimizations to reduce costs, and has some cosmetic differences compared to the MkII, but is otherwise the same gun. THIS GUN IS NOT THE SAME AS THE “KA-MKIII”. THE KA-MKIII WAS NOT MADE OR ASSEMBLED IN ISRAEL.
  • KSN Golan: CZ99 clone. Imported by JO Israel Arms, with stock inherited by Century when KSN went out of business.
  • KSN GAL: 1911 clone. Fairly rare in the USA, but not unheard of. Unclear how many models were made. Israel Arms International imported these for a while as the M-5000 (commander length) and M-6000 (GI length). The M-7000 (double stack) was announced, but never imported. Might be a copy of or use parts from the Norinco NP27.

IMI/IWI:

  • IMI M-1917 9mm Revolver: This is sometimes confused with the S&W Model 547, but it’s really a copy of the S&W Model 1917 in 9x19mm. Very difficult to find, as very few (50?) were made.
  • IMI 945 Multi-Caliber: According to the single photo and reference I could find, this looks like a first generation BUL M5 commander model. Perhaps IMI was going to license the frame from BUL and make their own 1911s? .357 Sig is listed as a caliber, which is interesting, as the M5 was never produced in this caliber. This could also (theoretically) be the full-size variant of the IMI Compact 945 and use the same operating system, but with a different frame.
  • IMI Compact 945: This is a weird combination of a Sig (operating system), Jericho (safeties) and 1911 (magazines, slide rides frame). It weighed 33.2oz, and used short 1911 magazines. Also known as the Black Horse, and supposedly designed by Sirkis. There are pre-production samples floating around, but it was never mass-produced to the best of my knowledge.
  • IMI Jericho (polymer, gen 1): Three sizes, frame and slide safety variants, railed and non-railed variants. Accessory rail on the full-size and semi-compact versions, no rail on the compact version. Imported by Magnum Research as the Baby Eagle, Mossberg as the Uzi Eagle, and KBI as the Jericho 941.
  • IMI/IWI Jericho (polymer, gen 2): Three sizes, frame and slide safety variants, railed and non-railed variants. Accessory rail on the full-size and semi-compact versions, no rail on the compact version. This version can be distinguished by the presence of finger grooves on the frame. Imported by IWI-US as the Jericho and Magnum Research as the Baby Eagle.
  • IWI Jericho Enhanced (polymer, gen 3): This is a Jericho gen2 with an improved grip texture, no finger grooves, upgraded accessory rail, better controls and a replaceable backstrap. It has replaced the gen2 polymer frame guns in the IWI-USA catalog.
  • IMI/IWI Jericho (steel, gen 1): Three sizes, frame and slide safety safety variants, no accessory rails. Imported by Mossberg as the Uzi Eagle, Magnum Research as the Baby Eagle, and KBI as the Jericho 941.
  • IMI/IWI Jericho (steel, gen 2): Three sizes, frame and slide safety safety variants. Accessory railed and non-railed variants of the full-size and semi-compact variants. Imported by IWI-US as the Jericho and Magnum Research as the Baby Eagle II.
  • IMI/IWI Jericho (aluminum alloy): Compact size only, as the FBL model. Unclear if it was ever imported to the US outside of the usual Israeli seizure lots. The FBL was eventually given a polymer frame (presumably to reduce manufacturing costs).
  • IMI/IWI Barak: Two variants have been identified – one with, and one without, the rear sight hump. Imported by Magnum Research as the SP-21 (hump version only). A very few non-hump “transitional” Baraks were imported by CDI Sales a few years ago.
  • IWI Jericho B: Supposedly the same as the Barak, but with a more traditional slide front design. Unclear if this was ever manufactured beyond prototypes.
  • IMI/IWI Desert Eagle: Never used in IDF service. Imported by Magnum Research. Not all of these were made in Israel, so be careful if you’re looking for an Israeli gun.
  • IMI/IWI Uzi Pistol: Note that, unlike the Micro Uzi, the Uzi pistol is semi-auto only and doesn’t have a stock. Imported by Actions Arms.
  • IWI Uzi Pro Pistol: I believe this was only made for export to the US, as IWI doesn’t list it for general sales. Imported by IWI-US.
  • IWI Masada: IWI’s entry into the striker-fired pistol market. This is built off an internal fire control unit (ala the P320), and has a variety of modern features, including being cut for optics. Oddly enough, it takes slightly modified Ruger SR9 magazines.
  • IWI Masada Slim: the compact version of the Masada. It uses Jericho-style magazines. The grip is not too much shorter than the regular Masada’s; this is not a micro compact pistol, and is more along the lines of a Glock 19 frame with a Glock 26 slide.

Sirkis Industries:

  • Sirkis/Sardius SD9: Two versions made it to the US: the Sirkis SD9 and the Sardius SD9. The Sirkis SD9 had safety issues, and was replaced by the Sardius SD9. Imported by Armscorp.
  • Sirkis SQP: Squeeze-cock follow-on to the SD9. Never made it to production, as far as I know.

Purposefully not included are the pistol versions of the Galil ACE, as these exist primarily as a dodge to US import laws. The same thing goes for the full-size Uzi pistols that Vector sells – they’re just a way around the short-barreled rifle law.

Depending on your view, handguns that Nehemiah Sirkis designed while in America may also count:

  • Detonics Pocket 9 and .380
  • Intratec CAT series
  • Cobra Patriot 45

7 thoughts on “The Complete List of Israeli-Manufactured Handguns”

  1. do you have an email for Dr. Nehemiah Sirkis (the firearms designer) in Isreal? I have some photos I would like to send his family.

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  2. Your information on the SD 9 pistol is wrong.
    It was Not imported by Interarms, it was imported by Armscorp of America in silver Springs, MD.
    I was a consultant for Armscorp and
    re-designed the SD 9 pistol for the US police market in 1988.

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    1. I bought a Sardius a few weeks ago I am in need of a pushrod spring do you know where one could be found if not I will have a location gunsmith make one I have pictures I got from mystic armory. Thanks

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  3. My name is Roger Wood;
    I’m a baptist preacher and a pro Israel, pro Jew, gentile. I make a conscious effort to buy Israeli made products.
    Thank you for this handgun info. I’m buying me a collection of certain ones and am for sure putting a number of Israeli made handguns in it.
    Roger

    Liked by 1 person

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