used/imported IWI jericho/baby eagle from buds picture

[greyling22]

So I had a little extra cash and bought one of the used and imported jericho's (aka baby eagle) off of buds. Their pictues were bad and the descriptions were brief. This one is considered "good" condition. It is a semi-compact gun.

finish is more of less intact, but different than the finish I am used to seeing here. The tritium in the night sights are way dead.

couple of quirks:
1) it is single action only. Somebody put a pin through the frame of the gun to keep the trigger from resetting all the way. (green arrow) When I punched the pin out, the trigger got super long like a double action, but would not pull back or cock the hammer.
2) there are 3 odd holes in the frame. (red arrows) the ones at the muzzle are threaded (there is one on the opposite side of the gun) I assume they are/were for mounting something?
3) the slide will not lock back on the mag. I assume it is from either the worn follower (black) or a weak spring, But look at how far off the frame the slide release sits. I have cleaned the gun and that is as far in as it will go.

Any thoughts about the quirks? What they are, are they normal, how to fix them etc?

 

[MachIVshooter]

Looks like you opted for the SAO version (they list both). You should be able to restore DA function with Tanfoglio Witness small frame parts; the sear assembly, connector or both.

The slide catch definitely don't look right. Seems bent. A witness catch should also do the trick.

One the holes? No clue.

 

[greyling22]

I did but the SAO version, and I like SAO, but I thought maybe if I popped the pin out it would function DA/SA. Nope. I wonder if I just need a sear, or something else.

I actually tried the slide release to my witness match in the jericho, and it worked fine. So I got out the calipers started comparing the 2 releases, found the notch were the spring leg that positions and retains the slide catch rides was in the wrong spot. So out came the dremel, cut a new notch, and now that's fixed. Cleaned the mag and stretched the spring, so now the slide will lock back if you work it aggressively. I still think the follower is shot but I can't find a replacement follower.

I think I still need to lower the hammer hooks and have been eyeballing these grips. https://www.etsy.com/listing/261617317/jericho-941-grip-ksd?ref=shop_home_active_65 but I gotta see how it shoots first. Found some dark patches in the bore too. Maybe it will still shoot fine. How bad can it be at 10-20yds right?

Found a thread on reddit where another guy has the same gun with the same holes. Nobody knows, but there was speculation of a frame mounted weapons light or something. Maybe RCmodel knows. He knows everything else there is to know.

 

[bannockburn]

greyling22

Maybe the holes were for attaching some kind of scope or optical sight mount? Don't know what other kind of purpose they would serve where they're at on the frame and trigger guard.

 

[jhb]

greyling22

Maybe the holes were for attaching some kind of scope or optical sight mount? Don't know what other kind of purpose they would serve where they're at on the frame and trigger guard.

yep. seen holes like that on one or two of the isreali surplus hi powers. it was listed by the seller as a mounting setup for light, optic or laser or something to that effect. can't remember, but i do remember it was said to be a setup for something like that. also the seller is the guy on gunbroker who imports those surplus in masses...not a one off seller. so seems like a reasonable explanation int he listing at the time.

op, pretty crappy that you got a gun with issues described by buds as "good" and "100% functional," that really isn't.

 

[joem1945]

Can you send it back? I'd hate to see one in bad condition.

 

[greyling22]

Took it to the range today, and it shot fine at 10 or so yards, despite the dark patches the bore. And the finish isn't as bad as the picture makes it look, though it really needs dura or cera coating. The magazine is total crap though. Very weak spring and worn follower. Won't feed 10 rounds without a nosedive or some other malfunction. I may see if buds will split the cost of a new mag or something.

This is the 2nd used gun I have bought from buds. The first was a Smith m&p police trade in in "good" condition that came with a 20% rusted slide. I refused the transfer on that one. I think I'm done buying used guns from buds. They seem overly optimistic in what the call good.

 

[jhb]

^agree. i've bought quite a few surplus pistols and police trade in types from buds and various other sellers. most seem to just label them as the importer/seller did. most of these importers/sellers tend to be extremely "optimistic." the retailers tend to just follow what they've been told. a few will up or down the importers/sellers description though.

course most of the best surplus was brought over long ago and is gone. it's kinda down to the rest of the stuff out there. course always oddball surplus in really nice or like new condition and a few rare finds pop up from time to time. i find it worth the risks most times. not always though.

 

[bluecollar]

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=221417&stc=1&d=1464237029

This was a used German p220 I got from buds and it was listed in good cond. I would have graded as very good and as you can see it is a shooter. That target was at 50 yards d.a. only offhand standing.

 

[greyling22]

Ok, so I think I've figured out what is going on with the holes in the frame. Aim surplus had a few compensated 941fs' in sao a while back. Sure looks like what I have. Wish I could find that compensator......

 

[MAKster]

While I would have also been disappointed by the gun's condition, I think you are misunderstanding what "good" means. The everyday meaning of "good" is very different from the meaning used in grading systems. When it comes to grading the condition of things like guns or coins, the grade "good" is really low. In actuality "good" is what most of us would considered rather poor condition.