# Desert Eagle
![[DesertEagle.svg]]
>[!infobox] Desert Eagle
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|:--------------------- | ----------------------------------:|
| ***Type*** | Semi-automatic [[Firearm Types#Pistol\|pistol]] |
| ***Origin*** | ![[UnitedStatesFlag.svg\|inlL\|24]] [[United States]]<br> ![[IsraelFlag.svg\|inlL\|24]] Israel |
| ***Designers*** | Magnum Research |
| | Israel Military Industries |
| ***Designed*** | 1979-1982 |
| ***Produced*** | 1983-present |
| ***Mass*** | 1995.8 g |
| ***Length*** | 273.1 mm |
| ***Barrel length*** | 152.4 mm (6 in) |
| ***Cartridge*** | .50 Action Express |
| | .44 Magnum |
| | .440 Cor-Bon |
| | .429 DE |
| | .41 Magnum |
| | .357 Magnum |
| ***Action*** | [[Action#Long-stroke piston\|Long-stroke gas operated]], <br>rotating bolt |
| ***Muzzle velocity*** | 470 m/s (.50 AE) |
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*Desert Eagle Mark XIX*
The **Desert Eagle** is a pistol initially designed by Magnum Research Inc. and refined by Israel Military Industries. It is best known for firing the *.50 Action Express* cartridge, the largest centrefire cartridge for a magazine-fed, self-loading pistol.
It fires from a *closed rotating bolt* and has a *long-stroke gas operated* mechanism for cycling, systems typically found in rifles. These mechanisms allow for the powerful cartridges which the Desert Eagle fires compared to those of other semi-automatic pistols.
The top part of the pistol consists of two parts, the barrel and the slide, whereas most pistols consists of only a slide on top of a frame.
The Desert Eagle can be *easily modified* to fire *various cartridges* by switching the barrel, bolt assembly, and magazine. The typical barrel length is 6 inches.
The latest model of the Desert Eagle is the Mark XIX and originally came with barrels with a Weaver rail. Later versions feature Picatinny rails instead.
## Variants
- *Mark I* - initially only chambered in .357 Magnum, slide release has a single step, teardrop shaped safety lever, dovetail rail
- *Mark VII* - slide release has several steps, larger safety lever, dovetail rail
- *Mark XIX* - Weaver rails, Mark VII safety lever; newer versions have Picatinny rails and the smallest safety lever of all versions
[^1]: Mass and length of the Desert Eagle Mark XIX.