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The Jericho 941 is a multi caliber semi-automatic pistol that can be converted to either 9 mm or .41 Action Express caliber. The number 941 comes from its ability to accept either 9 mm or .41 AE rounds. It has a capacity of 16 (9 mm) or 12 (.41 AE) rounds.
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The following information is correct to my knowledge. Any mistake is entirely my fault.
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The Jericho originated in Israel and was manufactured by IMI (Israeli Military Industries). The Jericho itself is a clone of the Czech CZ-75 (thanks to Valkyre45 for pointing this out). It is no longer in production there but is still in service with various security organisations in Israel.
KBI imports the original Jericho into the US supplying it with both barrels so you interchange between 9mm and .41AE (thanks to Jason Mewes for this info). Later, Magnum Research imports the Jericho as the Baby Eagle, under the aegis of the Desert Eagle family. These are essentially the same as the originals except their brand name.
Hudson is a company that produces the airsoft version of the Jericho, called the Jericho 941 GBB (Gas-Blowback). Poseidon is a Japanese airsoft gun manufacturer that makes a kit to convert the Hudson airsoft Jericho to make it look like Spike's Jericho (thanks to Brandon Koller & S.R. for the info). This is reportedly how the photo of Spike's Jericho appeared in the CD OST cover .
Thus you can get your hands on the Jericho in various ways. You could either get the real-steel version in either IMI (original issue) or Magnum Research (US import) manufactured versions. The next best thing is the Hudson airsoft Jericho 941, or if you want a more closer approximation of Spike's version get the Poseidon conversion kit to transform it into one.
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I would like to thanks all those who had replied to my request for information regarding the markings on the CD cover Jericho especially to Jake, Jonathan Leong, Jason Mewes, Tammy, SalUSAF, S.R., Valkyre45 and Brandon Koller. I am in your debt.
According to Yonathan Santoso, "a .41 AE is a .41 magnum bullet loaded into an expanded 9mm case (look like a .40 S&W with a 9 mm rim for the extractor claw). It performs roughly like a .40 S&W. It's not very popular. Nobody makes guns chambered in .41 AE anymore, as far as I know. The only purpose for it is if you want to convert your 9mm gun's caliber with only changing the barrel and the magazine (no need to change the slide or the extractor claw)."
Here's a Tammy's testimonial on the original Israeli Jericho; In her own words:
"Hi there!! I was just on your web-site. It is pretty cool. To answer your question about Poseidon Military Industries, I don't think it is a real company. I actually own a Jericho 941... I had to stand on my head to get it but, I have the real deal... It isn't a BB gun or air gun like you can get on-line. I will say though that it is EXACTLY like a Baby Desert Eagle... The only difference is that the Jericho 941 is Israeli Military Issue. I ought to know as I had been trying to aquire one for a while and was considering on settling for a Baby Desert Eagle. I am glad I waited. It is a great gun.
It is an amazing to shot. Since I am a chick and am able to even shoot such a powerful gun is pretty amazing. I was a little scared at first because I thought it would throw me across the gun range. It doesn't have a lot of recoil at all. Actually it is similar to firing my sister's 380. I have a friend that is a police officer and upon firing it, to quote him "This is a better shot than my police issue."
The gun belongs to the Desert Eagle Family. Magnum Research based in Minneapolis is importing them under the name "Baby Eagle". The Jericho though is made in Israel. Mine came with the casing from the first shot ever fired out of the chamber in a sealed bag, dated and signed by an Israel Miltary Industries (based in Ramat Hasharon, Israel) employee. My handbook also has all sorts of information so if you have any questions feel free to "fire away" :) There are also all sorts of web sites dedicated to the Jericho... That is where I did my research before I decided to get one and shell out the cash. They list all of the models IMI (Israel Military Industries) makes. The Jericho was also used in several movies... To name one, Ronin (Deirdre played by Natascha McElhone uses one).
I must also add that through out the series... Spike does use the Jericho quite a lot... and you are right that he uses it as well as the Baretta in the Ballad of Fallen Angels... I know... cause I have the gun. Also it would make a LOT of sense for him to use the Jericho as it LOVES to be fired. It hardly EVER jams thus making it REALLY dependable. If I am not mistaken, he uses it to fire the first shot... thus "rescuing" Faye. I can spot the front of that gun a mile away. Since I do use mine, I have studied it, had it apart for cleanings, the whole nine. I would be an idiot not to know every nook and cranny of my weapon... Ignorance is how people get shot accidentally.
If you can get one, I highly reccomend it... It was worth all of the hassle, waiting, aggrivation, AND every penny I paid for it. I found mine through Guns America. They always have them. I got really lucky as mine hasn't even been through it's breaking in period (i.e. 100 shots). It is easily a brand new gun...
I hope I helped a little... Happy trails and all that."
Thanks a lot Tammy!
On other occasions, Spike has been known to use special issue pistols, for example when Annie gave him a Beretta Model 92 in session five's Ballad of Fallen Angels in his gun fight with Vicious and his men. I suspect he used that particular pistol because he used the same one during his days with the Red Dragon Mafia.
Thanks to Yonathan who has identified the pistol initially used by Spike in the cathedral as a Jericho 941, we can piece together a fairly good idea of what happened (WARNING! Spoilers ahead!): After introductions with Vicious he uses the Jericho to blow away the henchman holding Faye hostage. Somewhere in between, he uses a combination of both the Jericho and either the Beretta 92/Ruger P85/Browning Hi Power/or some other gun two-handed style ala John Woo style. Lastly after being gut-shot by the second to last baddie he uses his trusty Jericho to the end.
This has been a subject of much argument and confusion but I think that's it can safely said to be settled for now. Now all we gotta know is what EXACT other pistol did Spike use...that what all ye hardcore fans need to figure out. Me? I'll pass ^_^
I'm willing to concede a point raised by Hai Nguyen "that just because the CD-Box limited edition OST insert shows a Jericho 941 chambered in 9x19mm, it doesn't mean that Spike uses that weapon. The producers of the CD may have only been able to find a Jericho 941 in that model for the photo shoot."
Point taken. I am operating under the assumption that it is so. So it is only fair to add his other comment which is also my personal opinion with regards to the 9mm of Spike's Jericho which goes "I'd like to think, personally, that Spike does use a Jericho 941 chambered for 9mm, because it would be much more economical for the Bebop crew to have as standard ammunition as possible so they won't spend so much money or so much time supplying themselves (everyone knows they hardly have enough woolongs to feed themselves or Ein). It makes the most sense for Spike to use 9mm bullets since Jet also uses the same ammunition for his Walther P99, and they've been partnered up for a while before Faye entered their world; they would have coordinated themselves to each other to help offset costs as necessary."
So there you have it folks. If you'd think that Spike-san uses 9mm for economical standardization then so be it. Otherwise, if you think that he'd rather go for .40 S&W for greater stopping power, that's your choice. Either camps have their own valid points.
Judging from research and the evidence shown (tv series & movie), Spike uses a custom Jericho, not a stock IMI nor a Magnum Research model. This is because the CD cover photo and series screencaps prove that he uses a Jericho with a slide mounted safety (and decocker), something only the basic model features as all other IMI Jericho's (but not all Magnum Research models) feature frame mounted safeties.
Even if the CD cover gun was merely a reference model for Spike's weapon, the absence of the IMI logo, the custom grips (rubber? Or even polymer) and the addition of the (plate cover?) on the right side of the weapon certainly indicates it is not a stock model.
Regardless, fans of the show, and especially owners of real-steel Jericho's (and replicas) can revel in the fact that it is a mighty fine gun indeed.
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