Desert Eagle: Guns in the Media
The Most Iconic Gun in the Movies
What would you say is the most firearm to be featured in the media? Glock? Beretta? Well, you’d be wrong. The firearm to be featured in over SIX HUNDRED movies, TV shows, and video games is none other than the Magnum Research Desert Eagle. Playfully coined the “Deagle”, this handgun is perhaps one of the most well-known, most popular, and most easily identified firearms out there. But it’s not just a movie prop. The MRI Desert Eagle is a full-fledged, American-made handgun that you can add to your collection today. GrabAGun is proud to offer the Desert Eagle in our lineup along with other incredible handguns like the Glock 43, the Sig P365 XL, the FN High-Power, and many, many more. Start saving today with unbeatable online gun store prices on the Desert Eagle for sale at GrabAGun.
History of the Deagle
Magnum Research Inc (MRI) has been highly successful, long before its purchase by Kahr Firearms Group in 2010. They claim this is due to their loyal customers, suppliers, dedicated employees, and highly experienced leadership. And honestly, we’d have to agree.
Founders Jim Skildum and John Risdall have been involved with the company since 1979. Both men oversaw the rise of the Desert Eagle Pistol (often referred to as the Deagle) from a concept on paper to a pop culture icon. Over the past 40 years, MRI has continued to improve and expand the Desert Eagle pistol series. Many think this is an Israeli gun, which is just a big misconception.
MRI and IMI
While Magnum Research began manufacturing firearms in Israel, the original Deagle was founded right here in the states–in Minnesota, to be exact by Bernard White. In fact, work on the large-framed semi-auto icon went back as far as the 1970s. Nearly 13 years later, White filed a 14-page patent for the design of a gas-operated pistol with a rotating bolt and twin recoil springs. A short-stroke piston in a gas cylinder under the fixed barrel drives the slide to the rear.
White, unfortunately, lacked the manufacturing capabilities to bring such a firearm to life. So, the design was shopped around with Israel Military Industries (IMI). IMI developed a contract with the American company, Magnum Research Inc (MRI) to finish the handgun and put it into production for the commercial market.
When the original Desert Eagle Mark I first hit the market in 1984, it was advertised as “invented, patented, and marketed” by Magnum Research and “manufactured and developed” by IMI. Available with a 10+1 capacity and chambered in .357 Magnum, this beefy pistol had a 6-inch barrel. It was marketed for hunting, self-defense, silhouette shooting, and general target practice.
In 1995, Magnum Research switched contracts to Saco Defense in Saco, Maine. Only three years later, they would go back to IMI for manufacturing before being placed under IMI’s (then) latest small arms branch, Israel Weapon Industries. Since December 2009, the Desert Eagle has been produced in the US at MRI’s Pillager, Minnesota facility. In 2010, MRI was acquired by Kahr Arms after which, they began to step up the number of US-made guns while reducing their imports. It wasn’t until 2018 that MRI could say that all Desert Eagle pistols were 100% American-made.
The Deagle in the Media
By 1985, just one year after the Mark I was introduced, the new gun–with its dominating profile–hit the movies and a thriving career began. That career would span several decades as well as hundreds of appearances on screens small, medium, and large (over SIX HUNDRED). In its inaugural year, the “Deagle” was used by big-gun aficionado Tackleberry in the “Police Academy” franchise, Mickey Rourke in Michael Cimino’s “Year of the Dragon”, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle “Commando”.
Big things were happening for the Mark I, but it went the way of the dinosaur in 1987 only to be replaced by the Mark VII. (What happened to the Marks II through VI? No idea! No one knows!) The Mark VII included .41 Magnum variants with 10 or 14-inch barrel lengths. That extended length was attributed as making the handgun capable of 300-yard shots. In 1991, .50 AE guns came out. Eventually, the Mark VII was replaced by the Mark XIX which is still the standard today.
Why is the Desert Eagle so popular?
In many ways, the Deagle is pretty much the ideal handgun. It’s featured in countless video games and is probably the first thing many of you think of when someone says the word “pistol.” Why is it so popular, though? Well, it’s partially due to the unusually sleek design. Most handguns use a short-recoil or blow-back system, which can make it difficult for newbies to aim. The Desert Eagle, however, uses a gas-operated mechanism that significantly reduces that kick that occurs when firing. The trade-off is the fact that this is a HUGE firearm. Seriously. Try concealing one of these bad boys on your waistband. Dare we say it’s impossible? Just about! The Desert Eagle is very large for a handgun which can also make it a little unwieldy in the hands of someone less adept. That aside, it’s a smooth and fun handgun to play around with at the range.
Desert Eagle in the Movies
As mentioned, the Desert Eagle has been featured in over 600 movies, TV shows, and video games. It’s got the looks and the power to back it all up. The first time I ever saw a Deagle in action was in The Matrix. It’s probably one of the most prolific uses of the handgun to date, followed closely by the toilet scene in Boondock Saints (Or was that just me? It’s probably just me). Honestly, the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s were a fantastic time for action moves as well as the Desert Eagle. Plenty of iconic and cult-classic favorites featured this handgun. Even if it was just one scene, that was enough to drive popularity and sales.
Commando
Crank: High Voltage
Boondock Saints
Universal Solider
RoboCop
Snatch
The Matrix
Get Smart
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Find the Desert Eagle for Sale at GrabAGun
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to live out my action-hero-fantasy at the range! No other gun does it like the Desert Eagle. I mean, think about it–in almost no time at all, this handgun became an integral feature of Hollywood movies. While we can’t guarantee that you’ll turn into Arnie with one of these, we can guarantee you’ll find some great Desert Eagles at GrabAGun. Don’t stop there. Shop our semi-automatic handgun deals on Glock, Ruger, Beretta, and more! Pick up a Desert Eagle for sale at GrabAGun today and start saving with the prices at our online gun store. You won’t want to shop anywhere else!
–Kellie Krevosky