Full-size handgun chambered for 9x19mm PARABELLUM
Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), announced its new MASADA family in early November 2017, the first member of which is a full-size handgun also chambered for the 9x19mm PARABELLUM round. The new pistol has been under development for several years and has been developed at the request of customers, according to IWI’s CEO Shlomi Sabag. “The new striker-based line places special emphasis on operational safety and simplicity of maintenance, as well as a high level of ergonomics and ease of use,” he said.
IWI has matched the industry standard for safety, in terms of features at least, incorporating a firing pin block linked to an integral trigger safety, offers a manual safety catch as an option and claims to have engineered a clean, crisp reset action for the single-action trigger. Furthermore, there is no need to pull the trigger when dismantling the weapon, eliminating a potentially lethal consequence of neglecting to clear the weapon before starting to take it apart for maintenance.
Mounted on the Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) frame, the slide features improved front and rear serrations for easier cocking. Other ergonomic features include a low barrel axis to minimise muzzle climb during recoil and an optimised grip angle, both of which help the pistol point more naturally, and ambidextrous controls including the magazine release, the slide release, and the safety catch if fitted. Trigger mechanism housings are interchangeable for ease of maintenance, says the company, which quotes a 5.5-7.0lbs (2.5-3.175kg) trigger pull.
The 4.1in (104mm) long polygonal cold hammer forged barrel has a 1:10 right hand twist and fits into a pistol with an overall length of 6.6in (186mm) and a weight of 22.9oz (650g) without a magazine.
Tritium illuminated three dot iron sights from Meprolight come as the standard fit. These sights include mounting points to which a red dot optic can be attached, which means that the iron sights need not be removed nor the slide modified before an optic can be fitted.
The MASADA comes in three standard colours, the options being Sniper Grey, OD Green and Flat Dark Earth, and complements IWI’s extensive and combat proven line of Jericho hammer fired, single/double action pistols. The JERICHOs are offered with a choice of steel and polymer frames and chambering options of 9x19mm, .40 S&W (10x22mm) and .45 ACP (11.43x23mm), which may point the way for future variants of the Masada.
Named for the ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea, the MASADA pistol will be available to customers from the first quarter of this year.
DPM
