Tag Archives: IWI

Meet the Auto-Loading Israeli Master Key

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One of the interesting new releases on the floor at the NRA Annual Meetings in Atlanta last week was an entry into the 12-gauge “not a shotgun” category by IWI.

Dubbed the Mafteah – Hebrew for “key” – it is a 12-gauge semi-auto with a 3-inch chamber. However, born sans stock and with an abbreviated 14-inch barrel, it doesn’t meet the federal guidelines to be considered a shotgun, and thus can’t be a short-barreled shotgun, putting it above NFA red tape.

In short (pun intended), it is in the same category of firearm as the Mossberg 590 Shockwave and 990 Aftershock, and the Remington V3 TAC-13 and 870 TAC-14.

“It is said the Key of Solomon could do almost anything, contain anything or anyone, and open any passageway one might need,” notes IWI on the new platform. “This one isn’t quite so magical, but it will do a number on opening doors.”

The IWI Mafteah has an unloaded weight of 5.7 pounds and has a cross-bolt manual safety. The charging handle is reversible. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

The cylinder-bore 14-inch barrel is made of 4140 steel. The fixed tubular magazine has a 5+1 capacity in 2.75-inch shells, and 4+1 in 3-inch if you enjoy numbness in your hands.

More in my column at Guns.com.

Ballistic Art in a Cerakote Medium

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Some of the coolest guns I saw at SHOT was a wall at the back of the IWI booth of amazing firearm creations from Pro 2 Customs.

Pro 2, of Tempe, Arizona, is a 07 FFL and 02 SOT licensee that crafts some seriously good work in the medium Cerakote. Teaming up with IWI, the shop brought a slew of great guns to the show.

You dig the Flying Tigers? How about this P-40 Warhawk-themed Galil Ace, complete with Vortex LPVO? It even has rivets.

It uses H146 Graphite, H732 Magpul OD Green, M214 Bullshark Grey, H144 Corvette Yellow, H140 Bright White, and H167 USMC Red.

This “Call of Duty MW”-themed Polyatomic camo’ed IWI Carmel rifle uses H146 Graphite Black, custom purples, and Gun Candy Majesty.

And our favorite: a Cel Shade anime IWM Carmel in 5.56, complete with an EoTech XPS3.

It is crafted with H128 Hunter Orange, H144 Corvette Yellow, and H214 Bullshark Grey for the shading.

Just check out that detail. Looks like a celluloid sheet for sure. That’s gun art.

More in my column at Guns.com

 

So, I Went Behind the Scenes at Magnum Research

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During my summer trip to the Great North filming episodes of Select Fire for Guns.com, I spent some time at Magnum Research in Pillager, Minnesota, to see how Desert Eagles and BFRs are made.

Yup, that’s a .45-70 revolver…

Now part of the Kahr Firearms Group along with other lines such as Thompson and Auto-Ordnance, Magnum Research was established in 1980 in The Gopher State, and the company’s best-known product, the Desert Eagle, began factory production in 1984 with serial number 3,001.

Fast forward over 35 years later and the “Deagle” remains the company’s most popular firearm.

 

For more and the full factory tour, check it out at GDC. 

India goes Negev for GPMG

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Israeli-based IWI last week was named as the winner for a contract to supply the second largest army in the world with machine guns.

The Indian Ministry of Defence announced that IWI would supply 16,479 Negev NG7 light machine guns to the force at a cost of Rs 880 crore, or about $117 million.

Developed and designed with the Israeli Defense Forces in mind, the select-fire IWI Negev NG7 light machine gun was introduced in 2012. It has a weight of 17.41-pounds, providing a 7.62 NATO-caliber gun in a SAW-sized platform with either 16.5- or 20-inch barrel lengths.

Very nice

More in my column at Guns.com. 

IWI introduces civilian variant of X95 rifle

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Israel Weapon Industries unveiled a semi-auto version of their X95 bullpup this week at the 2016 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas.

IWI’s Tavor X95 first appeared last year and, as a select-fire weapon in 5.56mm, .300 Blackout and 9mm, was aimed at military and law enforcement sales. Now, with a legal semi-auto variant and interchangeable 16.5-inch barrels (17 inches in 9mm) similar to the SAR series, the X95 is ready for the larger civilian market.

IWI’s latest entry features a tri-rail forearm with three removable vented covers. Unlike the traditional Tavor, the X95 has its charging handle closer to the center of balance near the trigger guard rather than forward near the muzzle.

The carbine takes another step away from the Tavor by incorporating an ambi mag release that mimics that of the AR-15 series. The two-position safe/fire lever is on the left hand side of the gun for easy thumb actuation by right-handed shooters.

I must have shot 75 rifles on Industry Day at the range and this one was by far the most enjoyable. Great balance. Made head shots on a target 50 yards off all day. Nice ergos (once you get the mag right). Really dug it.

x95

More in my column at Guns.com