I used to think the Desert Eagle in .50 AE was neat but had no real practical application, at least not for me. The giant handgun is a cult icon in fictional novels, tv, movies, and video games.

Then I shot one at the SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range and I was impressed with how well I could hit with it on steel. I was hitting a smaller than human size hunk of steel at 100 yards from a standing two-hand position. I have big hands and I chalked it up to that and bright sunlight on big, easy to see sights.

The .50 AE ammo is expensive and not easily purchased at big box stores. But.......hmmmmmm. The .44 Magnum is a cartridge I already shoot and it's available fairly easily.

Then the Desert Eagle started being made here in the USA, which I like. And the new models have the rail up top to mount a red dot. That would be neat for wild boar hunting.... Hmmmmmmm again.

Then Magnum Research added to their gold tiger striped versions by having Bobby Tyler of www.TylerGunWorks.com case harden the entire pistol. And Magnum Research added fancy dark walnut stocks to match the multiple colored hues of Tyler's amazing case hardening process.

I was in! After many months, I finally have my Deagle along with a 'Cuda holster from Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged Holsters (www.simplyrugged.com). He's a super nice guy who makes really terrific holsters!



















The Desert Eagle goes well with the Iroquois Tomahawk I already had from Tyler! (By the way, he's the only man on earth who knows how to properly case harden stainless steel! That axe is stainless!)



I'm ready for a hog hunt!



-Steve

Wild hogs should beware.

That is massively sexy! WOW!!!

Very beautiful and great pictures.
I confess that I have eyeballed the .357 Magnum Desert Eagle in the past. It's not practical, but hmmm...

WOW!!!

That is very very nice, I like it a lot...

Congrats... I hope you bring that to the range soon!!! I'll bring my L5.....Man is she a beaut!!! Nice hat BTW.... ahhahah

Not usually a fan of case hardened, but that pulls it off nicely.

If you are a Borderlands player then I think you would understand if I said it should say "Jakobs" on it somewhere.

I dare you to show up to an intro CCW class carrying that sumbitch!

If I was a hog, I'd be proud to be shot by that rig!

The very definition of a Barbecue Gun. I happen to think that the .44 Magnum is a better chambering for the DE.

What I find amusing is that third belt slot in the holster, which would allow for crossdraw carry.

Gorgeous gun but I have a question. Is case hardening purely cosmetic or does it add strength to the gun also.

That's stunning! A work of art.

Positively Wicked.

The wood stocks really compliment the case hardening. Looks great! Congrats!

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The very definition of a Barbecue Gun. I happen to think that the .44 Magnum is a better chambering for the DE.

What I find amusing is that third belt slot in the holster, which would allow for crossdraw carry.

The third slot also should make it usable on the ChestyPuller .

quote:

Originally posted by gjgalligan:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The very definition of a Barbecue Gun. I happen to think that the .44 Magnum is a better chambering for the DE.

What I find amusing is that third belt slot in the holster, which would allow for crossdraw carry.

The third slot also should make it usable on the ChestyPuller .

Exactly! Rob Leahy makes his Chesty Puller system and it utilizes that third belt slot. I asked for it this way so I can get a Chesty Puller later.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:
Gorgeous gun but I have a question. Is case hardening purely cosmetic or does it add strength to the gun also.

So, my understanding is that case hardening was used over 100 years ago (and longer) to actually harden the steel surface of firearms. It was a protective finish.

Today's steels don't need it. Tyler Gun Works utilizes a process similar to the old way of doing it, so here is the quote from Tyler's web page:

"We strive to provide a Color Case finish with a superior level of elegance for the true firearm connoisseur. Color Case is a process can add the look of elegance when done by a professional.

Here at Tyler Gun Works, we are able to Color Case items that others cannot, due to our ability to work at lower temperatures. We keep our temperatures in the 1200 degree range. Most of the newer receivers made today are made of pre-heat treated steel. Working at low temps gives us the ability to bring you the colors you deserve, without double heat treating your steel. Even at these lower temps we still take all precautions and solid block each receiver to prevent against warping."

The term case “hardening” describes what it was originally: a way of hardening the surface of the metal.

Man, I wish I could do that to the slide of a Sig.

I was just on the Turnbull site and saw a case hardened DE. Out of my price range, though.