A Desert Eagle designed for the apocalypse

The Apocalyptic Desert Eagle from Magnum Research. (Photo: Kahr)

A new rendition of the Desert Eagle is now available from Magnum Research. The Mark XIX Apocalyptic Desert Eagle, also called the WMD, shows a new finish on an existing design. Magnum Research aims to please fans of the “zombie killer’ movement with this new offering, however the unique finish may appeal to others also.

The Apocalyptic Desert Eagle sports a distressed white matte finish that’s accomplished by a Cerakote process that includes a ceramic coating applied at high temperatures. The coating is showy as well as reportedly durable. Computer numerical controlled machining, a hands-free precision process, is employed to build these firearms.

The Desert Eagle is offered in two calibers: .50 AE and .44 Magnum. The semi-auto pistol cycles on gas pressure and capacity varies by caliber: seven rounds for the .50 AE and eight for the .44 Magnum.

And it’s a monster of a handgun. Both models are 10.75 inches long with a 6-inch barrel, a sight radius is 8.5 inches, and a trigger reach of 2.75 inches. Slide width is 1.25 inches, a 6.25-inch height, and weighs almost 4.5 pounds.

Both models have a Weaver-style accessory rail for attachment of optics. Textured grips are constructed of G10, a high-pressure thermoset plastic laminate consisting of multiple layers of woven fiberglass mesh cloth impregnated with an epoxy resin binder. The grips are anatomically formed to facilitate a two-handed grip.

MSRP on the Apocalyptic white matte distressed pattern for the Mark XIX Desert Eagle, also labeled the WMD series, is $1,895 for the .44 Magnum and $1,922 for the .50 AE.