Romania Copies the Jericho: Cugir Models 95 & 98

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By the end of communism in Romania in 1989, the standard service pistols for the army and police were still the old Tokarevs and the Cugir Model 74 "Carpați" Walther PP copy. These were obviously outdated, and as it moved more towards the West, the Romanian military wanted a modern handgun. In 1992 they assessed what was available, and decided to make a domestic copy of the IMI Jericho, with a few minor tweaks. The process of reverse engineering the design took until 1995, when production began on an order of 10,000 for the Army as the Model 95.
The guns performed well, but were considered too heavy. When the Romanian police decided to adopt the pistol in 1998 and placed an order themselves, they asked Cugir to reduce the weight. This was done by eliminating metal in several different places, most notably shorting the full-length frame dust cover and replacing the steel grip backstrap with a more skeletonized design covered by a wraparound grip. This shaved a few ounces off the gun, and 5,000 were made as the Model 98. In addition, a few manufacturing changes were made during this production run, most notably moving from chrome-lined barrels to hard nitrided barrels.
Production of the guns ceased in the mid 2000s, until the Army requested another small batch in 2021. By this time Romanian industry had moved form Russia material standards to Western ones, and much of the TDP had to be reworked to accommodate the materials now available. Once that was done, 1100 were produced - 1,000 for the Army and 100 as a commemorative batch for ANCA, the Romanian national arms collectors' association. These remain the standard service pistol for Romanian army and police forces, although they have not entirely replaced the Model 74 today.
Thanks to Uzina Mecanica Cugir S.A. for giving me access to these pistols for filming, and to A.N.C.A., the Romanian national firearms collectors' association, for organizing the trip that made this video possible!
www.anca.com.ro
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[@LuminaryCursorem]

It's impressive how many manufacturers copied the CZ-75.

[@donwyoming1936]

I miss the days when the only way to get a CZ-75 was to get stationed in Germany, buy one, then bring it back. Still only sold for ~$475 when you got it back to the states. Then the wall fell, and they flooded in for under $400.

[@cammobunker]

The Former Czechoslovakian Communist government refused to allow the CZ-75 design to be patented, apparently because doing so would be "capitalist" or something. The design was almost immediately copied by the Italian Tanfoglio firm, then a Swiss company made them (beautifully) then damn near everyone started making a copy of them.

[@ShootAUT]

​@@donwyoming1936I fail to see how quality firearms becoming cheaper and more available could be a bad thing.

[@ShootAUT]

​@@cammobunkerI have never seen it clearly stated why they didn't properly patent it. My guess is that it was out of fear that the Soviets would snatch up the patent and make it "theirs", like with everything else.

[@factsoftheconfederacy7151]

Arguably the “best” pistol ever made.

[@smitthone]

Well, the Jericho Copied the Tanfoglio (Jericho parts where Tanfoglio made) and Tanfoglio copied the CZ 75.

[@simoncleret]

Which is essentially a modified BHP...

[@TraTranc]

Jericho parts "were" _not_ "Tanfoglio-made". Jericho parts *ARE* made by Tanfoglio. I have seen that personally.

[@smitthone]

@@TraTranc Are Jericho Pistols still made?

[@DougsDiggers]

They didn't just "copy" the CZ, they improved it. Mainly in the fire control group. I know because I have one. You can run the slide with the safely on.

[@cbroz7492]

..was gonna say that myself...

[@petruSarac]

The fact that Ian visited Cugir to makes this world feel like a smaller place. Cheers!

[@adriantm8430]

He also learned the correct pronunciation (Ian seems to have a knack for languages in general)

[@newdefsys]

@@adriantm8430 His French is atrocious

[@adriantm8430]

@@newdefsys Better than the French of 99% of Americans...

[@newdefsys]

@@adriantm8430 Just dont ask Ian for directions to Mule-huus.

[@thescatologistcopromancer3936]

​@@newdefsysfound the frenchman

[@Liminal.Headspace]

Fun fact: Anca is a common traditional Romanian women's name . The diminutive Ancuța is also widely used.

[@vaclav_fejt]

I've had a Romanian supervisor named Anca on my summer job on a Sottish fruit farm. The workers were almost exclusively Czech students and Romanians. 😀

[@user-jj3vw1ce6r]

You know it’s a good vid when there’s a wall outlet in the background

[@Metatropian]

And what an outlet!

[@551defm]

Being half Romanian with a full Romanian mom makes me really appreciate these videos on Romanian guns! Id love to visit that museum some day!

[@mcjim256]

Me too 👍

[@jeffersondaviszombie2734]

I have a single observation to make to what you said: Right at the end, you said that this is the standard handgun of most Romanian Army and Police units. That is true as far as the Army is concerned. But the use of this gun by the Police was very limited. This is confirmed by the small size of that Police order you talk about. Maybe there were some Police units that used it, but most used the Carpati. And over the last few years the Police switched to Beretta PX4 handguns.

[@alexcristea4423]

This is true

[@donlalo7079]

Jericho... one of my favorites pistols i own.... why? Cowboy Bebop 🤠

[@mariusionita266]

See you, space cowboy...

[@jacobberk325]

You're going to carry that weight...because it's one chunky steel gun.

[@joshuasuggs2379]

@@jacobberk325spike don’t care

[@TSmith-rl4xd]

That’s why I got mine.

[@arnox4554]

One of my relatives just got one very recently. I like it, but the big problem for me is that the slide is too high up on the frame and makes for awkward gripping when you try to pull it back, and I don't think pulling the slide back by gripping close to the front of the gun is good safety.

[@AttilaVilassy]

Romania copies the copy of the ČZ 75 (which in some aspects is a copy of the Hi-Power) Edit: This oversimplification is a joke.

[@cybernetic_crocodile8462]

Copyception

[@AttilaVilassy]

@@cybernetic_crocodile8462 Amazing

[@jeffersondaviszombie2734]

Actually, it's a copy of a copy of a copy of the CZ 75: Cugir -> Jericho 941 -> Tanfoglio -> CZ 75.

[@AttilaVilassy]

@@jeffersondaviszombie2734 Cool

[@tomhalla426]

The CZ75 cam is more like a SIG 49, with that internal kidney shaped slot.

[@benjaminkeepfer8968]

Very neat. I hope some of the originals get imported into the US as surplus one day, and i'm amazed that Century or somebody else hasn't imported some of the newer ones, since they are currently in production. The machining and finish aren't as nice as IMI or IWI Jericho's, but as long as they weren't supper expensive they would still be a neat option compared to surplus Israeli Jericho's.

[@KalashniKEV762]

BDS Compliant Jericho? Sign me up.

[@Zumpster]

Bine ai venit la noi Ian.

[@brenm8]

I not only love the fact that Ian can show and talk about various guns from different countries but also that we're able to see what kind of wall outlets those various countries use. Yes, I really do. Greetings from Belgium! :)

[@ChaplainPhantasm]

I honestly had no clue Romania tried to adopt the Jericho pistol. Ironically, as much as I am into Military History, I haven't looked much into Romania (my country of origin essentially, this makes me feel less patriotic tbh), and haven't really looked into the weapons that the Romanian Military might've adopted or wanted to adopt. It's honestly really cool!

[@sukaira9334]

Damn, you know it's a good day when Forgotten Weapons uploads a new video!

[@Jonny-tr9qo]

Everyday

[@sukaira9334]

@@Jonny-tr9qo exactly.

[@kingfish4575]

Loved the Jericho ever since Cowboy Bebop!

[@donwyoming1936]

Had I known Ian was going to Cugir, I could have had him pick up a few spare mags for my 308 Win PSL. 😊

[@lipym]

Bun venit în România! Welcome to Romania! Thanks Ian for this series done with ANCA. Very informative.

[@frankbrowning328]

It makes you wonder why they didn't copy one of the many CZ designs directly but instead copied a clone. CZ had many models based on its CZ75 designs by 1998 that were more modern and better suited for miltary use than the older Jericho type clone.

[@Liminal.Headspace]

Probably the good political standing Romania always had with Israel had something to do with it.

[@ADiamandi]

Jericho is a better handgun than the cz75B on target and in the 90ies it was more apealing to copy a new gun (though not revolutionary)

[@praeamble]

As a big CZ fan I've got to say this is one beautiful gun.

[@jerryjohnson4618]

I love the decocker lever on the Jericho IMI handgun.👍👍

[@iNDREI_Ro]

Bine ai venit în România.

[@JD-tn5lz]

You had me at "forged and milled"😁

[@MrInsaint]

Thank You for sharing, Boss💯👍💯 Btw, my little Romanian wife says Cugir makes excellent sewing machines too👌

[@ICu66]

...and you must know that when you disassemble those excellent sewing machines and try to reassemble back you end up with a lot of (Pistol Mitraliera Model 1963, cal.7.62/39) AK47s... 🤣😂🤣It was a very popular joke during the communist regime because the Cugir Factory was publicly known for those sewing machines, but people knew that main scope of that plant was the small arms manufacturing, sewing machines were just a side-kick.

[@MrInsaint]

@@ICu66 Ha ha🤣, nice one😂. And out of 5 sewing machines, one gets 1 AKM (47)🫡🤪

[@MPC_2117]

Love my Jericho 941f. It's trigger is impossibly smooth.

[@shawnoandrew]

I need one. Wonder if there will ever be any imported?

[@Stickweasel91]

Would love to see a video on the CZ-75 and its development. Not forgotten by any measure, but it's much less prolific in the US than in Europe, has been copied a lot, and is just a fantastic handgun. Would be great to learn about its development, service life across various countries, etc.

[@maximbodnariuc8748]

Solid video. One correction to be made. Most of the Romanian Police is actually carrying Beretta PX4 Storm pistols.

[@GC-xx3mm]

Welcome to Romania Ian!

[@Smokey_Cornbread]

I have a polymer framed Jericho in 9mm. I don't recommend this if you want to not scratch your frame, but I use the floor plate of the magazine to push the slide stop through and hook the front of the floor plate to pry the slide stop out like a claw hammer 😂 it works, but I know it's not ideal

[@PBG762]

That is actually the standard procedure in army since Tokarev. Plus all the guns are scratched anyhow

[@g54b95]

Use a golf ball instead. It's a ridiculous force multiplier.

[@borandagio807]

Kinda crazy these aren’t for sale in America

[@factsoftheconfederacy7151]

All milled? Huh, sounds like something I’d like to get my hands on.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

2:58 100g is just over 3 1/2 ounces.

[@aljole683]

It’s funny that they didn’t just adopt the CZ75. Assuming the 75 was one of the other three guns? Maybe a little bit of inter-ex-Soviet state rivalry?

[@onpsxmember]

Might be about the safety and decocker.

[@Rocketsong]

@@onpsxmember That janky safety/decocker is the worst feature of this thing though.

[@onpsxmember]

@@Rocketsong That might be so, but if it is a requirement of the contract you need it.

[@lipym]

There is this long tradition to make most of the things in house, or in the country. The Romanian tank TR85 is an improved copy of T55. And the examples can go on and on. A lot of communist or former communist countries adopted this way of doing things.

[@user-kr7yh8vw9m]

Watching videoes of Forgotten Weapons is always a treat. The Models 95 and 98 and LP5.2 are fantastic pistols that have many improvements from both each other and the CZ-75 which they're based on which is already a nice quality firearm.

[@meadball1]

"See you space cowboy..." The Romanian Army ... probably

[@jerryjohnson4618]

I love my father's IMI Jericho 45 acp handgun. Also my Tangoflo 45/22 combo handgun. The 22 conversion slide is very finicky and what 22lr ammo you shot in it.

[@billpark8988]

I don't care if it is a copy of a copy. Does it work? That is the bottom line unless you are simply collecting. In my case I don't collect so much as find military weapons that pique my interest. One thing they have in common is that they all function. This pistol fits the bill....tested...reliable... effective. No matter it's iteration.

[@stanciuflorin5328]

Great! Welcome to Romania!

[@jensenwilliam5434]

Thanks

[@SuperDriver379]

I have both the Jericho and the polymer Jericho-II they’re pretty underestimated handguns, they have really predictable triggers, being hammer fired, and I’m surprised the idea wasn’t more widespread than it was, but I suppose timing was somewhat late, striker fired being all the rage that it is today, not many people seem interested in having that bygone cowboy hammer in the back these days.

[@TreiDeA]

12:25 The police has a decent number of Beretta PX4 Storms and other forces of the Ministry of Interior use a good number of Glocks (especially 17s).

[@abeldanos2029]

You made a video about the Carpati Md. 74 and one about the Model 95/98. For having presented all the Romanian made pistols, except the Tokarev, it would be nice to have a video about the Carpati Md. 95.

[@greavous93]

My Jericho 941F is a single action version that was a police service pistol. The barrel has Polygonal rifling instead of button rifling. What did the Romanian version use?

[@ADiamandi]

Land and grooves and chrome lining , now nitrurating

[@KalashniKEV762]

I was with the Romanians at COB Adder and saw these. I still really want one.

[@gunnerbhb50]

I have the Jericho without the decocker and except for lacking that feature I love it, It shoots fantastic, it has the polygonal rifling and the weight is no problem because I'm used to wearing a duty belt (former deputy and retired MP) I'm also a big fan of CZ but what I got the Jericho for compared to the price of a CZ75 I couldn't pass it up, heck I even had a guy try to trade me a CZ75 for my Jericho but I like the all steel frame.

[@SldgeHammr]

Ian, you said they tried out 4 pistols. What were the other three guns?

[@Metatropian]

Really diggin those electric outlets.

[@newpeupyoass]

IWI just discontinued the steel frame Jerichos too. Maybe there is room for these in the US?

[@frankmueller2781]

I have one and love it, so much so that it sleeps in my bed each night. (I have a very good pillow too)

[@cowboypenguin]

Typo on IWI US page. IWI has done several changes to the design but is still making/selling the Jericho.

[@Metalhead0283]

I have the magnum research baby eagle in 45acp, i gotta say it’s a smooth running pistol

[@raymondseeger4832]

Does anyone know what the small hole in the front of the trigger guard was originally used for? I see it was used in the mid-model for the laser attachment, but I also see the hole on the first model. Something as simple as a locating pinhole for manufacture purposes, or a carryover from the Jericho?

[@_droid]

Just a guess but I think someone modified that particular pistol because I don't think the 95 had that hole.

[@oso1165]

Did they export any ever to anyone or sell on commercial market ?

[@trevorpollo]

I would love to get my hands on a few of these so I can compare to my Jerichos.

[@bear-yv9ew]

How do you do it? You look the exact same and youve been on this site for about a decade! Love ya Ian take care

[@davidcarr7436]

Ever noticed that at least one of Ian's fingers is displaying an owie of some kind?

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

Just because something is old does not mean it is bad Personally I like the classics

[@mehmednedjib7361]

AR-18 and CZ-75 are the underdogs of the world of small arms...

[@numazuchi]

Could you do a video on the SP-21 Barak?

[@JNS]

For a second i thought cugir was going to make the old style jerichos😂

[@sorinnilsson4811]

Cugir is well known for building sewing machines to. So in the Ceausescu's time there was a joke about people trying to steal sewing machines so they took them out from the factory in pieces. Later at home, when they put the pieces together, they got kalashnikov rifles.

[@ianhowick]

I think it's time we blow this scene Get everybody and the stuff together Okay, three, two, one, let's jam BaDa BaDa BaDa Bada Daaaaa!

[@robertstark5748]

Ian should do a short series on Remington's line of pistols (R51 and RP9) that damaged their company and brand.

[@TheRevoltingMan]

I love my Jericho!

[@malinsg1]

are there more videos to be posted on Romanian weapons @ForgottenWeapons?

[@aaronkong8393]

i cant explain why but i REALLY want the Model 98

[@absolutjackal]

I think the full dust cover on the barrel looks much better than the ones with the weight reduction/rail

[@aaronkong8393]

@@absolutjackal imo the cugir looks so much more unique and interesting

[@jimmywilliamson8540]

I know compared to most of what we have now. Materials would be superior in most, if not all ways. I haven't had one of the many variations of that basic type. So I don't know personally, but looks like it would be a great gun. Especially if laugh, your variants could handle +p++ ammo

[@PBG762]

Actually initially there were some Jericho imported..... they went mainly to SRI - kinda Romanian FBI - and to security/counterintelligence units of army. After they recived favorable reports UMC decided to copy it.

[@bryanbreuninger8320]

Heavy as it is I can still keep a great group with my Jericho , despite old guy shaky hands lol

[@onkelmicke9670]

Who is the current production for? Do they sell to the civilian market?

[@TheBowlNoodleSoup]

Oh the Cugir 95, the weapon used by iconic anime character Spake Sprigel of Crowguy Moptop.

[@WardenWolf]

Even the polymer-frame Jerichos are heavy as hell.

[@Juronumo]

Id like one but guessing they don’t export em though

[@jeffapplewhite5981]

Grip angle looks good

[@knt7866]

Sorry, a little off topic, what brand/model watch are you wearing in the video, Ian?

[@ryebromartin6528]

We love you ian

[@chpet1655]

Some of us merely like Ian but you be you

[@jerrymcrie]

Welcome to Romania.

[@wormyboot]

The worst thing we've ever done to guns is glue velcro pressure switches to them.

[@davidjernigan8161]

This one probably has all the cowboy bebop fans breathing heavy.

[@NobodyAwsum]

This is the cz 75's long long lost cousin.

[@terryyocumiii9645]

I saw Romanians with these pistols in Afghanistan. Every one of them had the magazines duct taped in place. Now I'm not sure if its just so they're not unintentionally ejected in garrison, or they just fall out for no reason, but its not a good look for your indeginously produced service pistol.

[@ADiamandi]

Thanks to stupid loose canvas holsters on the chest.

[@jeffapplewhite5981]

Got one. Kinda rare.

[@Iskalawagz24]

I hope that Ian would feature a Philippine designed or made weapons. We have so much here to be shown. from Danao Paltiks that is much better made than Khyber pass guns to factory made guns that are even exported to the United States.

[@distalradius8146]

Questions for any knowledgeable viewers: On the Model 95 what are the two small dimples that appear to be drilled on both sides of the frame near the Cugir logo? (Also why is Romanian factory engraving always so bad?) @8:52 that appears to be standard rifling in the barrel. It was not specified but I'm assuming none of these three models utilize polygonal rifling like the Jericho?

[@hoplophobia7014]

I like it

[@abeldanos2029]

Is the Model 95/98 heavier than the Jericho, Tanfoglio, CZ 75 or Browning High-Power?

[@pjbarney9580]

is anything besides the mags interchangeable with the cz75s or Jericos?...

[@Nolvit]

Ian did you see Brandon's final ak50 prototype that is finished the v3?

[@justinholland9844]

Regarding the weight, why couldn't it have an aluminum frame?

[@ADiamandi]

Model 98 wheighs as much as the 92fs, 900 g

[@Edouard_Mass]

See you later space cowboy

[@jaimeortega4940]

Looks like a decent weapon.

[@petrimakela5978]

It's funny that they walked back towards the original CZ-75 with their updates

[@christopherkemp4202]

Neat

[@jjeckerm06]

Isn’t the Jericho a mechanical copy of the Tangfolio Witness, itself a CZ75 clone?

[@darthmartinez]

Even the laser mount is milled from forged steel.

[@GarGhuul]

Long in the tooth… Sabre-Toothed CZ-75?

[@HALO-2304]

Ahh the 90's! The great "rail" war, when everyone had their own rail design. 😂

[@bodeacristian801]

I was in the romanian army and got to shoot the model 95 quite a bit, and I want to say that it is ABSOLUTE SHIT, it jams a lot, at least once every mag, the trigger is EXTREMELY heavy in single action, like nothing I have ever experienced before, and the front sight is almost as thick as my pinky finger, wich makes it impossible to get really good accuracy out of it. Just wanted to share my first hand experience with it.

[@ronwingrove683]

"Hi, my name is Ian, I make videos on gun tube. Can I look at your sidearm, please?"

[@roberttrester4030]

😊

[@alj4m4l]

i wonder if they copy Deagle too

[@Stevarooni]

Probably could, but the Deagle is just a proof-of-concept pistol, not used as a service pistol by anyone I'm aware of.

[@markfergerson2145]

Now I’m wondering how often Ian recognizes weapons carried by airport and other cops, and how often they recognize him. I’m visualizing a cop in some foreign land asking Gun Jesus to bless their pistol…