The Desert Eagle has been around since 1982, and one of its incarnations is the Baby Desert Eagle. Not only does the gun have more than three decades under its belt – or under its barrel, as it were – the company behind it is also now celebrating its 30th anniversary. Magnum Research is marking the occasion with an updated Baby Desert Eagle III which will be available with both steel and polymer frame options. The gun will be formally announced at the upcoming NRA Meeting in Nashville, TN.

MSRP between $646 and $691.

From Magnum Research:

This year, marks the 30th anniversary of Magnum Research, so now was the perfect time to introduce a new and improved look to the Baby Desert Eagle III. The new series is sleeker and features an upgraded refreshing new design.

The Baby Desert Eagle is known by the industry as having one of the most reliable mechanisms in the world, and this is evident in the new Baby DE III Series as well. It features a precision land and groove match barrel, ambidextrous teardrop-shaped decocking mechanism on the slide, smoother trigger pull, fully interchangeable magazines with all Baby Desert Eagle II models, and a reversible magazine catch for either left- or right-handed shooters. The integral tactical accessory rail makes it ideal for a variety of laser and light accessories.

Magnum Research has also trimmed down the slide and frame making its shape even more like its big brother, the Desert Eagle, and the trimmer design gives it a lighter weight than previous Baby Desert Eagle II models.

The Baby DE III can be purchased in polymer or steel frame, full size or semi-compact, and in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP calibers. The full-size 9mm pistol with the steel frame weighs just 38.0 oz., measures 8″ in overall length, with a 4.43″ barrel length, and slide width of 1.31″. It measures 5.375″ in height. The steel frame and slide are produced from high quality carbon steel with an attractive matte black oxide finish. The Baby DE III can also be purchased in a polymer frame with a black finish.

Other features include a double/single action (DA/SA) trigger with a 12 lb. trigger pull (DA), or 4 lb. for single action. The rifling is right-hand twist 6 lands and grooves, and combat-type, white three dot fixed sights. The Baby DE III ships with two magazines. MSRP for the Baby Desert Eagle III will range from $646 to $691 depending on which model it is.

Magnum Research will formally introduce the Baby Desert Eagle III at the NRA Annual Meeting in Nashville on April 10-12, 2015. Stop by the Kahr Firearms Group booth #2049 and check them out. Magnum Research will start shipping the Baby DE III polymer frame in June and the steel frame will begin shipping in September. For more information about Magnum Research products, visit www.magnumresearch.com.