This pistol looks impressive, but it was not picked up in a major government or police contract. Key point: The Desert Eagle is a neat weapon that remains popular among a niche of private owners. However, it did not make it as a law enforcement or military weapon. In the mid-1980s, a powerful new handgun quickly achieved gun celebrity status. The Desert Eagle was an innovative design that ported over heavy revolver rounds to the semiautomatic pistol platform. The pistol was featured in dozens of action films, and although expensive and not widely adopted by military services the Desert Eagle gained a cult following.