Korth semi auto: need your opinion.

I doubt many (if any) own them here.

They're supposed to be completely custom built from very high quality parts but honestly I think they're more of a status symbol for people than anything. Like big diamonds on a ring or a nice sports car.

If I could easily afford one I would buy one because they're very nice guns but for the most part, I doubt it does anything better than a $1500 custom pistol.

The only actual owner I know of is bc1023 on this board.

The last time you asked in the form of a poll with a number of expensive pistols, he said of the Korth: "Awesome gun."

He describes it at some length at:
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1438148&highlight=Korth

Maybe he will discuss it some more this time around.

They're probably worth 5-9k...the question is do you want one for 5-9k . They are even more scarce than well-made; IIRC, there's only a couple hundred or so Korth autos of any sort in existence. I'd swing for the Damascus 357 they made a while back, if any

TCB

Godfather, its all about having something exotic and totally different from anything else. They are completely hand built out of solid blocks of steel. They are heavy and extremely high quality. Korth does not base their designs on anything. The auto was designed from the ground up by Willie Korth himself. In fact, he actually built several of the early guns himself.

Are they worth it? For me it was, but I'm a collector of exotic pistols and would imagine I'm in the vast minority in saying that. I've never seen one priced below $8000, so I'm not sure where you're getting one for $5000, unless its in real rough shape. I paid $8500 for mine. There is one on Gunbroker with a BIN price of $9800. Korth USA has a few left brand new for $12000 and up. Less than 300 were ever made and I don't believe Korth is building them anymore. Mine is number 122.

I will stress the fact that the Korth is a very unique, exotic pistol with build quality second to none. The Korth was built more as a status symbol and a was an effort by Wille Korth to see just how well he could build an auto. Its a great shooting gun, but it was never designed as a target pistol. Its actually a DA/SA pistol.

The Korth was not design with target shooting in mind. It was designed with quality in mind and everything else, including costs, secondary. DO NOT expect it to outshoot serious single action target guns, such as the Sig P210, S&W 952, or Pardini GT9, among others. That would be a very tall order.

Nice collection.

Interesting with the locking block up front.

Very cool!

That's an interesting gun. I've never heard of Korth, but I'm a simpleton.

Guess I better go buy the newest COD, eh tarosean?

el Godfather- with your number of posts about the high-end and expensive guns you have considered and that you have bought, I'd love to see some pics. You've got to have one heck of a collection.

But, Bc1023, its design *has* to be based on Browning's... by definition, right (joke on some people I know who believe it is humanly impossible to make a pistol that is not derived from John Browning's designs)?

I'd love to see some pics. You've got to have one heck of a collection.

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Me too!

I've been wanting to see some of that high-end & full-auto stuff in that collection for some time now!!

rc

rcmodel said:

Me too!

I've been wanting to see some of that high-end & full-auto stuff in that collection for some time now!!

rc

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I'll second that.

You have a nice collection bc1023 thank you for sharing.

bc1023, would you consider the Korth any "better made" than the Sig P210, S&W 952, or Pardini GT9?

From what he said in regards to the P210 against the Korth, he says it will not outshoot the P210. From that, I gather that the Korth may be built "just as well" but the features which define it as unique are all that it has going for it. It's one of those "lookie here" guns. If you're after the "one of a kind" appeal, you'd like it.

bc1023, would you consider the Korth any "better made" than the Sig P210, S&W 952, or Pardini GT9?

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Hard to say. The slide to frame fit is tighter.

The line looks like it was drawn with a pencil.

I would say its probably a better quality gun than the Pardini or Smith. The Swiss P210s are extremely well made with the best parts around though.

Bc1023
Apart form fine craftsmenship and exotic value in collection, how well does it shoot? I am in market for a korth product. I am undecided whether to buy a revolver of thier semiauto.

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It shoots very well. However, it really wasn't designed as a target gun. Target pistols are generally single action only. The Korth's trigger really can't match that of some others, because of that. If they were all on a ransom rest, who knows?

Speaking of a real high end target pistol, has anyone ever seen a Delta AR Top Gun?

Its very exotic and very well built with an amazing trigger. Mine is the only one I've ever seen in person. Check out the design in the youtube link. Its was awarded the finest European pistol of 1998. Considering its competition, that's an honor. Its even more rare than the Korth auto and of extreme high quality.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a28_1176246726


Check out the design and sheer quality of the parts in this short video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdD6NXdEWgw

Interesting - the Delta appears to be a roller-locked design. Huh.

Here's another high-end .45, made by a guy named George Wilson in the early 60s:

I like this thread a lot already. Keep sharing more of these high-quality, exotic handguns!

Ian how does that thing work? And how accurate is it?

It's a pivoting wedge lock, like a P38. It was very accurate in my hands, but would do much better with a serious bullseye shooter. Outstanding trigger, great sights - it's a very well thought-out gun, made by a guy who was a serious shooter himself. I have a video on shooting and disassembly of it, which I'll be posting in a month or two.