Korth Dilemma

Shoot66, if you like that Korth and you can afford it, without risking being killed by your wife, then go for it! You will regret it later if you let that deal go.
About parts (un)availability - I live in Bulgaria, so I know what it means. But you are not buying a carry piece, you are buying a fine piece of machinery to admire it... Parts can be found - one way or the other, just have to be patient (and willing to pay). Guns are very poor choices for investment and should never be looked like that. Fine guns must be brought with just one intention - to enjoy and admire. That's it.

Best,
Boris

QUOTE: "...And just for the record, beyond my wife hardly anyone is ever going to see the Korth. I shoot at a private range exclusively.
So what´s your thinking?"

Firstly, who cares if no one else but you and your wife see it? You said that you are a person who can appreciate fine craftsmanship and exemplary workmanship. No need to have onlookers affirm your decision.

Secondly, as others have said, past getting the first two or three firearms that everyone needs, there really is no reason to justify any gun acquisition on the basis of "need".

And lastly, you can afford it! I see no "dilemma" here.

While Korth in Lollar is still servicing the guns that had been manufactured in Ratzeburg their focus is now on different models and there are fewer of the old parts still available. When people talk about Korths they usually have a Korth Combat in mind but most revolvers were actually early model Target revolvers, many of which miss the roller on the trigger that makes double action shooting so nice.

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^^^
Goodness gracious. Hard to top PzGren's contribution. Makes me want a Korth now, of korth ...

Great to see all our European brothers checking in, best wishes to you all, and here's hoping your governments let you keep on keeping arms -- and shooting them.

I shot my first Korth some 40 years ago when my affluent friends allowed me the priviledge to shoot their premium firearms. In 1985 I saved up my money and bought a pre-owned Python and also a S&W M14-2 and found out that I preferred the S&W by far.

It took me many years to finally buy my first Korth, a rimfire revolver made in 1969 in the old factory in Ratzeburg and to this day it is my favourite rimfire revolver by far. I also have a Colt OMM and S&W K-22 that can shoot along the Korth when it comes to accuracy in single action but they get nowhere close when it comes to D/A and the smooth extraction of spent cases.

From 1967 on Korth revolvers had the trigger return spring adjustable from the outside and from 1969 they used exchangeable roller bearings on top of the trigger, allowing different stacking.

The smooth extraction of spent cases is a result of a hardened ball bearing being pushed up and down the chamber, giving it a glassy smooth finish.

While Korth made some great guns, not all are equally great shooters. I have seen more than one with less than stellar manufacturing, from wrongly cut forcing cones to poor carry-up. In general they are extremely durable and the only recurring problem that I have seen are frozen firing pins in rimfire guns that had been mistreated with uncushioned dryfiring.

My favorite rimfire Korth is almost always in the range bag since about seven years and went through tens of thousands of rounds without any problems or discernable wear.

I have been to the factory in Ratzeburg and Lollar and own 15 Korth revolvers of which most get shot regularly, a .32 S&W Long version was used yesterday.

While most folks are proud of their high condition guns, I am proud of using my guns for the intended purposes and allow for moderate wear.

PzGren

That's one awesome collection of Korth's! Thanks for sharing them with us!

Sheer awesomeness!

Yes, they are great guns but it is as easy to miss with a Korth as it is with a S&W.

One of the big disadvantages is very limited aftermarket parts availability for Korth revolvers. Nill makes the grips for Korth since 1969, at first to Willi Korth's specs. Those are the rather small grips that make full house .357 Magnum loads uncomfortable for anyone with a normal sized hand.

When I needed a taller front sight on a Combat model I had to get a used one from Korth which was the last ramped front sight they had. Installation was a little tricky since the sight is drilled with a 1.2 mm bit through the barrel shroud and then pinned. There is a noticeable gap left in the front which I will eventually fill.

The newer grips are much preferrable and help to get a better and more consistent grip with recoiling loads.

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The new models that are made in the Lollar factory are using grips that are interchangeable with S&W and, while well made, have lost a lot of the appeal of the extremely well finished older revolvers. Korths were not polished on a wheel but polished with sanding blocks, leaving crisp clear contours.

PzGren

One of the big disadvantages is very limited aftermarket parts availability for Korth revolvers. Nill makes the grips for Korth since 1969, at first to Willi Korth's specs. Those are the rather small grips that make full house .357 Magnum loads uncomfortable for anyone with a normal sized hand.

When I needed a taller front sight on a Combat model I had to get a used one from Korth which was the last ramped front sight they had. Installation was a little tricky since the sight is drilled with a 1.2 mm bit through the barrel shroud and then pinned. There is a noticeable gap left in the front which I will eventually fill.

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Interesting to learn that even Korth revolvers suffer from a few anomalies in terms of their design, construction, and aftermarket offerings.

Shoot 66,

I will try to give you a short overview of the production years and differences as a "buying guide".

I classify Korth by their serial number prefix range, which corresponds to production years.

20xxx Police models 1964, 1965
21xxx Sport models 1965/66
22xxx, 23xxx Sport 1967

24xxx, 25xxx Sport 1969 (start of roller on trigger)
26xxx, 27xxx Sport 1971 to 1973
28xxx Sport and intro of Combat model with solid rib, some .357 calibres start having 6 shot cylinders
29xxx Sport and Combat revolvers from now on 1974/75
30xxx 1975/1976 use of two piece barrel design on Sport model, too. Barrels have vented rib. Dynamit Nobel has sales contract
31xxx 1977/78
32xxx 1979/80 barrel shroud contour is changed to flat sides
33xxx 1981
The company was sold to Duke von Bernstorff who contracted the barrel shroud and cylinder manufacturing out to two companies in close-by Hamburg-Ahrensburg.

It took a while to get things back on track with employees changing and a change in management.

The story of the drop in quality of post 1981 guns is based on remarks made by Veit Morgenroth in his book. Veit also was a very close friend of Willi Korth and had a grudge against the new owners and he is the main source saying that Korth revolvers declined in quality from 1982 on for several years. However, I found no evidence for that but stories on the internet grow wings easily.

So far I only have seen one single Korth that must have left the factory in less than stellar condition, a 1988 Korth in ,32 S&W Long that had the barrel cone cut way too big and suffered poor accuracy.

The Profi models are every bit as carefully manufactured as the regular models made in Ratzeburg just have a less expensive finish and were mostly catering to German hunters who carried the four inch revolvers and weren't concerned with finish or finish wear.

Something else, while Korth revolvers are seen as sheer luxury nowadays, Willi Korth had started sales at a price point to compete with Colt and S&W back in the 1960s. The Police models were made for the Hamburg Port police but when the order was ready to be shipped the police had already bought Walther pistols and the guns were liquidated on the private market at blow-out prices.

The price hikes started when Dynamit Nobel had a contract for sole distribution of Korth revolvers and introduced the revolvers on the international market. Until the company was sold the last time and left the sleepy town of Ratzeburg, all guns had the proof mark of Eckernförde and were proofed in the basement of the SIG Sauer factory ( by Mr. Plohmann).

If you want advice on a specific gun or parts availability, feel free to send me a PM. I have a price list with parts from Korth, Lollar for the older revolvers. Most parts are still available in limited numbers and the CEO, Mr. Andreas Weber assured me that they would make any part needed that they do not stock.

Just to let you know what you are getting into; the grip screws, which have screw heads on both sides cost €22,79 without bushings and since you are a EU citizen they'd collect 19% VAT on top from you.

Buy it, but don't shoot it. I wouldn't do anything to mar the finish. The craftsmanship of the Korth is something I'd appreciate far more than shooting it. I wouldn't pay two grand for any gun I intended to shoot (that's what S&Ws and Rugers are for).

Oh, and please post photos once you have the Korth in hand.

.

Confederate

Buy it, but don't shoot it. I wouldn't do anything to mar the finish. The craftsmanship of the Korth is something I'd appreciate far more than shooting it. I wouldn't pay two grand for any gun I intended to shoot (that's what S&Ws and Rugers are for).

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I don't know about you but if I'm paying anything close to $2000 for a gun it most definitely is going to be taken out and used.

That would be like buying a Ferrari 488 GTB (or in this case it could also be a Porsche 911 Turbo S), and not driving it.

Buy it, but don't shoot it. I wouldn't do anything to mar the finish. The craftsmanship of the Korth is something I'd appreciate far more than shooting it. I wouldn't pay two grand for any gun I intended to shoot (that's what S&Ws and Rugers are for).

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I think that the craftsmanship and engineering can only be fully appreciated when a gun is shot by a capable marksman and when that gun can convince with its performance. While a little bit of high end often costs a lot of money there are cheaper alternatives to high end guns but there is no substitute for learning basic guncraft and training.

good lord I cant believe there is even a question here. If you want it, can afford it, and its a great price from what you say, buy it! if you don't want it, then don't!


on a side note, there is almost nothing in my safe that I wouldn't sell for an opportunity to buy a Korth revolver in good condition at that price point, save a couple sentimental items and two revolvers in particular that would be difficult, perhaps even impossible to replace (even those I might even consider if the price was good enough).

I don't have nearly the Korth collection that Andy does, but I have a few. I can say with confidence that the Korth Combat is the finest revolver you can buy.








































Here's my trio of Korths...

1976 Korth Combat 357, 1985 Korth Combat 357, and 1989 Korth Autopistol 9mm

I don't have nearly the Korth collection that Andy does, but I have a few. I can say with confidence that the Korth Combat is the finest revolver you can buy.

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Well Brian,

this is good to hear, especially coming from a man with your impressive collection of premium handguns who is also shooting and comparing them and looking critical at performance!

Wow, only two weeks for a permit - compared to my place of living this is fast!

...Thank you all for helping me get poorer again...

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Now, now - those are money spent for a good cause!

(or in this case it could also be a Porsche 911 Turbo S)
Amen!
no korth but I got a fun daily driver! (see it can even hold 12 ninja turtle balloons for a
party!=practical!!!)
someday a korth when I find the right one

bannockburn said:

Confederate



I don't know about you but if I'm paying anything close to $2000 for a gun it most definitely is going to be taken out and used.

That would be like buying a Ferrari 488 GTB (or in this case it could also be a Porsche 911 Turbo S), and not driving it.

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Exactly!