Collectible and useable Revolver advice

[PzGren]

The Evolution of the Korth Sport

Korth started manufacturing firearms in 1964 with .38 Special Police revolvers that were not commercially successful and production of a little less than 1.000 revolvers continued through 1965 when he also started to make the first Sport series revolvers in the 21 serial range. These guns were all very well made and exquisitely finished.

This is an example of a 1966 vintage revolver with the ejector rod being pulled forward to release the cylinder. The push button for cylinder removal is a larger blued knob just as on the Police models.



In 1967 and 1968 the models in the 22xxx and 23xxx serial range had a smaller knob to take out the cylinder and the trigger rebound spring was accessable from the outside. The grips are generally still very crude and unchanged from the 21xxx. I changed them to a pair of the later Nill manufactured grips.



In 1969 till 1971 starting with the 24xxx and 25xxx serial range the revolvers had the action evolution basically finished and the new cylinder latch on the right side of the hammer and a square ending ejector housing. Most importantly an exchangeable bearing was placed on top of the trigger which allows a very repeatable stacking and incredibly smooth double action. From this model on the grips were manufactured by Nill to Willi Korth's specs.



In 1971 with the 26xxx serial numbers the adjustment for the trigger rebound spring was slightly redesigned and the ejector housing used a slanted design.



In 1975 starting with the 30xxx serial range the Sport revolvers have a two piece barrel with a shroud and full underlug. The barrel profile is round.



Since the new barrel shroud immediately drew comparisons with the Colt Python Willi Korth changed the profile to a slightly slab-sided design in 1979, starting with the 32xxx series. This was basically the Korth Sport in its final form.



There were different front and rear sight options available, including a micrometer adjustable rear sight with three blades, a ramped front sight and a trigger shoe.

The Sport model with Nill adjustable palmrest grips, micrometer rear sight and a trigger shoe was marketed as the Target model.

 

[PzGren]

Of all my Korths, I have one favorite. It is a 1969 Korth Sport in .22l.r. It was the first Korth I had bought and shot since over ten years. I had bought it used from a German, whose father had used it in competitions for almost four decades. Since then I have fired ten thousands of rounds through it and can see no extra wear from the use. It did come with match grips with a palm rest, which I sold and got a pair of brand new original grips, including the special Korth screw in the Ratzeburg factory from the master gun smith, Mr. Neumann in fall of 2008, right before they closed shop. He was also kind enough to give me a personal tour of the factory and explain the whole production process.

The old gun is as tight as any Korth that is almost new and with the right bearing has an incredible D/A stacking. It is actually in my gun bag to accompany me to the range today, with 12 HKS K-22 speedloaders loaded and ready to go.

 

[Jim Watson]

with the right bearing has an incredible D/A stacking.

Please explain. My American revolvers are adjusted to have as little stacking on DA as possible.

 

[PzGren]

Please explain. My American revolvers are adjusted to have as little stacking on DA as possible.

You find the explanation in my post above, #26 it is.

 

[Jim Watson]

Most importantly an exchangeable bearing was placed on top of the trigger which allows a very repeatable stacking and incredibly smooth double action.

Yes, I saw that. Is there a bearing choice to get MINIMUM stacking?

The reason I ask is that at a more plebian level, my Pythons have been gunsmithed to reduce stacking while the Smith and Manurhin don't stack much to start with.

I have read of using stacking to stage the trigger and get a quasi single action shot off, and Paul Weston even put pressure points on grips to gauge it, but it seems the McGivern smooth stroke technique has won out.

 

[PzGren]

Yes, I saw that. Is there a bearing choice to get MINIMUM stacking?

The reason I ask is that at a more plebian level, my Pythons have been gunsmithed to reduce stacking while the Smith and Manurhin don't stack much to start with.

I have read of using stacking to stage the trigger and get a quasi single action shot off, and Paul Weston even put pressure points on grips to gauge it, but it seems the McGivern smooth stroke technique has won out.

Originally Korths came with five different wheels, marked 1 to 5. They all had a different diameter that led to more or less stacking, depending on the shooter's use and preferences.
When I shoot fast and dirty at one target or several larger targets in double action, I do not need stacking that I can feel. On the other hand, I have finally successfully fought the very expensive falling-plate addiction, where I preferred a stacking that I could feel and hold the trigger as I moved the gun to the next target. The MR73 usually have less noticeable stacking but let us not forget that they were brought to life to satisfy Raymond Sassia's demand for a French made revolver for GIGN.

As to the difference between Mulhouse and the guns made by the successor Chapuis Armes, Chapuis had some problems when they started out but those are long overcome. I have had the pleasure to own and shoot MR 73 revolvers from both factories, as well as some of the early MR73's with the piano wire trigger return spring, and found no appreciable difference in between Mulhouse and Chapuis revolvers. The difference in between Korth Ratzeburg and Korth, Lollar guns is easily noticeable and quite big, whether one is better than the other, is what everybody has to find out with first hand experience.

One thing for certain, Freedom Arms is in the same class and there are some custom gunsmiths, that can easily make a product of the same quality as a Korth or MR73 right here in the good ole U.S of A. Much like my 1911 Nowlin made by Nowlin sr. is absolutely as well made as any of my Swiss P210s.

 

[Varminterror]

I have also thought about a SW 500 (something I would not buy on my own) for its awe inspiring factor, but it is more common than one would imagine.

It’s too common, and it’s really only awe inspiring to folks who are on the outside looking in. Real wheelgunners tend to recognize the absurdity of the X-frame and it’s limited utility - in other words, trying too hard to be cool in front of the cool kids never works.