HK4. First pistol built and sold by H&K. I have one (1974) with probably 2 mags through it in it's life. Purchased it
from the original owner that bought it and put it in the sock drawer to be virtually forgotten about.
This pistol is a convertible. From the factory, it came available with either 2 calibers,
or 4. The two caliber model came with .22LR and by means of a barrel and mag change, .380. The 4 caliber model came as
.22, .25, .32, and .380. I bought mine for a song compared to it's value in the mint condition it was in.
I picked this up as a collectible, safe queen, trophy. Had told myself I was not going to shoot it. The urge to test it got
the better of me. Somehow (first HK4 I've seen), the condition of the recoil buffer got past me. Was intact and looked fine
but for the color of it. It was seriously aged and brittle.
Jump ahead decades to last Sunday. Six rounds mags with .380 barrel installed. 5th round fired, slide did not "quite"
return to battery. A pretty gentle nudge got it into position and 6th round went fine. Fresh mag inserted. 1st shot ok, 2nd
shot and the slide jams about 3/4 of the way open and will not budge.
Got home and got it apart. Crumbs of a material that looks like amber fall out. Frame damage behind where the buffer installs. Heartbreak.
Spent hours on phone with H&K and other HK specialty houses including Numrich
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/
No luck. New frame buffers have not been made for this pistol for 29 years and I'm fearful of the frame being a scrap pile.
Sent the photo showing chipped frame to Adam at hkparts.com. He said it's not fatal (whew!) but I definitaly need new buffers before I can use it.
Says if I can find a new buffer, buy several.
Found this thread
http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-handgun-talk/180416-premature-buffer-death-my-hk4.html
and then this
http://www.lionseek.com/guns/brand/heckler-koch/wts-hk4-laser-cut-buffers-918980
Parts are on the way and my jewel is not fatal!!!
from the original owner that bought it and put it in the sock drawer to be virtually forgotten about.
This pistol is a convertible. From the factory, it came available with either 2 calibers,
or 4. The two caliber model came with .22LR and by means of a barrel and mag change, .380. The 4 caliber model came as
.22, .25, .32, and .380. I bought mine for a song compared to it's value in the mint condition it was in.
I picked this up as a collectible, safe queen, trophy. Had told myself I was not going to shoot it. The urge to test it got
the better of me. Somehow (first HK4 I've seen), the condition of the recoil buffer got past me. Was intact and looked fine
but for the color of it. It was seriously aged and brittle.
Jump ahead decades to last Sunday. Six rounds mags with .380 barrel installed. 5th round fired, slide did not "quite"
return to battery. A pretty gentle nudge got it into position and 6th round went fine. Fresh mag inserted. 1st shot ok, 2nd
shot and the slide jams about 3/4 of the way open and will not budge.
Got home and got it apart. Crumbs of a material that looks like amber fall out. Frame damage behind where the buffer installs. Heartbreak.
Spent hours on phone with H&K and other HK specialty houses including Numrich
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/
No luck. New frame buffers have not been made for this pistol for 29 years and I'm fearful of the frame being a scrap pile.
Sent the photo showing chipped frame to Adam at hkparts.com. He said it's not fatal (whew!) but I definitaly need new buffers before I can use it.
Says if I can find a new buffer, buy several.
Found this thread
http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-handgun-talk/180416-premature-buffer-death-my-hk4.html
and then this
http://www.lionseek.com/guns/brand/heckler-koch/wts-hk4-laser-cut-buffers-918980
Parts are on the way and my jewel is not fatal!!!
