Korth 357 or SCAR 17?

[Huntolive]

I had a prior post here about possibly getting a Korth
I own at least 4 Smith & Wesson 357 of good quality three Dan Wesson revolvers each with three barrels each , Colt Python, 3-in Colt King Cobra with barrels in total arranging from 3 in to 8 in with most being 6 in versions.

However the price of Korth is really kind of outrageous even when compared to the high price of a scar 17.
I figured that when I have my other revolvers in single action there really won't be any big advantage to the Korth.

Likewise I have a good collection of semi-automatic 308s of 5 varieties, and yet the scar 17 is still calling to me

I can get one for under $3,200 and it looks like the cheapest k o r t h i could buy would be at least 4,000 that I would like.

At this time I can only afford one.

Doesn't it seem like a scar 17 at 3200 is one hell of a better buy in terms of capabilities and added value than a korth at 4,000?

Thoughts?

 

[Huntolive]

Here are a few of my 357s

In all fairness I also have a galil Ace 308 a Saiga 308, Adam arms piston driven AR-10 , an fnar, Tavor 308, and M1A SOCOM 2.

So with either acquisition there would be some redundancy LOL and the need to sell at least one item from my collection.

 

[Paul7]

Sell enough S&Ws to pay for the Korth. Don't forget there are older blued Korth .357s out there for less than that $4K figure.

 

[Huntolive]

Yes I've tried to find those mythical older Korths
But they all seem to be $6,000 or so.
Where do I find one?
I've checked guns international and GunBroker

 

[Huntolive]

Even so I'm not sure the court could possibly be worth three nice quality Smith & wessons
...

 

[NeroM]

I don't get it?
Seems like the Korth/Scar is an apple/orange type comparison ?
If you need/want a great revolver - get a FA97 in 357 ?
French and German upscale revolvers are nice,
FA is great !

 

[Mosin77]

Flip a coin?

Neither particularly calls to me….. but I feel like the Korth might give you better internet bragging rights? The Scar 17 may be more practical/cool if you play uber-tactical-operator type games.

 

[brunowbe]

Neither. Hi Point Yeet Cannon for the win.
https://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/hi-point-handguns/9mm-OGYC.php

 

[eddiememphis]

Korth. Beautiful hand built revolver.
Scar. Ugly heavy bulky battle rifle.
You'll pull out the Korth just to look at.
The rifle will live in your safe.

 

[PzGren]

The rare Korth Combat is one of the guns that sells for over five grand, the standard .357 Sport can be found well below that. While Korths were handbuilt in the Ratzeburg factory, the Lollar guns are made on state of the art CNC machines. I am lucky enough to have a few more S&W revolvers than most and consider Korths well worth their price.



I bought this S&W 686 for $361 new some time ago and consider the Korth Sport worth easily ten times more.

.

 

[shoebox1.1]

In this political environment I might get the scar. I personally would like to see you get the korth

 

[Paul7]

Yes I've tried to find those mythical older Korths
But they all seem to be $6,000 or so.
Where do I find one?
I've checked guns international and GunBroker

Here's one for $3K, grips aren't great but are easily replaced:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/904212105

Here's a new Mongoose for $3,900, no reserve:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/903037969

 

[Paul7]

I bought this S&W 686 for $361 new some time ago and consider the Korth Sport worth easily ten times more.

Agreed, I handled a new S&W 17 a few days ago, it was a joke compared to my 1967 Korth Sport .22, which was only $1K more.

 

[PzGren]

Here's one for $3K, grips aren't great but are easily replaced:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/904212105

---

That early Korth has the original grips that were still made by Korth and are extremely rare to find as a spare, even the Nill made grips of the same style are hen's teeth nowadays and so are the Korth special screws and bushings. There were a couple dozen of Nill grips taken over by Korth Lollar in 2008 that are lo-o-o-ong sold out.

 

[DukeConnor]

Have you ever handled a SCAR ?
I got a chance to shoot one last year. It is a cool rifle that I admired, but after handling one I lost interest (thankfully $$$).

It seemed heavy, bulky and rattly. No offense to anyone that owns one. My buddy loves his.
It just wasn't for me.

 

[Paul7]

That early Korth has the original grips that were still made by Korth and are extremely rare to find as a spare, even the Nill made grips of the same style are hen's teeth nowadays and so are the Korth special screws and bushings. There were a couple dozen of Nill grips taken over by Korth Lollar in 2008 that are lo-o-o-ong sold out.

I stand corrected, you can't get target grips for the early Korths from Nill, correct?

 

[PzGren]

Paul,

the frames in Ratzeburg were all really hand made and have slightly different dimensions. Nill had discontinued the Korth style smallish grips that they had made since 1969 a long time ago. All these grips needed to be fitted to the individual gun and rarely work on another gun.
Nill makes larger grips for later Ratzeburg revolvers still, those should also fit most earlier guns with some fitting and are more ergonomic for full power .357 Magnum loads..

 

[Paul7]

Paul,

the frames in Ratzeburg were all really hand made and have slightly different dimensions. Nill had discontinued the Korth style smallish grips that they had made since 1969 a long time ago. All these grips needed to be fitted to the individual gun and rarely work on another gun.
Nill makes larger grips for later Ratzeburg revolvers still, those should also fit most earlier guns with some fitting and are more ergonomic for full power .357 Magnum loads..

Didn't you post a photo of an early .22 Korth with the later target grips? Did you add those yourself? Below is my 1967 .22 sport that came with the later target grips, I was told they may have been special order when the gun was new. I assume Nill was making those grips then before they became standard with Korth. They appear to be about the same age as the gun, not a more recent swap.

 

[PzGren]

Paul,

Karl Nill had a start up company in 1969 and Korth was one of his first commercial customers, followed by Carl Walther, Ulm. The Nill grips on my pre 1969 gun had been replaced by myself, I collect guns and parts since a long time and have even a few vintage Korth parts.

The grips that you have posted on your gun are the Korth in-house grips with a better than regular fit. Whoever told you that they are later grips was leaning out the window. Most people that sell Korths these days on GB would also peddle condoms in the Vatican if the margin was right and even recycle the used product into bubble gum to sell to innocent kids.

I replaced the grips with Nills of this old gun:


The first run of Sport revolvers from the 21 series had the kindergarden-project grips made at the Korth factory



22 series were already much better made, yet still not as well as the Nills and generally without the thumbshelf, which was added late by Willi

 

[Paul7]

The grips that you have posted on your gun are the Korth in-house grips with a better than regular fit.

The grips on mine are not like your second and third photos, I don't think they are Korth early in-house grips. Look at the shape of the grip on the left side of the gun in my first photo, it is almost identical to your first photo of the left side of your gun in post #19, just more wear and not as nice wood. It is why I picked this one over the rest of the lot that were offered which had grips like the ones in your second and third photos. Same with my photo of my right side grip, it is nothing like your second right side photo.

 

[CraigC]

I don't know where people are getting that the SCAR17 is heavy, it ain't. It's 8lbs and for a .308 battle rifle, that is light.

The SCAR is an awesome rifle. We got Dad one several years ago and he loves it. I could just never spend that kind of money on that kind of firearm. Because once that happens, you then have to buy a really good optic to survive it. I'd get an M&P10, a nice 1-6x (sub-$600) and call it a day.

I'm also a long way from paying $3000-$4000 for a .357 but those older Korths are starting to grow on me. I'd be more likely to spend $2-3000 on a .22 though. However, that money would go a long way towards paying for one of my custom projects.

 

[Ric]

Ive got 5 rifles in various calibers….but I’m a handgunner at heart. Korth

 

[buddyd157]

I had a prior post here about possibly getting a Korth
I own at least 4 Smith & Wesson 357 of good quality three Dan Wesson revolvers each with three barrels each , Colt Python, 3-in Colt King Cobra with barrels in total arranging from 3 in to 8 in with most being 6 in versions.

However the price of Korth is really kind of outrageous even when compared to the high price of a scar 17.
I figured that when I have my other revolvers in single action there really won't be any big advantage to the Korth.

Likewise I have a good collection of semi-automatic 308s of 5 varieties, and yet the scar 17 is still calling to me

I can get one for under $3,200 and it looks like the cheapest k o r t h i could buy would be at least 4,000 that I would like.

At this time I can only afford one.

Doesn't it seem like a scar 17 at 3200 is one hell of a better buy in terms of capabilities and added value than a korth at 4,000?

Thoughts?

i have the Korth Mongoose, in 357/38 special, 6" barrel, and i love it. the incredible smooth trigger action (mounted into roller bearings) and the accuracy are fantastic.

yes, true, it is NOT cheap, but it is (to me) worth the price tag.

i also have a Colt Python, and a S&W 686 +, and a Ruger GP100.

i love all my revolvers (along with my 1911's and other semi automatics), and i am believing that the Korth will hold it's value or increase over time.