Korth Revolvers?

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CajunBass

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I was in the gun shop today and noticed a revolver in the case. The tag said "Korth Komba". From a bit of searching on the web, I think it should be "Korth Kombat" and I believe it's made in Germany. It's a "med" frame six shot, I think, 38 special with about a 3" barrel. I didn't ask to see it close, but it seemed to be well made. At $995.00 (+ or - a few bucks, I don't remember exactly) I would hope it was.

Anbody know anything about them? I'm not interested in buying it, just never heard of them.
 
The Korth has the reputation of being the finest NON-PRODUCTION double action revolver ever made.

These were produced in Germany on a true custom basis, with the machine work being done the old fashioned way by master machinists and gunsmiths.
There was no automated equipment used at all.

Korth spared no expense to make them as good as possible, and the prices reflected that amount of hand work and finishing.

The Korth was never a production revolver, since in their best year, they never made 100 guns.

The finest PRODUCTION DA revolver was the Colt Python.

While the Korth was a finely made and innovative gun, like most non-American made revolvers, most people think it has a slightly "off" and odd appearance.
 
It's a lot of cash. However, if it's in 95% condition or better it's a good buy. They are one of the finest made.

If you don't mind me asking, where is the shop? Might be worth a visit for me.

Thanks!
 
They retailed about 4-5 years ago just south of $5,000 new.

It's arguably the finest DA revolver in the world.
 

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While I have't had my hands on one, what I've read about them implies that, like most German designs I've worked with, the product is over-toleranced.

It's fairly easy to design a product "line-on-line." That is, you assume that every part will be made exactly to the nominal dimensions on the drawing. For instance, if the design calls for a 1/2" slot, the designer assumes that the slot will be exactly .5000 inches, every time, on every gun.

The problem is that in reality no two parts are the same. There is some range in that dimension resulting from the manufacturing process. If the process is in control, that dimension should have a normal distribution (a bell curve) centered on the nominal dimension.

If the part is milled, a fairly typical capability would be +/- .005" on features less than three or four inches in size. That is about the thickness of a piece or two of xerox paper. The normal distrubution means ~2/3 of the parts will be +/- .0016". ~97% of the parts will be +/-.003".

If the tolerances on the drawing demand it, the manufacturer can take their time, and reduce it to +/- .001", assuming that the machine and setup can handle it. Of course, this requires more time and expense. A manufacturer will only go to this trouble if the design demands it, because it's expensive.

In general, if the tolerance is less than +/- .001", the part will have to be ground or EDM'ed. Both of these processes are fairly slow, and very expensive.

If the product was designed line-on-line, with no tolerances and an inadequate amount of effort was put into exploring the design to account for variation in the components, the manufacturer will be forced into using very expensive means to manufacture the components, or extensive hand fitting will be required to make up for the inability of the manufacturing process to meet the requirements of the product.

A design that is tolerant to variation is called robust.

I don't think the Korth design is robust. That Korth uses both expensive, slow manufacturing methods, and handfitting indicates to me that the design is not robust.

Now, I'm not saying they aren't good guns. They may be just as strong, durable and reliable as anything else out there. I'm saying that I suspect a less than robust design has forced Korth to charge exorbitant amounts of money for their product, because they aren't capable of making a less expensive gun.

edited for typos and other mistakes
 
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Any Korth you find under $2000 should be snapped up instantly!

Even a Korth in bad condition should go for over a grand.
 
If you don't mind me asking, where is the shop? Might be worth a visit for me.

Well if anyone is interested, it's at the Gander Mountain store in Fredricksburg, Va. I'm sure directory assistance can get you the phone number; I don't have it handy. The gun looked to me to in new condition, but like I said, I didn't examine it or anything, just saw it in the case. It does have a kind of "odd duck" look about it, mostly in the area of the grip. Not ugly, just not American I guess.

Now you guy's got me wondering if I read the price tag wrong. :eek: I'm 99.9% sure it was less than a grand, because I remember thinking I could get that Kimber I want for not much more. :D
 
"Gander Mountain store in Fredricksburg"

Nuts, so close and yet so far. It's not the 45-mile drive, it's the 30 minutes it'll take to drive the 2 miles from I-95 to the store. :( That's what it took the last time I did it.

JT
 
Man, I'm stuck with the family for Easter, might be hard to break away to chase this.

Oh, I could get in sooooo much trouble sneaking away to buy a gun on Easter:evil:

However, might just have to take the heat.
 
Nuts, so close and yet so far. It's not the 45-mile drive, it's the 30 minutes it'll take to drive the 2 miles from I-95 to the store. That's what it took the last time I did it.

You gotta sneak in the back way John. :D Get off 95 at the Massaponox exit, and go south on 1 to Southpoint. (That's where the new Wally World is.) Take Southpoint to Courthouse. (Watch your speed, that stretch is the biggest speed trap in Spotsylvania county.) Left onto Courthouse to Levels Road, then right on Levels. Across Harrison, Levels turns into Salem Church. Salem Church to Rt-3. Right on Rt 3 for a couple of blocks. :D
 
should've grabbed it!

Yes, it is a Korth Kombat. The .357mag/9mm, DA revolver is a steal with the 6-inch barrel. Definitely the best thing to come out of Deutschland since....
 
A korth? I'd love to get one for my imaginary Ferrari's glovebox. Seriously, whats the point of a gun that is that expensive? Did Smith and Wesson revolvers stop working or something?
 
Seriously, whats the point of a gun that is that expensive? Did Smith and Wesson revolvers stop working or something?

Not that I'd ante up the jingle for a Korth, but a stock production L frame has an MSRP of over $700. Judging from the machining on a NIB Model 60 I just bough my wife, there is no way you'd mistake this gun as being made & fitted by hand.

The PC revolvers are tuned & fitted production revolvers with some cosmetic & functional machining on standard frames, & they can reach an MSRP of $1500.

Whether or not it's a good business decision to try & sell hand built revolvers is one thing, but I can understand the cost & appreciate the workmanship. For me, I'd rather have 4 top quality production guns than a single revolver, but that's just me.
 
Wow. The things one can learn by reading posts about "unfamiliar" guns.

Thanks for all the useful info guys!
 
That looks like the same model as the store here has. I was in there today, and they still have it. The price on the tag is $999.97. The gun does appear to have been fired, but I can't see any wear on it at all looking at it in the display case. I didn't ask then to take it out since I'm not interested in it, and I hate to tie a salesman up when there are paying customers in the store. :D

Is it worth the price? I have no idea, but thanks to everyone for the information.
 
If it is a 38spl and 5 shot I believe it is less desireable but probably still worth the price. As for high end revolvers I want a Manurhin myself.
 
Well guys,

I am the purchaser of the .38 Special at Lock's in Philly. It is a 5-shot .38 Special which was built from 1966 to 1968. The 5-shot cylinder is as thick at its narrowest point as a Smith K-frame .357 Magnum so it can handle stout loads (although I plan to stick to +P special loads):) .

Except for some wear on the backstrap, there appears to be little, if any, use of the gun and with shot shells and 173 Keiths, it will make a fine auxillary handgun when I go hunting.

MDR
 
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