bannockburn
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Armored farmer
That must be some awesome kind of raffle if a Korth revolver is one of the prizes!
That must be some awesome kind of raffle if a Korth revolver is one of the prizes!
Korth
- Thread starter army_eod
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Old Willi designed those grips and came up with the Korth Sonderverschraubung, the special screw and used these grips made in-house on the Sport models until 1969. In 1969 Karl Nill, the senior, started his company and made grips mostly for German manufacturers. Willi was one of the very first customers, after that Walther and other manufacturers also used his grips and they could be special ordered. Even Wischo, the German importer of S&W had Nill make grips for special S&W models that cater more to the German taste and quality expectations.
CopperFouling
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I just wanted to say this is a highly interesting thread with some great pictures.
Typetwelve
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Like driving a Ferrari or other exotic, I'd love to shoot a Korth one day...just to see if I feel it's up to claims I've read.
Sadly...I've only seen one in person at a store and it was one of the newer "tactical" Korth-Nighthawk models...not really a fan of those.
Sadly...I've only seen one in person at a store and it was one of the newer "tactical" Korth-Nighthawk models...not really a fan of those.
Riomouse911
Member
I wanted a Korth when Beeman was importing them back in the 1980’s and they were featured in their air gun catalogs that I drooled over (I turned 18 in 1985, still too young to buy a handgun in Ca. even then.).
Then, like now, a nice Korth is a bit out of my price range... but a boy can still dream
.
Stay safe.
Then, like now, a nice Korth is a bit out of my price range... but a boy can still dream
.Stay safe.
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Typetwelve
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I wanted a Korth back when Beeman was importing them back in the 1980’s and they were featured in their air gun catalogs that I drooled over (I turned 18 in 1985, still too young to buy a handgun in Ca. even then.).
Then, like now, a nice Korth is a bit out of my price range... but a boy can still dream
Stay safe.
They're so expensive...I'd just like to find out if it would make any difference for me as a shooter. I can shoot my smith tuned 627 like I am ringing a bell...and it was no where new $4-5000. I wonder if I could shoot better with something like a Korth.
Riomouse911
Member
I liken them to being the owner of a Porsche 911T or an AMG Benz. You might not drive any better than you would in a stock Ford Mustang, but the panache of the marque and pride of ownership makes you feel like a million bucks when you’re behind the wheel.
Stay safe.
DM~
Member
Maybe that is true for you. I shoot with a Bullseye High Master and he has some custom guns that are truly amazing.
Only one out of ten shooters is able to shoot 90% or better. That is what I have learnt in four decades of competitions. In other words, most people are lousy shots and having the money to buy an extremely accurate gun does not make anyone a master.
My shooting buddy is consistently above 97% and I have dropped below 95% but at age 61 I refuse using optics or glasses.
Most likely my S&W K-22 from 1952 is as accurate as a rimfire Korth in single action but the difference is in the built quality, longevity, the super smooth extraction of the Korth and the repeatable stacking in d/a.
DM~
Member
In my prime, I was a top shooter, I won 13 matches in a row against pretty good shooters, so I'm not one of those lousy shooters with a lousy gun. lol
I also never used a scope ect. in competition...
SO, I stand by my last post...
BTW, I have been pistol/revolver shooting since the 70's...
DM
DM~
Member
I'm NOT going to try to one up anyone here, it sounds like you had a great shooting career...
I also shot successfully at state level, and did quite well...but anyway enough of the bragging for me... lol
DM
two shanks
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I'm not a competition shooter but I wanted a Korth .357 magnum. I bought a National Standard. It is very nice and I wanted a .22 LR to go with it but they didn't make one so I started looking for a Ratzeburg Korth. I wanted the full under lug model in new or like new condition. Try to find one it is all but impossible. Finally one of the better known collectors put one up for sale. I paid too much for it but really wanted the Revolver.
If You are looking for the best new production revolver the Lollar Korth is it. (I had two Chapuis MR73 but sold them).
Comparing the Lollar to the Ratzeburg the Ratz gets the nod if You can appreciate the steel and workmanship and I can see where collectors prefer them the problem is finding a really nice one. If You only buy new and want the best current production .357 Magnum the Lollar Korth is a very nice revolver.
If You are looking for the best new production revolver the Lollar Korth is it. (I had two Chapuis MR73 but sold them).
Comparing the Lollar to the Ratzeburg the Ratz gets the nod if You can appreciate the steel and workmanship and I can see where collectors prefer them the problem is finding a really nice one. If You only buy new and want the best current production .357 Magnum the Lollar Korth is a very nice revolver.
two shanks
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They may be finely fitted and finished, and all that, but to be brutally honest.... they are hideously ugly.
Somebody had to say it.
Which one are You talking about.
They may be finely fitted and finished, and all that, but to be brutally honest.... they are hideously ugly.
Somebody had to say it.
Korth in Lollar contacted me, as a registered Korth owner with the Ratzeburg factory, when they opened shop and I have closely followed them ever since and have also visited their factory, as well as ordered spare parts from them. The current owners of Korth are long established in the precision manufacturing market and are gun enthusiasts, they just wanted to keep the old name and company alive. At first, they continued the Korth Sport and Combat models on their existing state-of-art CNC machinery and lost money with that approach, just as the old Korth factory had. I know that, I can find financial info on any company in Germany and also understand it. It is part of the skill set that helped me to have the financial means to shoot and collect luxury firearms.
While the change in models might not please the traditional Korth owners, or gives plenty of room for derogatory comments to those that cannot or do not want to afford a gun at that price level, the new guns are very well made and are excellent firearms. There is also, as Terry has pointed out in his above post, a larger line of different Korth models available than what some posts might suggest.
Korth has a Facebook page that is interesting to follow.
https://www.facebook.com/Korth-Arms-1374951989413003/
UncleEd
Member
To those familiar with and own the Korths:
Any views and experience on the German Janz revolvers?
I do know they cost much, much more than the Korths.
Any views and experience on the German Janz revolvers?
I do know they cost much, much more than the Korths.
Janz used to work for Korth and started his own company in Malente, not far away from Ratzeburg. He started Janz-Präzisionstechnik GmbH and is also manufacturing his revolvers as a side business. According to an older article in a German gun journal he is manufacturing 10 revolvers per month, which I find hard to believe. The revolvers can be ordered with different barrels and cylinder assemblies in order to shoot different calibres from one gun. Something that is mostly of interest in Germany, where a conversion kit in a smaller (or same) calibre does not require a new permit.
I have seen one in all the years and am aware of only two that were offered for sale on the used market, which is why I believe the production numbers to be blatantly exaggerated.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janz-Präzisionstechnik
If anybody here wants to go really wild, he can get a Club 30 gun. The Club 30 of Germany is a group of S&W certified armorers that have some privileges from S&W (FWIW, I wonder who has translated the class for them).
The Club 30 came up with a Smorth kind of design that will retail around $3000 in Germany. The following link is in German only and the gun will probably only be available in Germany but it is interesting to just know that it will be out there and I will follow this.
https://www.club30.de/RLrange-revolver.html#
The Club 30 came up with a Smorth kind of design that will retail around $3000 in Germany. The following link is in German only and the gun will probably only be available in Germany but it is interesting to just know that it will be out there and I will follow this.
https://www.club30.de/RLrange-revolver.html#
shootin-blanks
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my '78
The older .22 models from the '60s can be had for about $2,000, and Willi Korth himself had a hand in their making. Not a lot of money considering people are paying that for new Pythons which don't compare.
Not sure about that, Korth's have had 60,000 full power .357s through them, try that with a S&W.
I don't have it handy, but I recently saw a review from a buyer of the newer Chiapis Manurhin, he had several parts break off and bad forcing cone issues due to poor steel. He ended up scrapping it after they wouldn't honor the warranty.
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