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Should I buy a MK23 or some other toy?

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RichieV

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Joined
Jul 7, 2004
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Hey folks,

So I had a bit of a windfall and I find myself in a position to make a decent purchase. I was at Ye Olde Gunne Shoppe yesterday and a desert tan MK23 caught my eye. It's going for $1800 with an out-the-door price of ~$1900 after taxes and whatnot. I resisted the immediate urge to splurge because it is quite a bit of cash to spend on an impulse buy. Because I'm famous for my indecisiveness, I'm here to ask fellow High Roaders to talk me in or out of making this purchase.

What factors are making me consider the MK23?

  • Extreme tacticoolness.
  • Having something that not a lot of other people have.
  • German engineering (HK in ze haus...representin' Deutchland! LOL)
  • They're not going to make any more of them.
  • I can get it NOW (unlike a custom 1911)
  • It enjoys a great reputation as an outstanding firearm.
  • I've been told it makes me more handsome when I hold it.

What's holding me back?

  • Is it worth the cost? (subjective, I know...one can argue that you can get four Glocks for the same amount of money, but four glocks is not a MK23. A MK23 is a MK23 and if you want one, then you have to pony up.)
  • It's not practical. It's size rules out concealed carry. Heck, it probably wouldn't even fit in the nightstand drawer!
  • Accessories are scarce and expensive.

So do any MK23 owners want to sound off? Are you proud owners or regretful ones? Any former owners? Are you glad or sad that you got rid of it?

I am also open to suggestions as to what other options I should consider in that price range. Before anybody says "get a Glock/XD/Ruger/etc. and a whole bunch of ammo", my response is "Eff that! Daddy wants an expensive new toy!".

Some alternatives I've been considering are a higher-end 1911 that would be immediately available for purchase, a tricked out AR-15, or a SOCOM II rifle. Also, I would consider instead of just one expensive gun, a couple of less-expensive higher priced ones instead (i.e. An HK USP tactical and a SW1911PD). Finally some non-gun toys I've been considering would be a nice acoustic 6-string guitar or an Omega watch.

Anyway, thanks for reading this and I look forward to your responses!

--Richard
 
Well, I've been eyeing those tan HK's in the CDNN catalogue lately. My only thing is that is an awful lot of money to plunk down on one purchase. If daddy wants that toy, and you've got the money, buy it. You'll always have it and you'll have a superb handgun.

Buy cheap handguns, and that's what you'll have...
 
Main reason to get a MK23 is to put a can on it ... if you like the MK23 (and its a nice piece) go ahead and get it, but save your pennies and contact Gemtech afterward :D
 
The MK23 felt way too big in my tiny paws, so make sure it fits your hand before dropping the cash.

I ended up saving some cash and just getting the slightly smaller Tactical. Not as rare or cool as the MK23, but all I wanted was a suppressed .45 and the Tac was good enough for me.
 
C'mon guys, everyone knows what the reason is for buying a Mk23. It's so you can look like this guy: :)

diver2.jpg
 
Originally posted by ABTOMAT

C'mon guys, everyone knows what the reason is for buying a Mk23. It's so you can look like this guy:

diver2.jpg
Click to expand...

Great. So now I need to drop some cash on a wetsuit and rebreathing apparatus too? LOL

--Richard
 
Funny thing about life, we only get to go around once (as far as we know). If this is something you really want and you can afford it, why not? There are worse things you could blow $1800 on.

If it was my $1800? Well, $1800 opens up a lot of other options in the firearms catagory that I would wish to buy first. But then it does not matter what I would buy. It only matters what you want to buy.

Besides, is there anyone here who doesn't wish they could ease up out of the water in SEAL gear with their new MK23 at the public swimming pool? Even just once in their life. :D
 
If you regret it, you'll be able to sell it for more than what you paid if it's in good condition in a year or two once the supply has dried up.

Just list it on a gun auction site with a reserve of what you paid for it now if you feel the need to free up the cash for other things.
 
Wanting a MK23

If you truly want a MK23 and can afford it w/o robbing Peter to pay Paul, by all means get it. You won't be happy with anything else. Now where did I see that new 'Vette....!
 
buying a MK23

If you truly want a Mark 23 and have the funds to buy it without having to rob Peter to pay Paul, by all means buy it. You will not be happy with anything else. Now where did I see that new 'vette!
 
Shoot, I already look like that guy.
I mean, I've got the funny shaped forhead, huge eye sockets and tiny funny shaped nose with the huge mechanical gear replacing my mough...and let's not forget the black synthetic skin I had installed.

Might as well complete the look.
 
Can you actually get it with a threaded barrel?

Can you get the HK LAM Units? How much are they?
Click to expand...

They all come with the threaded barrel. There's a thread protector cap if you don't have anything to hang on the muzzle.

The actual military contract LAM probably costs almost as much as the pistol, maybe even more I'd guess, just out of it's rarity. It's also a dual LAM, both visible red, and IR for NVG's. I think it also has nifty features like selectable laser flicker rates so you can tell your dot from your other buddies on the team.

Although you could just hang whatever other commercial LAM/Light on it you want. I am unsure if it's the proprietary HK/USP rail, or if it's a Picatinny. Since the Mk23 was made to fulfill a contract for US SOCOM, I'd wager it's Picatinny to be milspec, but it's just my best guess.

IIRC the "official suppressor" would probably be a Knight's Armament, but they sell little to the civilian market. However, there are several other suppressor companies that will with the proper paperwork and ATF/Treasury tax.

Way back in geez, '97? I bought the Mk23's "little brother" a USP 40, and one of the selling points to me was that it was one of the first handguns with the underbarrel rail. However, since they were the first to add an accessory rail on a commercial scale, it's proprietary. And by the time I finaly get serious about finding a light/LAM for my USP, most of accessory market's gone Picatinny, and for most of what I want, I need an adaptor which now makes my USP larger/heavier/bulkier. :cuss:

Although, that USP 40 is still my "nightstand gun" to this day. It replaced my Glock 21 in that role as I liked having a external safety lever should I need to grab it while only half-awake. Now that we've got kids, it's in a quick-access electronic "GunVault" brand gun-box. So I could probably go back to the Glock.

Although, the USP is not going to be in its role of "main house gun" much longer. After seeing our states online sexual predator registry map, (And one guy three houses down...) my wife actualy got interested in what the code to the GunVault was. So I think I'm going to switch to one of my revolvers once I can get her to at least empty one cylinder out of it at the range for the bare minimum of familiarization.

Actualy, it's kind of ironic. A Mk23 with a supressor and a LAM is the perfect introductory to centerfire handguns for a shy newbie shooter. The weight minimizes recoil. The nominaly subsonic .45 removes the sonic crack. The supressor negates the blast, and the LAM lets them easily hit what they're aiming at so they enjoy themselves.

What's not to love? :D

Being poor and not being able to afford an HK Mk23 is what. :(

Ah.. I can't complain. Between my collection, and what I've inherited from my Grandfather, I could arm G36-UK's entire neighborhood. God Bless America.
 
A Mk23 is $1800. Or you could get a USP Tactical and an AAC Evolution-45 for $1000+$650+$200=$1850. I just purchased that setup so the choice to me is obvious. Plus it seems like all the remaining Mk23s are desert tan. :barf:
 
Shoot, I already look like that guy.
I mean, I've got the funny shaped forhead, huge eye sockets and tiny funny shaped nose with the huge mechanical gear replacing my mough...and let's not forget the black synthetic skin I had installed.

Might as well complete the look.
Click to expand...

Is that you Darth?
 
GET IT NOW!!!

God, why are you even questioning it.. if you could actually afford it, do yourself a favor and get it.. because YOU CAN.

lucky guy
 
mk 23

I HAVE NOT 1 MEMBER HEARD WHO HAS ONE, WELL I DO.
I WILL NEVER PART WITH IT BECAUSE IT WILL ALWAYS SHOOT.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T CLEAN IT YOU WILL HAVE NO FAILURES,
AND IT TAKES ANY AMMO.
JUST ONE ADVICE, LET A GOOD GUNSMITH LIGHTEN THE TRIGGERPULL FOR YOU TO ABOUT TRHEE AND A HALF POUNDS AND YOU WILL NEVER NEED ANOTHER GUN IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
CHANGE THE RING ON THE BARREL EVERY 3000 ROUNDS[THEY'RE CHEAP]
ANY MORE QUESTIONS YOU CAN MAIL ME.
LEON IN HOLLAND
 
Buy away if you have the cash...but look 10 years down the road and see if you can visualize after-market O-rings for that bad boy now that it's been discontinued.
 
HAD ONE AND SOLD IT. Mine was a jam amatic. Pistol was sent back to dealer where I bought it and I was informed that the gun had some issues with the slide? So ended up returning gun for a refund and buying another make. I also had issues with my USP-40 compact. Slide wouldnt return to battery pistol felt like it was under sprung?:cool:
 
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