Some West German excellence to share...

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bc1023

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Since this is one of my favorite pistols of all time, I figured to post an updated thread on it. Sadly, due to the extreme rarity and and ridiculous prices they fetch these days, they are so seldom discussed. That's unfortunate, because they are likely the finest semi auto pistols ever produced in Germany (at least post WWII) and certainly one of the finest pistols ever produced anywhere in the world.

The HSP 701 was developed and patented by Edgar Budischowsky in Germany in the late 1970’s. Budischowsky was a Czech gun designer who lived and worked in Heidelberg. The HSP was introduced in 1984 and was built on a fully custom basis to order. For its construction, the primary focus was build quality. Busischowsky’s goal was not only to build the finest pistol in all the land, but also to give it the reliability and accuracy to match. Costs were barely a concern at all. The gun was never produced for any service, so it didn’t suffer from a limited budget or design requirements. It was there so folks with a taste for the fine and the means to have it could indulge in the best of the best. Back in 1984, the handgun world was much different and, in many ways, the Korriphila was one of the first of its kind. Base price in 1984 was about $2000, so it was not for the faint of heart.

Production numbers are a bit sketchy. From what I understand, these pistols were built at a rate of 20-30 per year. However, they were not built continuously. The HSP was introduced sometime in 1984. The pistols produced in 1984 and 1985 had a “0” serial number block, one of mine being 023. In 1986, Budischowsky produced guns under the 700 serial block. In 1987 it was the 800 serial block, such as my Target model. There was also a 900 serial block from the early 1990’s. Why the designer used these blocks of numbers instead of one continuous string, I have no idea. I’m sure it had something to do with minor changes that were made along the way or just a way to organize the production years. From what I've been able to gather, only about 200 to 250 were produced in total.

The first iteration of the pistol was that of a 4” DA/SA 45ACP defense pistol. That was the original configuration of the HSP. However, it was also offered with a 5” barrel and the buyer’s choice of eight different calibers. Despite these choices, I’d venture to say that probably two thirds of all Korriphila pistols built were chambered in 45ACP, with just about all the rest chambered in 9mm Luger. The gun was intended for self defense and almost all of them were of DA/SA configuration, regardless of the barrel length. However, Budsischowsky did build a few Target/Competition models with SAO trigger systems. Again, this was an option for a price to the buyer. The single stack magazines hold seven rounds of 45ACP or nine rounds of 9mm. The pistol itself always appeared to me that it was aimed primarily at the American market, hence the caliber it was designed for. Even some of the test targets are measured in yards instead of meters, which is quite rare for a German handgun.

The design itself is that of a roller delayed blowback, similar to that of an HK P9S, but of Budischowsky’s own interpretation. It works exceedingly well and does a fantastic job dampening recoil. Delayed blowback pistols come in all shapes and sizes, some work great, others may as well have not been delayed at all. Budischowsky’s system is one of the best and most effective I’ve ever seen. The barrel is fixed to the frame and field striping is initiated by pulling down on the two levers on each side of the trigger guard. Once the slide and frame are separated, the bolt and firing pin assembly can be removed for cleaning by pressing in the small lever on the right side of the slide near the serrations. The HSP 701 features a firing pin safety on all pistols and a decocker on the DA/SA variety.

Construction, refinement, attention to detail, and overall quality of the HSP is simply as good as it gets. All parts are cut from high quality carbon steel blocks. The part fitting is almost beyond belief, and the metal work rivals any of the custom 1911 builders of today. Shaking the gun yields no rattle. It actually makes no noise at all. While I own many guns that do the same thing, the Korriphila literally feels like one solid piece of steel in my hands. The level of forming and machining of the parts is just way off the charts and I made a feeble attempt to illustrate that with my pictures. The cross hatching on the front, back strap, and trigger guard is beautifully done and matches the checkering on the fine walnut grips. The top of the slide is very nicely serrated as well. Seriously, there is nothing better that I’ve owned or handled from a quality and craftsmanship standpoint. The roll marking is perfect. Even the magazines are amazingly well built and better than many complete guns I own. Very few other handguns I own can approach this level of sheer craftsmanship and attention to detail and I'm fortunate enough to have some of the world's best built over the decades.

At any rate, I thought this would appeal to fans of fine European or German handguns. Hopefully you enjoyed the short read.

Anybody here own or have experience with one of these? If so, what are your thoughts?

Please enjoy the pics...



Here is my 1984 4" DA/SA Defense Model in 45ACP

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Some macro pics

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Good write up on some very fine looking pistols. You're a lucky man. Thanks for sharing.
 
I saw one at a gun show a while back. Had no clue what it was or what it was worth. The guy had it priced at 900 and I couldnt figure out why it would be so high. It did not fit my hand well so I didn’t bother looking it up. Probably should have.
 
I saw one at a gun show a while back. Had no clue what it was or what it was worth. The guy had it priced at 900 and I couldnt figure out why it would be so high. It did not fit my hand well so I didn’t bother looking it up. Probably should have.
Yeah I would say so

The last one on GB brought five figures.
 
Now THAT"S a real slide stop! I would love to see the inside of that gun.
Yeah, I'll have to take some pics of the innards. Its actually a fairly complex design, very intricate.

The slide stop doubles as a decocker on the DA/SA model, which is why its a bit longer than the Target model's slide stop.
 
It certainly would be interesting to see John Browning's reaction to it after taking one apart. German engineering has always blown my mind.
 
Those are really fine looking pistols. The photos really show the quality of craftsmanship that went into making them. Thanks for sharing.
 
bc1023

A very impressive piece of engineering and construction! For some reason it reminds me somewhat of a Mauser HSc.

Thanks for the review and excellent photos!
 
bc1023, I could say some smart statement like when are you going to sell them to me, but the reality is, those are pistols you don't sell. They are beautiful in design and function. Thank you for sharing the pictures and background with us.
 
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