Korth is here . . .

[KyJim]

The Mongoose is a more traditional looking revolver. Take a look at it if you haven't already. Follow the link in my first post to Nighthawk's site.

[michael t]

Used to be look up ugly pistol got Glock

Now get this. No thanks not even for free .

Excuse I now much go wash my eyes out . Their still suffering from ugly shock

[UncleEd]

The picture seems to show a model with a competition sleeve over the barrel and the top strap. The setup with the "sleeve" is not much different looking than a lot of PPC guns.

[Skans]

There are three reasons to own a Korth:

1. For its beauty;
2. For its ultra-tight custom revolver tolerances and precision;
3. Because it's a Korth made in Germany.

Perhaps Korth, being of German / European origin terribly misunderstands Americans who have $7,000 at their disposal to purchase a revolver. While there might be a segment of the gun-owning population in the US who likes "tacticool" guns, they are not high-end revolver folks.

Now, if you take that Nighthawk Korth and turn it into a semi-auto, make in in 44 magnum or 50AE, and finish it in gold with black tiger stripes - well, there you go, Korth might find a market for it.

[Rinspeed]

I wouldn't own a pistol with Nighthawk on the side, many more better choices on many levels.

[bac1023]

As an owner of multiple Korths, I don't see the appeal of these at all.

If you want a Korth, buy one. Who wants a watered down "Korth" with a Nighthawk logo on it?

[ifithitu]

That's a big ole price $4000+,my budget say i'll always be seeing someone else carrying it.

[clang]

No wonder they are so expensive, what with all those extra features. Look, they have a built in cheese grater on the side of the barrel.

[PzGren]

This topic was discussed on a few other sites and I had posted some explanation on the S&W forum about Korth revolvers. I am a Korth collector but predominantly a shooter and appreciate the fine quality and longevity of Korth revolvers.

Here is an excerpt from my post:
"Korth built the first cartridge revolvers in 1964 to fill an order of the Hamburg port police but by the time he had the guns finished the police had already ordered .32 ACP pistols and the guns were liquidated on the civilian market.

The Korth action was refined over the years and needed from 1964 to 1969 to arrive at its peak with exchangeable rollers ontop of the trigger that changed DA let-off and also incorporating a screw that allowed the trigger weight to be adjusted from the outside.

I have Korth revolvers made in Ratzeburg, the town where Willi Korth started out manufacturing his finely finished revolvers and personally do not find an interest inthe current Korth product line. The Korth revolvers from Lollar share several advantages of the original Korth design, like the roller sear and chambers that got smoothened out by a roller being pushed into it and giving a glassy smooth finish that makes ejection of particularly rimfire cartridges a whole lot easier than on my 1952 vintage K-22.

The finish on the Korths from Ratzeburg is outstanding! Korth did not use a buffing wheel but sanding blocks and outsourced the bluing to a nearby company in Hamburg, the hardening was outsourced to the same company that does the hardening for SIG Sauer. Eckernförde is not far away from Ratzeburg and in the basement of SIG Sauer is the proof house where Korth had the revolvers proofed."

There is a link in an earlier post here to the youtube video about a Korth revolver being tested and it has made some waves and is definitely educational but when I look at the trigger stop not being adjusted properly, I have some serious doubts about the author's comprehension and appreciation of Korth's advantages.

I have a background of shooting competitions successfully for accuracy and the much more interesting and less static action shooting disciplines and burned more money on ammo than guns.

I have been in the old Korth factory in Ratzeburg and at the new facility in Lollar. I love visiting gun factories - and breweries - and a day at the range with my reloads and hard cast bullets. I prefer the old revolvers made in Ratzeburg between 1969 and 2008 but my favorite revolver - and I own a few - is a law enforcement trade-in S&W M 65 for fast and dirty shooting. If I don't do well, I can always blame it on the gun ...

[johnson184]

Tempted to put a deposit down on a 6" Mongoose. Really wish it came with wood grips!!! Also... how do you guys like DLC Black finish? Never owned a gun with such a finish before.

Looking at prices of wood grips, I'm wondering if I should just save up the extra $1500+ for a 6" Korth Sport instead.

[50 shooter]

It looks like it was made for a mall ninja, "yes, you too can put everything on your revolver including the kitchen sink"!

So they make a double action with a smooth trigger for that price and hang rails all over it?! Sorry, not on my dime.

[pelo801]

Are my eyes deceiving me, or on the 9mm model, is the cylinder 9mm case length and not 38 spcl length?

[rodfac]

It looks like it was made for a mall ninja

That 'bout sums it up. Whew...not my cuppa tea....Rod

[Radny97]

At that price a revolver should do the following things:

1. Have a double action trigger pull of under 7 pounds that is smooth as silk and reliably ignites all commercial ammunition.
2. Shoots Half inch groups at 25 yards consistently.
3. Is made from the finest materials and gleams like a jewel
4. Comes with a lifetime no questions asked no issues raised guarantee and warranty.

I don't think this revolver delivers on all of those and it is therefore overpriced.

[HiDive]

I am, of course, only speaking for myself, but the Mongoose is well worth the price. It actually does deliver on the items that were mentioned. I currently own a S&W 629 V-Comp and have owned a 627 V-Comp as well as older and newer Colt Pythons. The Mongoose is a nicer Revolver and better built. When you look at the detail in the machining and fitting of the Revolver the Korth is much nicer. Every part is machined from billet tool steel, and hand fitted by a gunsmith in Germany. Nighthawk has very little to do with the Revolver other than importing it.

[wild cat mccane]

If I started saving money when this was originally started, I still wouldn't have lost my mind enough to buy one to kill this zombie thread

[AustinTX]

Originally Posted by HiDive

Every part is machined from billet tool steel

Slight correction here. The frames are made from AISI 4140 steel, and the cylinders are made from AISI 4340. The barrels have at different times been advertised by Nighthawk as produced from either 4340 or Type 416R (stainless). While the steel that the current Korth company sources is of the highest quality, none of the aforementioned alloys are tool steels.

The Ratzeburg Korths were hand-ground from steel forgings of undisclosed composition with tensile strengths in the range of many true tool steels and maraging steels, which is part of why they're described as revolvers designed and built without consideration for cost. (And which, in turn, is why the original Korth company suffered multiple bankruptcies and was never profitable.)

[HiDive]

As far as the tool steel goes, I was only quoting a description I read on the interweb, which was obviously not correct. For those of you who don't like the rubber Hogue grips; Hogue also makes a one piece wood grip in various types of hardwood, and then there are also wood grips made by Nill Griffe which are very nice. I recently got a set and this is what they look like.

[AustinTX]

Originally Posted by HiDive

As far as the tool steel goes, I was only quoting a description I read on the interweb, which was obviously not correct. For those of you who don't like the rubber Hogue grips; Hogue also makes a one piece wood grip in various types of hardwood, and then there are also wood grips made by Nill Griffe which are very nice. I recently got a set and this is what they look like.
[/IMG]

Wasn't trying to pick on you. "Tool steel" gets thrown around a lot these days, because companies know that it sounds cool to gun fanatics, and several have made liberal use of the term where it does not apply. Hopeless battle on my part, though.

Nice Nills, by the way!

[silvermane_1]

Meh, I rather have a Manurhin.

[luger fan]

Its like a Rolex or a BMW. It is rarely a mistake to go first class

[silvermane_1]

Originally Posted by luger fan

Its like a Rolex or a BMW. It is rarely a mistake to go first class

^Unless you're looking for unwanted attention.

[rickmelear]

Agree with bac, the original’s are a piece of art. How the hell can a maker of fine 1911s do that. Flame on

[AustinTX]

Originally Posted by rickmelear

Agree with bac, the original’s are a piece of art. How the hell can a maker of fine 1911s do that. Flame on

The logo is hideous, but Nighthawk isn't in this for charity work. The Lollar Korths definitely aren’t my cup of tea aesthetically, but they’re more finely made than any gun Nighthawk has ever produced. If Nighthawk's deal with the new Korth company allows them to etch that ugly logo on the guns, well, more power to them.

[Blue1]

I have a 686+ S&W and a couple of Ruger Redhawks with spring swaps, well broken in, and the triggers are sweet, accuracy good, and at 1/5 the price of the Korths.

BTW, that first pic is absolutely the ugliest revolver I've ever seen.