In a word "NO". Nice but an ego purchase in my opinion.

Well, I posted that about that several years ago, and I saw the gun years before that, but it was the Gander Mountain on Rt. 3 in Fredericksburg.

I THINK the store is still open, but I'm pretty sure the gun is long gone.

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John 3:16 .

How is that?

I sure liked my ego purchase, enjoyed shooting it regularly. I just couldn't shoot it as accurately as it was made to shoot so I sold it. Sold the .22 Korth at Tulsa last spring. Have some custom guns being made right now from Andy Horvath and it helped me finance them. I'm enjoying having guns made the way the factory should have made them.

The one I did keep and had it re-blued is a Manurhin Mr73. It's a 4" with target sights, a hard one to find. I shoot an 8 week double action only revolver league and like to use it during the league. Actually prefer the Manurhin over the Korth.

I still shoot my S&W's and like them, nothing like a Smith. There are Colts and Rugers but just don't want to go there, they are nice guns also. There are a lot of higher priced guns and if you can afford them, buy it and enjoy it. I won't call you a snob. Larry

I can't help but notice that for all the comments here about the price of Korths, no one has mentioned all the high 5 and 6 digit English double shotguns and rifles.

It seems as though those sort of bespoke guns are relatively more common on the secondary market. The fit and finish of the ones I've handled is superb and they are beautiful to look at, but ultimately it seems to me that there's a lot more to building a high end revolver than a double barrel shotgun.

I'd love the have the opportunity to at least examine a Korth.

Also, Pythons have now reached what I'd call "ridiculous" prices. I've seen "shooter" grade guns with some bluing wear priced(and sell) in the mid to high $2K range, and it's not uncommon to see a boxed example sell for over $4K. That's not far off some of the numbers tossed around here for Korths.

Thanks. I was just looking for another place that has a good selection of used guns. The Gander here closed and Green Top took over the building. Which is way better IMO. And we have Cabela's now too.

Next time I'm up that way, I'll stop in and look around. A Korth is out of my budget anyways lol

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an actual conservative

Try Hopkins and DeGoffs in Mechanicsville. They're both in sight of the windmill.

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John 3:16 .

I'll comment only because this is an internal struggle of mine. I always wanted a Rolex, but cannot justify the cost.

My mind tells me a G-shock makes much more sense than a submariner. Face it you can buy a new one every 2 years for less than just the maintenance cost of a Rolex.

Knowing this doesn't make me want a Rolex any less.

Enjoy your watch.

As far as Korth revolvers go. If given the chance to shoot or even fondle one I would decline. For now I can tell myself it is no better than the s&w and Ruger revolvers I own. I don't need to be lusting after high dollar guns.

I'm rich. I have a Timex AND a Casio. But gun-wise, I have the S&W 41, 617, and 686.

Not to be disagreeable, but there's likely more time spent, along with difficult knowledge and experience involved with, merely regulating doubles than is involved with the complete manufacture of ANY revolver. That's aside from the complexity of locks, ejectors, etc. doubles possess. And then there's stock-fitting and so on.

I'd say far more work, time and knowledge is required to produce fine double guns than even the highest end revolvers require, hence the enormous prices those English guns demand.

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SWHF #448

Absolutely
But only if you get it for the right price

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I've been to Hopkins a few times. Never been to DeGoffs, even though it's right across the street... I almost bought a .455 at Hopkins once. BTW they have a good deal on ffl transfers; $20 last time I did one (2 years ago).

Southern Gun World on 60 (IIRC) has some good stuff from time to time.

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an actual conservative

Ben,

high end double barreled shotguns really need a lot of care and knowledge to come up with the finished product and thee engraving adds further cost to it. I have admired the fine doubles but sincee I am just the occasional fowler, I settled for a simple Merkel 200E that came my way for an exceptionally good price.



paragain

"In a word "NO". Nice but an ego purchase in my opinion."

Thanks paragain, I am glad to understand that jealousy is just another form of flattery.

Larrry,

don't forget that you had an early pre-1969 model that did not have the roller on top of the trigger. The D/A of the revolvers from the 24xxxseries on is very different. The earlier Korth revolvers have excellent craftsmanship but I refer to them and my Colt OMM as the "ugly ducklings".

Pretty they are not.



I have a barrel weight for one of the older models and it makes the gun look a little nicer and balancing better.

If I win a big lottery, maybe I'd look at a Korth. Maybe not. Maybe I'd rather run amok and buy a bunch of nice S&W's.

For now, my Registered Magnum and Triple Lock Target will do.

Korth sort of rhymes with dork

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Buy American
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Yeah. This post clearly shows why the best revolvers in the world aren't for everyone.

Wow,

great contribution.

Buy a Smith & Wesson since you did not learn your lesson.

See, I can be childish, too. I probably have more S&W revolvers than you and I have the trophies.

They aren't "simply more expensive". There's a reason behind the price. Lots of ignorance and jealousy in this thread...

I'm lucky enough to own some of the best revolvers S&W ever made from years past. They are very nice, but some will cost as much or more than a Korth.

Nothing S&W has made over the last 50 years can compare to a Korth Combat, in my opinion.

I shot this one here in Denmark, and although it may be cool... they will never be S&W cool.

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USAF AMMO

Old 5 screw S&W's have more personality and character.

Korths are perfection. They are more refined than any other revolver I've ever owned and as strong and durable as any on the market. The Manurhin MR73 is the only revolver that comes close, in my opinion.

In all honesty, I don't think its fair to compare S&W to Korth. One is a production gun. The other is a completely hand built revolver. Its apples and oranges.

I have a 1935 S&W Registered Magnum, which is hand built and refined like a Korth, but those go for huge money.

You are 100 % right about Rolex. The Submariner is the most expensive $800.00 stainless steel watch in the world.Most Rolex customers are not collectors,or educated in horology,hence they buy. I have more of a preference for a COSC Eta 2824 than a 3035.As accurate and much more durable without the need to service nearly as much.

I disagree, my dads submariner went with him to Vietnam, and saw me through Afghanistan. My son will have it when I am gone. It is banged up but keeps impeccable time. Perhaps a timex would have done the same but I think 5 grand for anything that will serve a dynasty through harsh environments with distinction is a small price to pay. Perhaps a valjoux 7750 will do the same thing. But I'd rather have a smith over a Taurus. P.s. I know the 7750 is a chronograph movement.

The old Models, built in Ratzeburg from Willi Korth, are a lot of Handcraft.He started 1982 with the company and Korth closed in 1999 !
Since 2009 the headquarter from Korth is in Lollar/near Giessen, but its still a new company.
The quality is still very high, but only a few handcraftship.
The new models are not worth the price !

Korth arms HOME

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Greets, Jo

Actually Willi Korth started his company in 1954 and produced gas revolvers in the beginning. In 1964 he built the police revolvers for the Hamburger Hafenpolizei on a contract that was later cancelled.
In 1981 he sold th company and it became Korth GmbH & Co. KG and Willi Korth was just there as a consultant. Willi died in 1992 and the factory in Ratzeburg closed late in 2008.

The police model would look like this ugly duckling.

Your history about W. Korth is right. My mainstatement reffered about the worth of the Guns.

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Greets, Jo

The company started long before that. I just posted pics of a 1976 Korth Combat a few days back in this thread.

Korth started in the 1950's, the the Combat being introduced some years later.

Jo,

I have been to the factory in Ratzeburg and the new one in Lollar. The new owners are gun enthuiasts and are trying to put a great product out at a good price. I met their CEO (Geschäftsführer), he is a good guy and their core business appears to be automotive. They are suppliers for Ferrari and other premium brands.
Talking about value, do you think the Blasers that your hunting buddies carry around are worth the money? I don't. A little high end always costs a lot of money.

Oh ... and Waidmannsheil on your boars! Keep up the good work.

I have watches I bought for $19.99 back in the 1980's that are still working.Almost any watch in the last 30 years will last a life time.It really comes down to fronting the money for the 67 % of MSRP to cover celebrity endorsements,and advertisement in most magazines around the world.You wont loose money with the brand,but will dish out a lot of it in the meantime.A lot of watch collectors will look at components,build quality,origin,and function.On a stainless steel Rolex submariner,this is where the watch has a hard time justifying its price against some of the better made tool watch divers.One in particular is the Deep Blue Master 2000,which was the only watch considered by the Navy to use by their divers during the BP Deep Horizon oil leak.This was very dangerous work,and they needed one of the best no nonsense dive watches to outfit their divers with.

If BC1023 sees this thread he can share some photos that will amaze you.
They are beautiful, exceptionally well made and for me a dream to own.

Hi Andyd....

Korth is every year in december exhibitor of our Gun Fair from my shooting Club ! I know the Guys, but not good as you.
You`r right. They are specialists and know what they do.
I came from next town from Lollar, but i wasn`t in the new factory.

You say the bad word BLASER.... ! Yes, a lot of Hunters here in Germany use this Garden-Guns...i don`t like it ! New Blaser, Mauser and Sauer are cheap Guns, from the same Company, with a great Marketing. I prefere the old Mauser, in 1996 they had also a ?? Geradzugverschluss?? ( sorry , i don`t know the right word ), new Model 96 !
I think the new Korth are good Irons..apart from the Sky Marshal ! I like the old style from the National Standart.
But The value? That answer must determine each itself.

Yessir.......and Waidmannsdank ! We have a lot of Wild Boars here in the Game. We have massiv problems with the hogs in the corn !

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Greets, Jo

Since this thread has the attention of some experts of Korth & MR73's, got a question. The MR's didn't leave the factory unless they shot under an inch at 25 yards. Did the Korth factory have some accuracy standard to meet before the gun left?? Would seem with all the hand fitting, the gun would be fired for function and to see how accurate it is.
The Freedom arms give a test target with the gun new and is usually one large hole at 25 yds. Larry

When my colt Python cost me $500 in 1976 that's about how good it gets.

Granted it's a different beast, but my understanding is that S&W 52s were test fired at the factory and reworked until they could get that sort of accuracy although I don't recall what the exact numbers were.

I know mine is more accurate than I can shoot it, although admittedly I think it's easier to make that design semi-auto accurate than a revolver.

Imagine the true joy of working for an outfit like Korth where your best work was coached, encouraged and appreciated.