Korth Mongoose Range Report (3")

carlt0301 said:
Hi, my name is Christian, I live in Switzerland and this is my Korth .357,
bought in 1991…

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I feel like my introduction to the Forum all those years ago was not quite up to Christian's standards.
Very nice, sir.
 
Hello
I have to correct myself: I bought my "Korth Sport" in .357 with an interchangeable cylinder in 9 Para in December 1990.
At the time, the "Korth revolver", based on the design of the Colt Python, was the best and highest quality revolver in the world and almost legendary. At that time, the founder of the company, Willi Korth, had already left the company and it was still in Ratzeburg in northern Germany under the leadership of Count Bernstorff.
As far as I remember, there were two clerks (a gunsmith for repairs and a clerk) who sold already made revolvers. As far as I know, regular production was no longer taking place at that time. Over the next few years I had the following work done:
- Exchange of the 9 Para cylinder against one for .38 Spezial.
- Production of a custom-fit 4 inch barrel to exchange for the 6 inch barrel. As far as I know, this is unique worldwide. (6 inch barrel no longer glued like original).
- Barrel weight for the 6 inch barrel over the entire length.
In addition, I also bought two replacement barrels in case the original ones were worn out!!!
If there is interest I can post more photos.

Greeting

Christian
 
carlt0301 said:
Hello
...
At the time, the "Korth revolver", based on the design of the Colt Python, was the best and highest quality revolver in the world and almost legendary....
Click to expand...

I feel the need to add that the Korth was never based on the Colt Python, the action design of the Korth is very different from Colt and S&W and Willi Korth went his own way with a very different approach in design and execution. When Willi added the round underlug, he was greatly annoyed by being charged with having copied the Colt Python looks. It annoyed him enough to flatten the sides of the barrel.
Rounded profile on a 30 series:

Flattened slab sided barrel design as a result:


Colt action:

Korth:
 
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@Andyd: Thank you for the interesting comments. Of course, the design of the Korth revolver is very different from the Python. In general, I think the ventilated barrel and the shape of the underlug show some similarity to the Python.
I did not want to give the impression here that Willi Korth copied the Python....
 
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The Korth and Manhurin revolvers are made with some of the finest craftsmanship anywhere. They are beautifully done, and precision works of art. As a tool & die maker, I have great respect for the guns and those who built them.

The actions of the Korth or Manhurin that I have handled (maybe 30 or so over the years) are not nearly as good as my Smiths. To me, the DA on a revolver is the main event. I will stick with S&W for a lot less money and enjoy them more.
 
I still own over a dozen S&W revolvers, having sold dozens of them and only two with very well executed action jobs come close to a properly set up Korth or MR73. The advantage that Korth has over a S&W is that the stacking can easily be changed by installing a different roller and the advantage that a bearing that is used for D/A provides is self-evident.

Both, the MR73 and Korth have the trigger return user adjustable without having to take the sideplate off.

 
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dwever said:
Yes it is a relatively shiny coating, but the first two Nighthawk web-site pics are professionally lit by the photographer and make it appear a little more so than actual. The third pic is my Mongoose, and a cleaning may be making it look a touch more-so than actual.
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Still looks like a matte finish. Nothing like polished blue, for example.
 
Protocall_Design said:
The actions of the Korth or Manhurin that I have handled (maybe 30 or so over the years) are not nearly as good as my Smiths. To me, the DA on a revolver is the main event. I will stick with S&W for a lot less money and enjoy them more.
Click to expand...

To each their own.

Since discovering Korth/Nighthawk by accident in a Nashville gun store in 2016, I have sold off eight S&W’s, six of which were Performance Center. The three remaining have all had action jobs by Eli at TK Custom, have great action, but are less than my two Korths in both SA and DA. I’ve also days and days of carry with a S&W PC .460 I love in the Alaska Wilderness, and so I’m no hater.

In some ways Korth was the same sort of eye opening experience that happened when I finally at a couple folks urging dropped $4,000 years ago for a Wilson Combat 1911 CQB Elite for competition, and almost immediately sold a S&W PC Melonite 1911, an S&W Gunsite 1911 Commander, and a Kimber 1911, and bought a second Wilson Combat, this time an XTac 1911 9mm which I used with some distinction.

For sure to each their own, but be ready if and when the needle is objectively and significantly moved forward.
 

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IAM Rand said:
Looks good but, I would rather get a S&W PC revolver and use the rest of the money on ammo.
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I get that. Exactly what I said until handling and dry-firing a Korth in Nashville DA and SA. Getting it home and firing it was everything the reviews promised. My three Performance Center S&W’s (all tuned at TK Custom) are pictured in the first post.
 
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Smith, even performance center, isn't that great out of the box. Their "action job" consists of a Wolff Power Rib mainspring. Still, the S&W action has the most potential for improvement of all the revolvers.

Korth is truly a magnificent firearm. Their DA is still around 9 lb. with not much room to get better.
 
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