The serial number should start with 21xxx, it is the first series of the Sportrevolver line. There were 172 of them made in 4" and 334 in six inches. This first series lacks the roller bearing and adjustability of the trigger return spring from the outside.
Beginning To Understand Why A Korth Mongoose Revolver Is Worth $3,499
- Thread starter dwever
- Start date
The serial number should start with 21xxx, it is the first series of the Sportrevolver line. There were 172 of them made in 4" and 334 in six inches. This first series lacks the roller bearing and adjustability of the trigger return spring from the outside.
Da Old Bear
US Veteran
I dug out a copy of the letter that I received from Korth in 1995. It's obvious that my memory isn't what it used to be!
The pistol is stamped "66" rather than "67" and Korth confirmed that the pistol was made in 1966. The serial number does start with 21XXX.
Thanks for the production numbers, I never knew that so few were produced and your figures are much more precise than what Korth provided. I'm chalking that up to something being lost in translation, that they rounded their figures and indicated that their figures were not exact.
I vaguely remember what I paid for the pistol, and admit that I have no clue what the pistol might be worth today.
Thanks for the great information!
jmr986
Member
Da Old Bear
US Veteran
I'll give you what you paid for it plus an additional 10% for your troubles!!!
Only "10%" !? (-:
Best offer I've had all week. In fact, it's the only offer I've had all week. (-:
Let us not forget inflation. I paid hard earned, late 1960s dollars and the army didn't pay all that well back then.
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I have seen the 21 to 22 series revolvers listed for over $4,000 but suspect that they sell around $3,000 to $3,500, bringing just a little more than a Colt Python.
When Willi Korth started out, he had to offer his revolvers competitively to the pricing of known manufacturers; Colt and S&W. When Willi Korth used Dynamit Nobel as a sole distributor, they started exporting in numbers and upped the prices considerably, they also brought sales up.
What do gummibears and Korths have in common? Gummibears were invented by a certain Harald Riegel in Bonn, Germany. His company was Haribo and he owned a Korth Combat with a three inch barrel with the serial number 31298.
When Willi Korth started out, he had to offer his revolvers competitively to the pricing of known manufacturers; Colt and S&W. When Willi Korth used Dynamit Nobel as a sole distributor, they started exporting in numbers and upped the prices considerably, they also brought sales up.
What do gummibears and Korths have in common? Gummibears were invented by a certain Harald Riegel in Bonn, Germany. His company was Haribo and he owned a Korth Combat with a three inch barrel with the serial number 31298.
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Da Old Bear
US Veteran
Lots of great information. I never figured that I'd find an authority on Korths on the S&W forum!
I haven't found much information on line, and the Blue Book stopped trying to place market prices on Korths quite a while ago.
When were the first Korths imported into the US? The one I own is the first one I'd ever seen, and I don't remember seeing one in a shop in the States.
At my age, and to save the wife a bunch of grief in the future, I'm considering some major down-sizing and "safe queens" along with other stuff are being added to the growing list of things I don't or most likely won't use anymore. Kind of a tough decision in some ways, but necessary.
Thanks again, Andyd.
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I am not sure when exactly Korth started selling with a sole distributor but Korth U.S.A. (Earl's) is still listed with some good info on the old Ratzeburg revolvers. They have the last catalogues from 1999, 2001 and a 2003 press release.
Korth-Waffen (Revolver)
Korth-Waffen (Revolver)
Ejector Rod and Ratchet of my cherished S&W Perf Ctr 627 N Frame .357 (pic 1) and the Korth Mongoose .357 (pic 2&3). Even accounting for the larger N Frame S&W cylinder, there still seems to be a substantial difference in thickness at the ejector rod and ejection star, and the Korth uses higher strength and harder steel. Interestingly, spent shells fall much easier and slicker from the Korth presumably from the harder steel, and the proprietary extra hardening process during chamber boring.
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Coaltminer
Member
North Revolver
Off topic a tad, but $3500 for a Korth doesn't sound bad compared to $79,000 for a shotgun on GunsInternational.
Off topic a tad, but $3500 for a Korth doesn't sound bad compared to $79,000 for a shotgun on GunsInternational.
I had that exact experience with a Wilson Combat 1911. I ended up buying one.
Very pleased with the Korth in double action. The top row of black targets take serious concentration, and the numbers are not sequential. This is a little exercise our agency does for warm up at five yards. You shoot for time, a fixed number of shots, then you get your time and add a second for each miss.
I have been slowly relieving the pull weight adjustment until I get an FTF, then I'll go back 180 degrees.
By the way, Nighthawk has offered excellent Customer Service in advising getting the .357 cut for moon clips by TK Custom. They've even reached out to one of their Korth German trained smiths to make sure everything is absolutely okay to move forward. I could never pass our agency's 50 round timed course with speed loaders.
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Doug,
the ball bearing that is pushed in and out of the chambers is giving a much smoother surface than any polishing could. In the old manual it is pointed out that even harsh cleaning with steel wool would not mar the finish.
By the way, the German serfs that don't have a gun permit can enjoy the Skyhawk for €999 as a blank firing revolver
.
eGun
the ball bearing that is pushed in and out of the chambers is giving a much smoother surface than any polishing could. In the old manual it is pointed out that even harsh cleaning with steel wool would not mar the finish.
By the way, the German serfs that don't have a gun permit can enjoy the Skyhawk for €999 as a blank firing revolver
.eGun
I hear you! I have a Merkel 147E that I honestly don't like much more than my old Remmy 870.
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It seems (of Korth !), we have a new happy Revolver Owner (posts #89 + 92)...
...and obviously there are knowledgeable people out, who likes not only german revolvers,
but also Anschütz rifles and Merkel shotguns
So I hope, a bit more eye-candy (examples for the plasma coatings) is ok:
1. from the Nill side
https://www.nill-griffe.com/Replacement_Grips_with_closed_back_68.html
IIRC the "PVD blue" (here with Ivory) was first offered in 2001, the "silver coating" (here with Rosewood on)
+/- 10 years earlier (after the very rare "real stainless steel" Korth's)?
2. no Korth...but the same "Titanium Blue"
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6_vH998GFt0[/ame]
P.44
...and obviously there are knowledgeable people out, who likes not only german revolvers,
but also Anschütz rifles and Merkel shotguns
So I hope, a bit more eye-candy (examples for the plasma coatings) is ok:
1. from the Nill side
https://www.nill-griffe.com/Replacement_Grips_with_closed_back_68.html
IIRC the "PVD blue" (here with Ivory) was first offered in 2001, the "silver coating" (here with Rosewood on)
+/- 10 years earlier (after the very rare "real stainless steel" Korth's)?
2. no Korth...but the same "Titanium Blue"
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6_vH998GFt0[/ame]
P.44
jmr986
Member
I guess I like 4" .357s. Newest member is the Korth
Nice collection of four inch wheelguns!
...
...and obviously there are knowledgeable people out, who likes not only german revolvers,
but also Anschütz rifles and Merkel shotguns
....
I like quality guns and also have had two Swiss P210s also, the P210-4 I gave to one of my sons when he was accepted in med school and replaced it with a P210-6. I honestly like the -4 better. I bought those in Germany when prices were around $700 and imported them myself. Prices changed quite a bit in the last years.
The P210 is a very high quality gun and known for its longevity, something it has in common with the Korth. I find both extremely accurate and easy to shoot well handguns, the trigger really helping with accuracy but for fast shooting they hold little to no advantage over other less expensive quality firearms.
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jmr986
Member
Thanks, I am enjoying your collection also.
R.A. Rifleman
Member
Left hand column. Top revolver (.357?) with the finger groove stocks off the fourth revolver down, if possible.
If they're CNC with very little hand fitting now is the high price because of inflation or just the name not to mention the rubber stocks. I have heard of a possible Python copy by Pinetta not sure of name that would be one I would buy due to it being affordable. The older Korth seems to be the guns to have at same as new price.
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