Any S&W Owners Have a Korth Revolver .357?

[dwever]

I carry a PC 627 UDR (Bloodwork), and love and occasionally carry in cool weather my TRR8 and M&P R8.

Based on some reviews, I am about to order the Korth/Nighthawk .357 Mongoose Revolver for the breathtaking price of $3,499.

Anyone here have ownership or firing line experience with these marvels of extreme engineering? Is it money well spent?

Interesting, a second custom fitted cylinder in 9mm can be ordered that in another marvel of engineering does not require moonclips.

Thanks

PC TRR8, PC 627, PC 586 L-Comp Below Then The Nighthawk/Korth .357 in 4" Barrel:

 

[Just_Alex]

I can't justify any handgun purchase that cost more than my .44 AutoMag Commemorative. Nice piece but too nice for me. It would be a safe queen. Good luck with that though and let us know great things.


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[gsn]

When the Skyhawks get to a shop near me I will buy not one but two.

 

[wnwitzell]

Yes, I own a Korth Mongoose. It is a fine gun. It feels great in my hand and shoots much better than I can. I much prefer to shoot it over my Smiths and Colt Pythons. I did not buy the extra cylinder because it just didn't seem worth the extra 1k.
For me, it was money well spent. I posted my purchase here a few months ago.

 

[Spokes]

If I had the money I would buy it in a heartbeat...
I have had Python's and many Smith's..
I always wanted a Korth but could never come up with the money..

 

[dwever]

After a Nighthawk dealer search on Nighthawk's website and multiple follow-up e-mails, this morning I heard back from one of those dealers on a brand new in stock 4" barreled Korth Mongoose and it is within one hundred miles of my house!

I am headed there Saturday.

The only time I've ever spent this kind of money on a firearm was twice on 1911 Wilson Combats. While they had amazing triggers and accuracy, and the 9mm served me exceedingly well in competition, for carry, neither had the comparatively utter reliability of a revolver, or even a Glock for that matter; and as beautiful as they were, they were sold. As satisfied as I am with my TRR8, M&P R8, and PC 637 UDR pictured in Post #1, I very much look forward to and expect seeing Korth take it clearly to the next level. $3,499 and another grand for the extra 9mm cylinder. We will see.

Thanks for your information.

 

[Zipdog]

3500.00 for a gun you want is a much better investment than the guys on here who spend 50,000 on a truck they never needed and pay out 3500.00 or more in sales tax just to be wasted away by the state on a bunch of nothing. The same guys will tell you they can't afford a Korth. Enjoy the investment they threw the same money away.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Some people spend that much money and sometimes more of a set of real pro type golf clubs . You are spending it on a revolver . I say , " to each his own " . Good luck , I hope it is a worthy investment and brings much enjoyment .

 

[model70hunter]

I've handled a few but did not see the value. I guess one could buy it to keep in the glove box of your Mercedes.

 

[iPac]

If I was going to buy a Korth, I would take my time and find an original one from the '60s or '70s. Now those Korths were probably one of the finest built revolvers ever, and aren't too much more money than what you're thinking of dropping.

The new ones are probably nice, but they aren't the originals. I would rather have a nicely tuned Python before a new Korth. Even with the ridiculous Python prices nowadays it would still be cheaper by a couple grand.

To each their own though. Buy what you want.

 

[Andyd]

I collect and shoot Korth revolvers. As a successful former UIT handgun competitor I appreciate not just the great quality of the Korth revolvers made in Ratzeburg but also their inherent accuracy and longevity. I have visited both factories, the one in Ratzeburg and the new one in Lollar. While Korth in Lollar still make great shooting revolvers, I find that they lack the "character" of the old hand-made guns. When Korth changed from Nill grips to Hogues, they unfortunately overlooked the fact that the grip screw for non-Hogue S&W grips would not pass through the grip, because of the mainspring being in the way.

I have 16 Korth revolvers and in my experience the very best shooters where made in between 1969 - when the lockwork was completely evolved- and 1982. I have one 9mm conversion cylinder and find it quite finicky.

I would rather spend a little bit more on a Ratzeburg Korth - even without conversion cylinder - than on a Lollar Korth that is quite expensive for a mass-produced factory gun with a rubber grip.

 

[Jebus35745]

Buy the Korth, only live once so you may as well enjoy yourself. Not to change the subject but I bought a Hammerli 100 free pistol unfired with the original box and tools last December. Made in 1953. Shooting it a lot and enjoying the heck out of it. Larry

 

[MyDogReese]

Yes, I own four Korths

I have posted a response earlier about the Korths. I have a .38-only snub and a 3" .38/.357, both in blue and a 4" and 6" .38/.357 in "Plasma," their flat, silver-colored coating. They are great. So are the Colt Pythons and M27's. The advantage the Korths have is size; they are smaller and a bit more ergonomic than the Colt or Smith (the 3" Korth is about the size of a PC 66 F Comp), but they are all well-built guns.

I don't have a 9mm cylinder for the .38/.357 Korths, so I cannot on it comment other than the cylinders really do snap right in and out. I would say that while the cylinders have tight tolerances and fit and finish is fine, the barrel is the not interchangeable are the cylinders. Given the .355 caliber of the 9mm and the .357 to .359 sizing of the 357 Magnum, the great accuracy you are paying for might be in doubt. The reason for the changeable cylinders is the handgun ownership restrictions in Germany. IIRC there is a limited number of handguns one can own (again, if I recall correctly, it's only one), so having a revolver that shoots both .38/.357 and 9mm is a advantage. Not so here in the USA [yet].

I should tell you that when I got the (used) .38 Special-only vintage Korth Snub Nose (it looks a lot like a Colt Detective of the 50's and 60's; no shroud over the ejector) it didn't like normal commercial loads. I had to order .356-sized hard cast lead 160 grain bullets to make it shoot accurately. No big deal, as I hand load, but it is what it is.

Sorry if I obfuscate, but this is what I know.

 

[jtcarm]

3500.00 for a gun you want is a much better investment than the guys on here who spend 50,000 on a truck they never needed and pay out 3500.00 or more in sales tax just to be wasted away by the state on a bunch of nothing. The same guys will tell you they can't afford a Korth. Enjoy the investment they threw the same money away.

Seriously. You could easily forego $3,500 worth of options on a 50k truck.

The difference is, that $3,500 probably is being paid out over 7 years.

 

[bc1023]

As the owner of multiple Ratzeburg Korths from the old company, I can't look at the Lollar Korth Mongoose and see too much that appeals to me.

I've handled one and, while nice, it's a far cry from the real deal.