I strayed from S&W and got an off-brand revolver

[Andyd]

I am working on my little collection of Korth revolvers that are somewhat rare but are excellent shooters.

I got a four inch model in the 28 serial range from 1972 that I could recently add to my stash. It is as well made as the other Korth revolvers that I have but I find it very annoying that I have to drift the rear sight over a tad to the right to be on target. This is a problem that I do not have with any of my other nine Korths and I have changed match sights to adjustable sport sights before without that annoying issue.

But it shoots well, as expected, and has passed the first test with my hefty .357 Magnum reloads that I would not dare to shoot out of my S&W M 19s. The quality and finish is excellent, the trigger pull and characteristics need to be experienced to be appreciated but at the end of the day, it will not shoot much better than my trusty old M14-2.

 

[ralph7]

Looks like you strayed in an upwards direction.

 

[Andyd]

Looks like you strayed in an upwards direction.

Ralph,

I love Korth revolvers and I love S&W revolvers, I also like older Colts to some extent.

They all will work well and do the same thing: in general they shoot accurately.

When Willi Korth had started his company in the picturesque city of Ratzeburg he had priced his guns to compete with S&W and Korth and while the quality was outstanding, the action was not perfected until 1969 and the 24 serial number range.

The 21st to 23rd series Korths compare in many aspects to the Colt OMM but are much more durable and a little more refined.

I prefer the Korth rimfire revolvers of the post 23series to my 1952 vintage K-22 mostly because of the ease of extraction. Korth had smoothened the chambers by pressing a hardened steel ball through the chambers and it resulted in a super smooth surface that makes ejection really easy. I also like the roller on top of the trigger that gives a repeatable let off and very smooth trigger characteristics.

A 24 series is my personal favorite.

I got a 30 series Sport revolver in .22 l.r. for about $45o that needed some work but I have a photo of the innards that I took during the work. The roller bearing can be seen on top of the trigger where the hand is.

It turned out well and I enjoy working on guns more than making a living as an international account clown.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

I have lusted after a Korth Combat. I wonder if the position of the cylinder release would be a problem for left hand shooters.

Do you think it could be a safetey issue?

 

[Andyd]

I have lusted after a Korth Combat. I wonder if the position of the cylinder release would be a problem for left hand shooters.

Do you think it could be a safetey issue?

Not at all! I can operate the cylinder release with my left hand as well as with my right hand!

There is a drawback about the 28 series .357 Magnums; they are the last series that still have a five shot cylinder. Speedloaders are non existant for the .357 Mag until the 6-shot 29 Sport series emerged.


K-frame speedloaders work for the 6 shot rimfire versions and for the 6 shot centerfire revolvers. I use my K-frame speedloaders for my .32 S&W Long and .357 Mag sixshooters.

All Combat models were six shot versions. They are pretty guns and well balanced. I rarely shoot mine. It will be my gift to my oldest son when he graduates from medical school.

 

[jtcarm]

I am working on my little collection of Korth revolvers that are somewhat rare but are excellent shooters.

I got a four inch model in the 28 serial range from 1972 that I could recently add to my stash. It is as well made as the other Korth revolvers that I have but I find it very annoying that I have to drift the rear sight over a tad to the right to be on target. This is a problem that I do not have with any of my other nine Korths and I have changed match sights to adjustable sport sights before without that annoying issue.

But it shoots well, as expected, and has passed the first test with my hefty .357 Magnum reloads that I would not dare to shoot out of my S&W M 19s. The quality and finish is excellent, the trigger pull and characteristics need to be experienced to be appreciated but at the end of the day, it will not shoot much better than my trusty old M14-2.

So how does the DA trigger compare to a well-tuned S&W? Say an S&W tuned for duty?

 

[Andyd]

This is something that can hardly be described but needs to be experienced. The Korth trigger return spring can be manipulated from the outside to adjust trigger pull weight and the roller bearing allows a repeatable let-off that is super smooth.

There is a draw back. A wheel is round. It is not like the edge of a sear. Once you pull past a certain point, releasing the trigger will still trigger the shot.

I prefer the Korth expecially in rimfire versions because the gun works reliably also with a felt light D/A trigger and light S/A trigger.

 

[D.A.P.]

A great post. I've been wanting a Korth as well as a Manurhin 357. It interesting in that I was thinking about the roller bearing conversions that was put on Colt revolvers some years back. A dang brilliant idea to put the bearing on the trigger rather than the hammer sear.

 

[Zipdog]

A great post. I've been wanting a Korth as well as a Manurhin 357. It interesting in that I was thinking about the roller bearing conversions that was put on Colt revolvers some years back. A dang brilliant idea to put the bearing on the trigger rather than the hammer sear.

Aim Surplus listed some Manurhin .357 a few days ago.

 

[Andyd]

Aim Surplus listed some Manurhin .357 a few days ago.

They sold out too fast, I missed the opportunity but will look out for one. The MR73 target guns are excellent revolvers and extremely accurate and durable. I had the priviledge to shoot a few and found them quite impressive.

I personally witnessed how the cylinder stop spring slipped off on a barely used gun, rendering it out of service and that has stopped me from buying one in the past decades. That is the only weak spot and I have read comments on German forums that this is not uncommon.

 

[Andyd]

A great post. I've been wanting a Korth as well as a Manurhin 357. It interesting in that I was thinking about the roller bearing conversions that was put on Colt revolvers some years back. A dang brilliant idea to put the bearing on the trigger rather than the hammer sear.

I remember the Walt Sherman roller conversions of the Colt Python but do not exactly remember at what time they were introduced. I know that Korth introduced the roller bearing in 1969.

I know Colt had a striker fired DAO version of the Colt 2000 in the 1990s with a roller bearing that was notoriously unreliable.