HK’s First Pistol - The Heckler & Koch HK4
I acquired this HK4 quite some time ago and having read the recent VP70 write-ups (Master-G) I thought I would contribute another thread.
The HK4 was the first pistol designed and produced by Heckler & Koch. Two engineers at HK, Seidel and Muller, submitted a new design patent to compete with the Walther PP series in 1964. The first production pistols started rolling off the line in 1967 and continued through to 1984.
The civilian versions were called the HK4 because they were available in 4 Kalibers: 380 acp, 7.65mm, 25 acp and 22 and were primarily available in 7.65mm and 380 acp (9mm kurz). There was a small number that were available with the four barrel / magazine set. It is a double action / single action direct blowback action pistol. The double action is long and somewhat gritty, much like GDawg’s VP70, but the single action is clean and crisp. It has a heel located magazine release. Barrel length is 3.3”. Rifling is 6 grooves, 254 mm right hand twist and it has fixed iron sights.
Roughly a quarter of all production went to the German police, in 7.65mm, and were called the P11.
This particular pistol, and HK4 variant, came with the four barrel / magazine exchange set and both a brown and black grip set. It appears that only the 7.65mm barrel was ever used. The boxes are serialized to the pistol. The instruction manual, in German, as well as all four test targets are with the set. This is as complete a HK4 pistol package as I have ever come across and it entered Canada in April, 1968.
On to the photos. Please enjoy responsibly!
And no, there will not be a range report for this pistol. This set is one of those pieces that just sits on a shelf in the safe and only comes out once in a while to get an oil spray. Cheers
P7
I acquired this HK4 quite some time ago and having read the recent VP70 write-ups (Master-G) I thought I would contribute another thread.
The HK4 was the first pistol designed and produced by Heckler & Koch. Two engineers at HK, Seidel and Muller, submitted a new design patent to compete with the Walther PP series in 1964. The first production pistols started rolling off the line in 1967 and continued through to 1984.
The civilian versions were called the HK4 because they were available in 4 Kalibers: 380 acp, 7.65mm, 25 acp and 22 and were primarily available in 7.65mm and 380 acp (9mm kurz). There was a small number that were available with the four barrel / magazine set. It is a double action / single action direct blowback action pistol. The double action is long and somewhat gritty, much like GDawg’s VP70, but the single action is clean and crisp. It has a heel located magazine release. Barrel length is 3.3”. Rifling is 6 grooves, 254 mm right hand twist and it has fixed iron sights.
Roughly a quarter of all production went to the German police, in 7.65mm, and were called the P11.
This particular pistol, and HK4 variant, came with the four barrel / magazine exchange set and both a brown and black grip set. It appears that only the 7.65mm barrel was ever used. The boxes are serialized to the pistol. The instruction manual, in German, as well as all four test targets are with the set. This is as complete a HK4 pistol package as I have ever come across and it entered Canada in April, 1968.
On to the photos. Please enjoy responsibly!
And no, there will not be a range report for this pistol. This set is one of those pieces that just sits on a shelf in the safe and only comes out once in a while to get an oil spray. Cheers
P7
