After a long wait I finally got a very special revolver and wanted to share some history, details and pictures with all aficionados. Hope you enjoy this thread.
Here's some detailed history on the Korth revolvers. Sorry for the long read but I feel the revolver deserves it. Special thanks to Michael Zeleny from whom I've borrowed this knowledge.
The first series production of Korth revolvers began in 1964 with the police revolver chambered in .38 Special, they were available with both 3" and 4" barrels. In 1965, Korth introduced 4" and 6" barreled six-shot revolvers in .22LR and .22 Magnum, and five-shot models in .357 Magnum. The convertible .22 Mag/.22LR was also an option in 1965. Instead of a traditional cylinder release on the left hand side of the frame, the cylinders of these revolvers were unlatched from the frame by pulling forward the head of the ejector rod. The crane lock was released by the leftward push of a button located on the right hand side of the frame under the cylinder, whereupon the entire crane assembly complete with the cylinder would slide forward for removal from the frame.
In 1969, Korth added the second cylinder lock, achieved by latching the head of the axially fixed ejector rod inside a lug located under the barrel. Because the head of the ejector rod was no longer accessible for manipulation with the cylinder latched, Korth added a pivoting lever at the right side of the hammer to cause the cylinder release.
Korth’s next major innovation was the production of the second, Combat revolver variant, started in 1973. The Combat configuration differed from its Sport predecessors in four ways. First off, its wedge-shaped low profile ramp front sight was matched with a rear sight of a limited adjustment range inset into the frame, while the Sport wore a high profile front sight matched with a block-shaped adjustable rear Sport sight mounted on a self-sprung tang wedged into a cutout in the rear of the barrel. Secondly, its round butt grip frame replaced the square butt on the Sport revolvers. Thirdly, the centerfire cylinder capacity was upped from five to six rounds, with the accommodation of the extra round enabled by enlarging the 37mm cylinder by 1.5mm, while maintaining the original frame size. Lastly and most significantly, Korth initiated its transition from the one-piece barrel topped with a ventilated rib and fitted with a short locking underlug to a two-piece assembly comprising a tensioned barrel surrounded by a shroud topped with a ventilated rib and fitted with a full-length underlug, in an arrangement that referenced Colt’s 1955 Python. Meanwhile, the Sport revolvers retained their one-piece barrel fitting, with both five- and six-shot cylinders until 1974.
In 1974, Korth co-branded his revolvers with Dynamit Nobel serving as a distribution partner. All revolvers in this series were fitted with six-shot cylinders. Korth revolvers now featured three different sets of adjustable sights, the low profile Combat sights with a serrated ramp front sight and a rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation with set screws, and the click adjustable Sport and Target sights, the former requiring a screwdriver, and the latter featuring serrated wheels that can be turned by hand, without tools. Finally, 1979 was the introduction of the definitive, semi-slabsided profile of the barrel shroud, and a speedloader relief cut in the recoil shield.
Willi Korth’s revolvers were benchmade by five gunsmiths at the rate averaging about 120 pieces a year. In contrast to the mass production standards, Korth revolver parts were neither cast nor milled. They were ground in the course of hard fitting from steel forgings that boasted a tensile strength of 1,700 psi. Each revolver required 70 man-hours that comprised 600 distinct operations. Their major components were surface hardened up to 60 HRC on the Rockwell hardness scale. The original production of Korth revolvers ended in 1981 adding up to a total of 7141 revolvers in calibers .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm Para, .22LR, and .22 Magnum, with barrel lengths ranging from 3" to 6", fitted with 6-shot rimfire and both 5- and 6-shot centerfire cylinders. The three main variants were the Combat, the Sport, and the Target models, some of which were finished as engraved luxury pieces.
This particular Korth revolver was manufactured in late 1971 at the Willi Korth factory in Ratzeburg, Germany. It's a scarce .22LR target version that came from factory with a Karl Nill anatomic grip and tuned action. Very few Target versions were manufactured with the halflug one piece barrel trim (prior to 1974).
Here's some detailed history on the Korth revolvers. Sorry for the long read but I feel the revolver deserves it. Special thanks to Michael Zeleny from whom I've borrowed this knowledge.
The first series production of Korth revolvers began in 1964 with the police revolver chambered in .38 Special, they were available with both 3" and 4" barrels. In 1965, Korth introduced 4" and 6" barreled six-shot revolvers in .22LR and .22 Magnum, and five-shot models in .357 Magnum. The convertible .22 Mag/.22LR was also an option in 1965. Instead of a traditional cylinder release on the left hand side of the frame, the cylinders of these revolvers were unlatched from the frame by pulling forward the head of the ejector rod. The crane lock was released by the leftward push of a button located on the right hand side of the frame under the cylinder, whereupon the entire crane assembly complete with the cylinder would slide forward for removal from the frame.
In 1969, Korth added the second cylinder lock, achieved by latching the head of the axially fixed ejector rod inside a lug located under the barrel. Because the head of the ejector rod was no longer accessible for manipulation with the cylinder latched, Korth added a pivoting lever at the right side of the hammer to cause the cylinder release.
Korth’s next major innovation was the production of the second, Combat revolver variant, started in 1973. The Combat configuration differed from its Sport predecessors in four ways. First off, its wedge-shaped low profile ramp front sight was matched with a rear sight of a limited adjustment range inset into the frame, while the Sport wore a high profile front sight matched with a block-shaped adjustable rear Sport sight mounted on a self-sprung tang wedged into a cutout in the rear of the barrel. Secondly, its round butt grip frame replaced the square butt on the Sport revolvers. Thirdly, the centerfire cylinder capacity was upped from five to six rounds, with the accommodation of the extra round enabled by enlarging the 37mm cylinder by 1.5mm, while maintaining the original frame size. Lastly and most significantly, Korth initiated its transition from the one-piece barrel topped with a ventilated rib and fitted with a short locking underlug to a two-piece assembly comprising a tensioned barrel surrounded by a shroud topped with a ventilated rib and fitted with a full-length underlug, in an arrangement that referenced Colt’s 1955 Python. Meanwhile, the Sport revolvers retained their one-piece barrel fitting, with both five- and six-shot cylinders until 1974.
In 1974, Korth co-branded his revolvers with Dynamit Nobel serving as a distribution partner. All revolvers in this series were fitted with six-shot cylinders. Korth revolvers now featured three different sets of adjustable sights, the low profile Combat sights with a serrated ramp front sight and a rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation with set screws, and the click adjustable Sport and Target sights, the former requiring a screwdriver, and the latter featuring serrated wheels that can be turned by hand, without tools. Finally, 1979 was the introduction of the definitive, semi-slabsided profile of the barrel shroud, and a speedloader relief cut in the recoil shield.
Willi Korth’s revolvers were benchmade by five gunsmiths at the rate averaging about 120 pieces a year. In contrast to the mass production standards, Korth revolver parts were neither cast nor milled. They were ground in the course of hard fitting from steel forgings that boasted a tensile strength of 1,700 psi. Each revolver required 70 man-hours that comprised 600 distinct operations. Their major components were surface hardened up to 60 HRC on the Rockwell hardness scale. The original production of Korth revolvers ended in 1981 adding up to a total of 7141 revolvers in calibers .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm Para, .22LR, and .22 Magnum, with barrel lengths ranging from 3" to 6", fitted with 6-shot rimfire and both 5- and 6-shot centerfire cylinders. The three main variants were the Combat, the Sport, and the Target models, some of which were finished as engraved luxury pieces.
This particular Korth revolver was manufactured in late 1971 at the Willi Korth factory in Ratzeburg, Germany. It's a scarce .22LR target version that came from factory with a Karl Nill anatomic grip and tuned action. Very few Target versions were manufactured with the halflug one piece barrel trim (prior to 1974).
Mine was made in 1968, didn’t shoot any better than my S&W 17 but the cool factor was off the charts.
