Thanks Matthardcore,
I just posted this on RFC but want to also share the info here.
There are many threads on several firearm forums where questions about the Korth revolvers are asked and whether they are worth the price.
A little bit of high end always carries a much higher price tag, mainly because of limited production and cost per unit.
So, reading through many different gun forums I have found a plethora of misinformation about Korth revolvers and often quite degrading remarks.
Now I am well aware that jealousy is another way of flattery that just reflects negatively on the small minded distributor of "false facts".
First, Korth revolvers are not a knock-offs of Smith & Wesson, nor Colt but the lockwork is very different and evolved over the years.
Willi Korth had learned to work with steel originally while working as an apprentice for the German railroad. Afterwards he furthered his education in the toolmaking business. Because of his excellent performance, he was allowed further studies and became an engineer. During the height of WWII, in the summer of 1944 he was transferred to Mauser and lost his home at the end of the war and had to flee.
After settling down in Northern Germany, he worked for the Hubertus Metallwerk from 1950 on and quit the job to start his own business in his basement in 1954.
At first he developed gas revolvers and from 1960 on also real guns. The Sports revolvers went into production in 1965. It is about these revolvers that I want to write about here.
The chambers were not only reamed but reamed and sized my a hardened steel ball being driven in and out of the chambers by use of a hydraulic press, smoothing the surface and peening it to very high hardness.
The first series, the 21xxx are well made but the grips are somewhat crude. The single action pull is outstanding but the d/a pull is just average. From the 21st series on, the revolvers can have the trigger return spring, and thus the trigger pull weight, adjusted from the outside with a screw.
From 24xxx on the grips were contracted out to Nill and are of much better quality and fit. The most important improvement, however, is the interchangeable wheel bearing at the top of the trigger that allows a repeatable stacking with much reduced friction. From series 30 on, the barrels of the Sport revolvers were of a two piece design with a shroud with an underlug. The Combat models had that design since the 28 series.
I take great pleasure in owning and shooting these fine guns and have a Colt OMM, a S&W K-22, a Hämmerli 212 and 208 as reference rimfire pistols to compare to my Korths. Only the Hämmerlis can compare in quality, longevity and durability. All Korth revolvers are very accurate and function and perform well with a variety of ammunition.
Here are the 21 and 22 series, a simple one locking point for the cylinder. They already employ the button release for the cylinder, that allows easy removal of the cylinder for cleaning purposes.
Here are a 24 and a 26 series. They have now two locking points. Main difference between the two is the underlug is shaped differently and the screw to adjust the trigger weight was changed to a different design.
This is the 30 series with the two-piece barrel design. It does look nicer but offers no practical advantages to the previous post 24xxx models.
That does not mean that I do not enjoy or appreciate my Colt OMM, Python, K-22, Rugers and S&W revolvers. Being primarrily a shooter I just find the quality of Korths amazing and above par. A registered Magnum of early hand ejector/triple lock is still missing the collection that I am building up for my kids.