Posted: 2/26/2007 10:01:19 PM EDT
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When did they go out of production? I looked on HK usa and didnt see it. Also does anyone know if there is a source with new ones in their inventory and what can i expect to pay for a new or used one? thanks |
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The Match is still in full production, however importation of the Match stopped in late 2000 or 2001 IIRC, just like the stainless guns are still in production but the full size was stopped from importation in 2001 and the Compact in 2004 or 2005. As far as a finding a Match in stock, it ain't gonna happen. Back in 2000 HK could not give the Match away at below retail and I saw them sit there for months at $995 for the HE and $1050 for the Stainless. I was just getting into HKs at the time and this is one of those I wish I had moments. Anyway, HK quit importing them due to slow sales and then six months later, Tomb Raider came out (worst timing in gun history). What was out there flew off the shelves and the with TR II, every Match ever sold (if the seller did any research at all) has sold for almost two to three times what they use to cost new. I have seen HE sell for $2,000 and SS units go for almost $3,000, which is just plain nuts for a gun still being made. Average price now for a HE is between $1500 and $2000 depending on how used it is and for a NIB condition HE $2200 seems common. Add another $500 for a stainelss match. So, unless you live in Canada or outside the US, or have a patience of Job and can find someone to import one for you (which is very hard to do, I tried) you are either going to find a used one and pay a premium or if you find a NIB in someone's collection, pay a super premium. But all is not lost. If you are sure you want a match, and it does not have to be a true match, then you can build your own. For $200 or so you can get a 6 inch Jarvis barrel with o-ring in the standard USP slide position; for $300 you can find a set of match weights from time to time; for $135 you can get the match sights and for another $150 have a match trigger installed, and presto, you have a Match that will shoot with the best Match HK ever made. Down side is you have a lot of money invested in what is just a tricked out USP. One question, have you ever handled a Match? IMO they pretty much suck. I converted my Tactical to a Poor Boy's Match (barrel extension and weights) and it ruined the balance of the pistol. The weight weighs 3/4 pound and have no use what so ever on anything but a bulls-eye competition pistol, but on that kind of pistol the Match is wonderful. The weights slow the draw down too much for IPSC or IDPA, make carrying it a joke with all that weight on the muzzle, and except for the weights keeping muzzle flip to a complete minimum (which is why the Match is such a great pistol for bulls-eye competition), you will not see any accuracy increase over a Tactical, Expert, or Elite. The only reason I want two Match pistols, one HE and one SS, is for the collection, othewise I see why they are no longer imported. Poor Boy's Match  |
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Hey Big Bore, does that sleeve on the end of the bbl. hit the weight? It appears to be bigger in dia. than the factory bbl. Reason I ask is when I bought my match, when they could not give them away. I was looking at a black one which I really wanted but passed on because the factory bbl would touch the weight and I took the stainless instead, it did not touch. I won't even tell you what I paid out the door. But looks like 1 time in my life I lucked out. Oh and it does make a good pin gun. |
At first when the barrel extension was a cylinder it did hit the weight. If you look at the picture closely you will see the weight is now tapered. Below is a picture of the barrel extension final dimensions and that at least on my pistol, the extension no longer hits the weight when the barrel tips down in the rear, up in the front. Of course, the drawing is not to scale and is grossly exaggerated. I had Mark McWillis of TROS make mine and it was about $25 IIRC. |