Nighthawk Custom and Korth are teaming up once again to bring new, world-class revolvers to the U.S. market with the upcoming Heritage and Vintage Edition models. With the help of none other than Doug Turnbull, these guns have beautiful color case-hardened frames with high polish blued cylinders and stainless highlights that take them to a new level of class.
Nighthawk has detailed the Heritage Edition model, a 6-shot .357 Magnum revolver that will be offered with a 4-, 5.25- or 6-inch barrel. The Heritage has a polished, blued barrel with a full-length underlug, a traditional swing-out cylinder release and a large combat-style Turkish walnut grip.
Like other Korth revolvers the Heritage is built on a machined billet steel frame, which makes these durable and long-lasting. These guns are meant to be shot, even though they’re destined to be heirloom pieces.
Other nice details about the Heritage Edition Korth revolver include an 18-karat gold bead front sight, a ventilated top rib, a fully adjustable rear sight and a skeletonized hammer along with a highly tuned and polished double- and single-action for smooth, accurate shooting.
With a weight of around 2 pounds, give or take depending on the barrel length, these are heavy enough to handle full-power loads while still staying light enough to handle and point easily.
Not all of the details have been listed for the Vintage Edition model, which has a case-hardened barrel and partial underlug with a straight topstrap for a more time-tested look. It has a matching bright and colorful cold case-hardened finish on the frame, deep blue finish on the cylinder and stainless spur hammer and trigger. It is shown with a traditional straight revolver grip.
The Vintage Edition also uses Korth’s unique cylinder release, which is just rear of the hammer, with a gold medallion where a standard cylinder release goes typically. The medallion has the Korth logo engraved in it just in case it wasn’t immediately recognizable.
Like the Heritage, the Vintage has a gold bead front sight and adjustable target rear sight and is also expected to ship with different barrel lengths, starting with a 4-inch barrel.
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Due to the amount of custom work on these revolvers, the Heritage and Vintage are both limited-edition handguns, with exquisite prices to match the exquisite attention to detail. The Heritage is listed at $8,999, and while Nighthawk hasn’t posted the price for the Vintage, it will probably be about the same.
Even though these truly are dream guns, owning a Korth doesn’t have to be a fantasy. While it’s no small chunk of change, the classic Korth Mongoose .357 Magnum starts at $3,699, which is up there, but attainable with some perseverance.
For more information about current and upcoming Korth Revolvers, check out Nighthawk Custom online.
Beautiful piece of workmanship. At the current price tag, requiring me to sell a kidney, I’ll continue to admire online, while enjoying my S&W 686 at the range. Keep up the great work Nighthawk!
For those unfamiliar with Korth, or questioning lack of performance details, not to worry. If you’ve handled and shot a centerfire 30’s era S&W or Colt, Korth possess the same qualities. I’m betting while costly, if compared to inflation it might not be so far off.
A bare S&W .357 was $65 in 1935, and first 5000 were each special order. That $65 baseline was before owner to-be specified remainder – barrel length, sight combination, finish, what combination bullet and charge of intended ammunition for factory test and sighting in, even those scored hammers, trigger face and grip set. Most agree they were the finest made revolvers [being custom assembled] available.
Later on, with less options, the Colt .357 [which became Python] approached that standard.
No need to disseminate which had superiority, being different periods targeting different buyers. No one today would turn down an opportunity acquiring either.
I think the standard Korth fits right into that. Enhanced versions, aka ‘safe queens’, the added expense is a buyers judgement. Cost and value and not the same thing.
Beautiful.