Hands on with the Korth PRS: Like Shooting a Rolex

billj 01.13.14

I had my first in-person encounter with the legendary Korth pistol line at last year’s SHOT show, and Iwrote about it on TFB. I was surprised and delighted to see that the company had a booth at this year’s Media Range Day, and I was giddy to be able to actually shoot a Korth for the first time. Specifically, I shot the 4-inch version of the company’s brand new PRS model, a 1911-style pistol with a roller-delayed blowback operating system.

And yeah, it was awesome.

It’s tough to really be objective about anything that’s expensive and German. BMW, Porsche, H&K — take your pick, because with all of these brands there are fanboys and haters who live for the opportunity to debate the merits or deficiencies of any of these brands. The discussions usually boil down to one side claiming that the company’s products are way overpriced vs. the American competition-driven prices, and the other side appealing to mystical and/or a higher aesthetic factors that make the experience worth the insane mark-up.

I am firmly in the latter camp. I appreciate any finely crafted artifact that’s obviously the work of a group of humans at the top of their game and where no expense was spared. I’m also quite partial to all forms of German (and Swiss) engineering. In this respect, when it comes to fit, finish, and that goosebump inducing feeling that you get when handling and using a beautiful piece of functional artwork, Korth’s new baby does not disappoint. It’s clearly a finely engineered, expertly crafted artifact, like a Rolex watch, with subtleties that it’ll take me a long time to truly be able to appreciate.

I have no illusions about my own biases, and if I’m being honest I can admit that, as thrilled as I was with Korth first’s stab at a 1911-style pistol, I’ve enjoyed shooting a good Wilson Combat 1911 almost as much. But I didn’t enjoy lovingly fondling the Wilson as much as I did the Korth, which is why, when I feel like I have $3,000* to drop on a pistol (that’s a few rifles from now, to be sure), Korth will be my first choice.

(*Note: I asked how much the gun was, and the Korth rep told me $3,000 — I’m pretty sure he said dollars. That said, this is a lot lower than I and almost everyone else has been expecting for this gun, so that may actually be 3,000 euro. I could have misheard, or he could have misspoke. Either way, I’ll find out tomorrow which is the correct price.)

I also shot one of the company’s revolvers. It was great and all, but I’m much more of a 1911 guy so it was no contest.

If you’re interested in how the Korth PRS works, Guns.com did a good write-up on it last month. You can also check out the shots I took of the cut-away model below. The model I shot retails for about $3,000, which isn’t too bad considering the Korth name and the company’s reputation for extreme priciness.

Another cut-away view from the opposite side.

A cut-away PRS with the internals showing.

billj

billj is currently a writer for AllOutdoor who has chosen not to write a short bio at this time.