HK4
| HK4 | |
|---|---|
| general information | |
| Civil name: | HK4 |
| Country of operation: | Germany |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Heckler |
| Manufacturer country: | BR Germany |
| Production time: | 1952 to 1984 |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 157 mm |
| Total height: | 110 mm |
| Total width: | 32 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 0.48 kg |
| Sight length : | 121 mm |
| Barrel length : | 85 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : |
.22 linear width .25 ACP .32 ACP 9 × 17 mm short |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 7 (.22 lfB) 8 (.25 ACP) 8 (.32 ACP) 8 (9 × 17 mm) cartridges |
| Visor : | Open sights |
| Closure : | Spring-mass lock |
| Charging principle: | Recoil loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The HK4 marks the beginning of pistol production at the Heckler & Koch company founded in Oberndorf aN in 1949 .
The entry into pistol construction by the still young company was to be understood as an indication that with the success of the HK assault rifle G3, the continued existence of the plant was secured, and the development and consolidation phase had reached its preliminary conclusion.
The HK4 is basically a new edition and further development of the Mauser HSc self-loading pistol . It refers to the professional beginnings of the company founders, who were employees of Mauser-Werke Oberndorf AG in the pre-war and wartime periods. Like the HSc, the HK4 is also an unlocked recoil charger with a spring-mass lock, cocking trigger and a combined safety / release device.
Despite this constructive continuity, the HK4 featured highly innovative detailed solutions right from the start, with which the young company H&K competed with more established manufacturers - v. a. of the Carl Walther weapons factory Ulm / Thu. (formerly Zella-Mehlis, Thuringia) - could kick. The outstanding feature of the HK4 is the possibility of firing four calibers (therefore HK "4") by changing the barrel, recoil spring and magazine from one weapon ( .22 lfB , 6.35 mm Browning , 7.65 mm Browning , 9 × 17 mm short ). Switching between ammunition with central ignition (6.35 mm Browning, 7.65 mm Browning, 9 mm short) and ammunition with rim ignition (.22 lfB) is possible by simply turning the (removable) butt plate. The caliber change within the group of center fire cartridges takes place in a few seconds without tools, when changing to caliber .22 lfB all you need is a screwdriver to loosen the push plate.
The HK4 regularly had a handle made of light metal (duralumin) and a (partially) stamped steel lock. The handle turned out to be insufficiently stable in the long term. So it could happen that grips broke unexpectedly while shooting.
Due to its high manufacturing quality and easy caliber change, the HK4 was quite successful on the market, even if it could never pose a serious threat to its big rivals, the Walther PP and PPK pistols . Above all, customs opted for the HK4 as a service weapon. In the civil sector she was v. a. Significant for hunters as a catch weapon (9 mm short) and weapon for construction and trapping (.22 lfB).
In its basic structure and the main manufacturing processes, the HK4 already refers to its much more important and successful successor, the HK P9 (S) .
Patent information
- Patent DE1428770 : Automatic pistol. Registered on May 20, 1963 , published on January 30, 1969 , applicant: Heckler & Koch GmbH, inventor: Seidl, Alex; Möller, Thilo (CPC F41A11 / 02; F41A21 / 484; F41A21 / 488; F41A3 / 64; F41G1 / 06; F41G1 / 16; Also published as US3227046, GB1004894, CH418896, BE648141, AT243132).
- Patent DE1205425 : Automatic pistol. Registered on February 18, 1964 , published on November 18, 1965 , applicant: Heckler & Koch GmbH, inventor: Seidl, Alex; Möller, Thilo (CPC F41A19 / 13; Also published as BE659846, US3287843, AT250219, SE301923, CH430504).
Web links
- The HK4. In: HKPRO. Retrieved January 19, 2014 .