Korth Industries
Korth is a German gun manufacturer that specializes in making high-end revolvers. The company has been building guns since 1954 with a tradition of quality German engineering.
The American custom 1911 manufacturer, Nighthawk, is the importer and servicer of Korth guns in the United States. Korth shares the same gun-building philosophy as Nighthawk – one gun, one gunsmith – meaning that one gunsmith assembles, fits and is responsible for each revolver. This leads to impeccable craftsmanship and build quality.
Specs
The entire gun is machined out of billet steel. It has an eight-round cylinder. This one is chambered in .357 Magnum, which means it can also accommodate .38 Special. There is an option for a 9mm cylinder that also holds eight rounds using moon clips. The cylinder swap design is simple.
The cylinder release for reloading is an interesting design that places the lever near the hammer. It makes the release ambidextrous, which is uncommon on most revolvers.
The 416R steel hammer-forged barrel is offered in 4 or 6 inches. This one is 6 inches. Around the barrel is a ventilated barrel shroud, which they say assists in cooling. But I think it’s there just to look really, really cool.
The rear sight is fully adjustable. The gold bead front sight comes with removable protective side panels. There is a top Picatinny rail machined into the shroud. The finish is a beautiful black DLC coating.
Finally, it weighs in at 3.2 pounds, which is heavy, but allows it to handle .357 very well.
- Capacity: 8 rounds
- Caliber: .357 Magnum / .38 Spl
- Barrel: 6 inches, steel hammer-forged
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
Grip
The grip is a Jim Wilson grip made of Turkish walnut. I would classify it as a target grip, because it’s optimized for shooting the gun fast and accurately.
These grips are fantastic. In my humble opinion, grips can really make or kill a revolver. This one is pretty much perfect. It fills the hand to allow for great control, and the fullness of the grip distributes the energy of the recoil evenly through the hand.
Trigger
The next critical factor on a revolver is the trigger. This one has probably the best revolver trigger I’ve ever felt. It’s better than any custom Smith I’ve handled. The double action is smooth and predictable, and it’s not long for a double action. You can shoot it fast and accurately. The single-action pull is a crisp snap. You can’t ask for more. Korth achieves this by using some kind of unique roller system.
Not only is it one of the best revolver triggers I’ve shot, it’s also one of the most customizable. The manual describes multiple ways to set both the double and single-action pulls individually exactly how you want them. And it’s not just the pull weights – it’s possible to set the trigger stop and the pressure point of the trigger pull. The pressure point is where and how the trigger stacks. Isn’t that awesome!
Shooting Experience
Now, for the shooting experience: in short, it’s superb. It is everything you want from a revolver. Solid and satisfying, it balances nicely in either a one or two-hand grip. Eight rounds just fly out of the gun. I could shoot this all day. I also proved the Korth to be quite accurate and 100-percent reliable.
There are really only two cons I could find. First is the price. At $5,300, it’s a premium gun. But you get what you pay for in terms of fit and finish. It’s basically a hand-built gun with a trigger that can be totally customizable. And it’s not that outrageous a price tag, if you consider that classic Colt Pythons can go for over $3,000, and that is used.
My second criticism is that the bottom Pic rail is too far forward for a shooter to activate a light or laser. It’s really designed as an attachment point for the additional weight bar that Korth offers. It could also work as a bipod mount for hunting. I’m just saying if it were extended all the way back, more accessories could be used with the gun.
Pros:
- Premium “one gun, one gunsmith” build
- Trigger with adjustable individual single- and double-action pull
- Beautiful fit and finish
- Smooth and accurate
- Jim Wilson Turkish walnut grips
- Ambidextrous cylinder release
Cons:
- Price – but you get what you pay for!
-
Bottom Pic rail too forward for shooter to activate light or laser
Conclusion
In conclusion, this gun is a handmade work of art. Every inch shows attention to detail. Every part is tight and locks up like a bank vault. And just look at it! The NXS would shine in any display case, or movie set, but it’s got the engineering and build quality to be a workhorse.
If you like revolvers and really want a unique collectible, don’t overlook Korth. Additionally, if you are particular about your revolver triggers and want something you can tune exactly how you like, I think Korth is your only option.
