Heckler & Koch has developed one of their most sought-after products for the U.S. commercial market. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
Heckler & Koch unveiled a commercial semi-automatic version of their iconic MP5K machine pistol at this year’s NRA Annual Meeting, the SP5K. They are also adding a new model VP9 pistol with a flat dark earth (FDE) frame and factory night sights.
Rumors of the impending SP5K announcement have been building for a few weeks making this gun a real show-stealer. Based on the globally-popular MP5, the SP5K uses the proven roller-delayed blowback operating system giving it all the look and feel of the professional-grade submachine gun. The SP5K is manufactured at Heckler & Koch’s Oberndorf factory in Germany.
“The SP5K is a unique and historic HK pistol that captures the essence of the legendary MP5K but as a semi-auto handgun,”said HK-USA vice president Michael Holley in the official announcement. “It’s equipped with a special ergonomic handguard that protects the shooter’s supporting hand and enables a stable and comfortable grip. A bungee cord sling is also included and makes shooting an SP5K easy. It’s a fun gun to shoot and goes a long way in recreating the experience of handling and firing a real MP5 subgun.”
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The SP5K is compact and tidy and makes the magazine look big by comparison. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
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It weighs a hair over 4 pounds unloaded. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
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The safety is ambidextrous. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
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Standard capacity: 30+1 and 10-round mags are available where required by local law. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
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To qualify as a pistol under U.S. law the handguard had to be redesigned without a forward pistol grip. It still features a handstop that doubles as a barrier support. The front face of the barrier device is scalloped to let shooters pivot the gun against a surface. The handguard extends past the muzzle and also serves as a blast mitigation device.
The SP5K comes with the same fixed rotary diopter sights Heckler & Koch is famous for but it also includes H&K’s flattop Picatinny rail mount suitable for red dots and other long eye relief scopes. Each SP5K will ship with two 30-round magazines or two 10-round mags for restricted markets in a custom-fitted, lockable reinforced carry case.
The single-point sling mounts directly to the endcap, the same as with the machine pistol MP5K. It also uses the same short, lugless 4.5-inch cold hammer-forged barrel. For people looking to build a full-size MP5 short-barreled rifle some of these parts will have to go, but we’re sure that the commercial aftermarket will address this fast.
The handguard has been updated to comply with federal gun laws. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
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Even with the extended handguard the pistol is just 14 inches long. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
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Like the full-auto MP5K, the SP5K is chambered for 9mm Luger. Each pistol comes with the rail and a custom carry case. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
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Here’s a look down the blast mitigation portion of the handguard. (Photo: S.H. Blannelberry)
These extras help take some of the heat off the sticker price, which is $2,699. That includes the accessories which are realistically worth over $500, but it’s still up there. Thankfully real-world prices are almost always less than MSRP, and let’s face it, a lot of die-hard H&K fans will be willing to spend more to get a real, not cloned, semi-auto MP5K.
The FDE models are priced in-line with the LE models and come with factory night sights. (Photo: Heckler & Koch)
H&K’s other new announcement at this year’s NRA show are two-tone VP9 pistols. These have H&K’s black hostile environment finish on the metal components on top of the flat dark earth frame for an attractive two-tone look.
Functionally the FDE version is identical to the popular and now well-established original VP9 introduced not that long ago. They have the same fully-ambidextrous controls and easy-to-customize ergonomics with the included set of 9 interchangeable grip inserts in small, medium and large. Like the all-black models, the FDE version is available in 9mm and .40 S&W.
Other cool features that set the VP series apart include a cocked striker indicator, loaded chamber indicator, front and rear slide serrations and rear cocking tabs to make racking the slide a cinch. The frame has a standard railed dust cover for lights and other pistol-mounted accessories.
The 9mm model comes standard with two 15-round magazines and the .40 comes with a pair of 12-rounders and 10-round mag packages will be offered as well. Instead of the basic luminescent 3-dot sights on the original VP9, the FDE pistols will ship with tritium night sights. Both have a suggested price of $819, which translates to real-world pricing in the $650 to $750 range.
For more information about these and other H&K products visit HK-USA.com: https://hk-usa.com/
Shop for H&K firearms on GunsAmerica.com: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=heckler%20%26%20koch
I happen to be buying this in .40 cal. in full auto , after paperwork approval. Exceptionally expensive ? Yes…
Pistol caliber ? Yes …Small and lightweight ? Yes … used by countless police departments and military units ? Yes…
Built by one of the most respected and well-known manufacturers in the world?
Yes … If your complaining about this company or other weapons they make . Or especially the price …..You don’t really understand what HK Is …or stands for ….turn the page
One of the more iconic firearms of my lifetime to be sure…Remember as a kid seeing the PCC in tons of movies perhaps second only to the equally legendary Uzi…If money were of no concern I would have one already–instead I have to settle for a poor man’s version thereof with say Sub 2000 and or Scorpion. God Bless.
I don’t get it. In the day and age of AR pistols, why would I want a 9mm semi auto pistol priced at the point of a Scar 17s? I could build or buy a 300 blackout or even standard 5.56, have superior ballistics, better and cheaper mag availability, huge aftermarket product support, and still have enough cash to take my wife on a nice vacation. HK, your lack of self awareness is showing.
People who don’t understand HK,
Never will.
The 9×19 Parabellum is easy to obtain and is affordable and is pleasant to shoot.
Many people have always been fascinated with pistol caliber type Sub-Machineguns.
These are going to be range/plinking guns..
Like the M1-Carbine was when I was a kid, it’s a hoot to shoot, cans, bottles, old cars, old telephone books with.
Would use this for home defense only, the ballistics of the 556 or 300 bo would not stop until it killed your neighbor or someone else, and 9mm would more than likely stop at your door.
too bad the german citizens can’t buy these to exterminate the muslim filth that commie jew merkel has imported ! = hitler was right !
I got excited when I saw this. Should have seen the sticker shock coming though.
$2700 for HK vs $1600 for the Zenith. That $1100 difference can buy a whole lot of ammo, red dots, or a nice AR.
Try again HK.
I still have Shotgun News ads from HK when they were dealer direct back in the 80’s and these sold for about $350 as the sp-89 back then. Couldn’t give them away but then Die Hard came out and they went ballistic overnight. It’s mostly stamped and welded steel. Costs only about $150 to make it and then you still have a 5+ pound cool-looking 9mm. The .22’s are more appropriately priced and you’ll get just about as much cool-effect with it, and 5 times the shooting fun. Useless unless full-auto.
Not totally useless
Wonder if it will take a FA trigger pack/sear?
How does this SP5k pistol differ from the SP89 pistol from 30 years ago?
No threaded barrel, non interchangeable lower receiver(with original), welded plates to prevent collapsible stock installation, no lower mag release, addition steps taken internally to prevent select fire conversation.
I just returned from the NRA annual meeting and asked the same question. The arrogance of the guys there from HK is far beyond the rumors. I own 8 Of their products and while talking and asking questions it was more than apparent that they wee unconcerned with the civilian market. I’ve always loved HK, but after learning first hand what a group of jerks they really are, I’m considering finding and new fav brand.
This is incorrect. The SP89 never had a threaded barrel, or a lower paddle mag release. In addition, the “welded plates” you refer to have always been there as a collapsible stock was never offered for the original SP89/MP5k. SP89/5k only had a side folder as a stock option.
Too bad HK played the pc game with imports of their firearms. And then failed to set up a mfg plant in Georgia. I see them sweating with the high quality Zenith MKE imports. HK is waaaay behind in the game. I have owned HK pre ban weapons. In a word they’re way overpriced and these will be too. Germany needs to impress me by making a decent mp40 copy in 9mm. And a Sturmgewehr in semi auto. Besides these new HK weapons will be made by 3rd world muslim imigrant flunkies. I hate Turk weapons, but these won’t be any better.
I completely agree with Dave, HK had a chance to do this years ago and did nothing instead………they are late and too much money………I ll pass.
I Aagree 100% with you!!!
Cool! Just what we needed! a 5-pound Glock at 5 times the price!
Spot on!
LOL
I was thinking something very much like that, too: A 4.5″-barreled, 9mm pistol the size of a legitimate SMG? COOL! 4-ponnd Glock 17 that you can’t holster, AND it will probably have $50 magazines!
Just course you can afford one –
Don’t knock em’
Exactly my thought
Learn to spell if you want to make fun of someone!!
The magazines are actually $80 each.
The more I shoot the HK line of arms the more I see the single beauty of the company’s ethos. All rifles and pistols I have fired behave with a commonality many seem to really offer only the aesthetic difference. HK given a few lengthy intervals to become tested or practiced display a solid differences in action, accuracy, acute response to differing operational environments that out meet all but the specialized arms of the day. I shall consider them more often a better selection for purchase. I only wish our country allowed a more complete line of there arms for use and ownership.