James Bond's gun maker set to buy Heckler & Koch

The Independent ^ | December 1 2002 | David Brierley

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

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[knighthawk]

UK's 92m army rifle 'misfires'

[RogueIsland]

bang

[RogueIsland]

The Mark 23 handgun is used by the US Navy Seals

Do the SEALs really use the Mark 23 crew-served handgun? I thought a lot of them were using Sigs. Don't get me wrong, I have a USP and like it a lot, I just am wondering how much of this "Navy SEALs use Mark 23s" is really HK ad copy.

[Squantos]

MK23 is a task specific weapon. Standard sidearm is indeed the SIG as I have observed it. Albeit a whole sh*tload of different makes, brands and calibers are in their armories the SIG and 1911A1 is the one I saw most when I worked "around" them.....

Stay Safe

[knighthawk]

It was selected as the official SOCOM side-arm.

I browsed around a bit, and found this:

http://home.earthlink.net/~scrhymer/section1.htm

The Mark 23 version of the USP is the standard issue of the US Navy Seal teams.

And this one (it's a PDF-file)

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/pages/ corporate/pdfs/gw_usp45.pdf

[knighthawk]

FYI

[RogueIsland]

Thanks, Squantos. Don't own a Mk 23, as I don't want to take out a second mortgage, but I do have two SIGs (P220 and P232) and one HK (USP 45) and I think both manufacturers are really top notch (although the USPs I think have become a bit overpriced since I bought mine). I wouldn't feel badly served with either one of them.

[wku man]

What's a "crew-served handgun"? A really big pistol? Is it bipod or tripod mounted?

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[RogueIsland]

Thanks for the links, knighthawk. I did know that SOCOM had selected the Mk 23, but I just haven't heard of it really being used in the field by the SEALs. Of course, it's not like any civy like myself is really privy to what those guys are using anyway. The photos I've seen from Afghanistan show a number of Sigs, but as Squantos said, the Mk 23 is task specific, and I wouldn't expect anyone but a masochist to carry one as a duty sidearm.

[Cobra64]

I thought that 007 / Sean Connery opted for a Beretta over the British standard issue Walther PPK.

[RogueIsland]

What's a "crew-served handgun"? A really big pistol?

It's become a sort of in-joke to refer to the Mk 23 as the "crew served handgun" because the sucker is just plain BIG for a handgun. I don't think it's intended as a denigration of the Mk 23, just as a sort of affectionate jibe, like BUFF (Big Ugly Fat... err... Fellow) for the B-52.

[RogueIsland]

I thought that 007 / Sean Connery opted for a Beretta over the British standard issue Walther PPK.

My memory may be wrong here, but I believe I read that Ian Flemming, who was not exactly an expert on firearms, changed Bond's gun from a Beretta to a Walther after it was pointed out to him that, at the time, the Beretta was considered a "lady's gun". Again, I could be remembering that wrong. A Bond historian will soon chime in to confirm or deny that, I'm sure.

[Squantos]

I don't have a Mk23 either. I've got some range time with one but consider it too big for it's purpose. My only HK handgun is a P9S in 45 that I've had for a looooong time. The barrel is threaded but I elected to forego the can for it as I don't like NFA Stasi sorts rummaging through my toy box as they see fit per se.

Agree on the SIG's I have the 220, 228 and recently picked up a 239 (.357SIG) which I really enjoy.

Stay Safe !

[Falcon4.0]

Bond doesn't use a PPK in the latest "Die Another Day" film in fact I think he uses a Beretta.

[RogueIsland]

Bond doesn't use a PPK in the latest "Die Another Day" film in fact I think he uses a Beretta.

Are you sure he isn't using a Walther P99 as his issue sidearm? I think that's the one he's been using since "The World is not Enough".

[Falcon4.0]

By jobe, I think your right! I found it at http://www.saftek.com/firearms/walther.htm

[snooker]

That's why the Brits are using the H&H G36. Tough to be in a fight and have your gun jam up.

US found out the hard way in Vietnam when the original M-16s crapped out in combat.

snooker