Heckler & Koch haven’t always been the most responsive when it comes to servicing the demands of the American civilian firearms market. Just like Colt and FN, the folks at H&K had been relying primarily on military contracts for their cash flow and largely ignoring the civilian market. Also just like Colt this strategy has nearly run them into the ground financially. New at NRA this year H&K is releasing a civilian version of their MP5K submachine gun, finally starting to fill a demand that has existed since time immemorial . . .
From the press release:
Heckler & Koch is introducing the new SP5K pistol at the 2016 NRA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. A semi-automatic pistol based on the MP5K, the all-new 9 mm SP5K was developed by Heckler & Koch as a sporting pistol that matches the look and feel of the famous submachine gun.Designed and manufactured as a civilian pistol, the SP5K marks the return of the roller delayed blowback operating system to an HK commercial product. This system is well-known for its accuracy and reliability. Originally developed on the G3 rifle, it has been used on many of Heckler & Koch’s most memorable firearms of the last 60 years . . .Covered by Heckler & Koch’s limited lifetime warranty, the HK SP5K is a faithful rendering of the iconic MP5K as a semi-automatic pistol. Projected availability is July 2016 with a MSRP of $2699.
The MP5 line of firearms has been specifically banned from importation into the United States for quite some time — with an exception for law enforcemenr, of course. In order to make this work in any way H&K needs to make it seem like their SP5K is a completely different firearm in much the same way that AR-15 manufacturers in states with an “assault weapons ban” have done.
That’s why you’re seeing the language claiming that this firearm is “based on” the MP5K instead of being a direct copy. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if H&K modified the design to be incompatible with existing MP5K parts.
For those looking to own an honest to God MP5K this is definitely your best shot. Then again, at a MSRP of $2,699 (+50% over American, Turkish, and Pakistani versions that are already on the market) one wonders whether having the gun actually stamped H&K is worth the markup especially when it isn’t a “true” MP5K.