I have been looking at these pistols for some time. I have a new P7M8 and wanted to keep it perfect, so I started shopping for a "truck gun". .......you know you've had a good year when you are lucky enough to have a P7 as a truck gun...
I don't like the purple/red color of the slides as all and thought these were substandard pistols, or an experimental finishes, or whatever. They looked fine internally, but that color turned me off.
I got in touch with a dealer from the HKpro forun list and he assured me that some HK's change color and it's normal. Several weeks after shopping used HK's at shops, gunshows, and online......I found enough pictures and saw enough guns to ease my mind.
I've heard alot about these guns. One shop said they were "German Secret Police guns", another said they were NJ turn ins, another said unissued b/c they were too expensive. I bought one last week and will say that if this isn't a NEW gun, it has been broken down into it's component parts and TOTALLY refurbished. I took the grips off and compared it to my new P7, and except for the slide being slightly purple, these guns are identical. On the "used" $700 gun there is no wear that I can detect anywhere. The grips are new, the heat shield is new, the decock level has almost no wear, the frame is black and has no dings, the grip screws are either new or have never been dinged by a screwdriver.
I would guess that this gun has been in storage for 8 years, or HK rebuilt it to new specs. I have no problem with depending on it. If HK goes thru refurbished pistols like my German girlfriend cleans house..........I have no problems (I have seen her walk across the living room and reach down to pick up an NDIVIDUAL dog hair from the carpet).
I plan to have mine NP3 coated and carry it every day here in Georgia.
I heard a dealer in Shotgun News sold some for $450, so that will give you an idea of what dealers have been paying.......
Anybody know where I can find a P7K3 in .22?
AWH
[This message has been edited by Allan33 (edited January 02, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Allan33 (edited January 02, 2000).]