Special Operations Handgun Program

In August 1991, Heckler & Koch, Inc. and Colt's Manufacturing Company were awarded contracts with the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the development of an Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS).

USSOCOM directs the activities of some of America's most elite military units, including the Navy SEALs, Air Force Special Operations Wing, and the Army Green Berets, Rangers, and Special Operations Aviation.

The "OHWS" consists of three components: a .45 caliber pistol, a laser aiming module (LAM), and a sound and flash suppressor. In January 1994, the HK system was selected and subsequent Phase II and Phase III contracts were awarded.

The HK Mk 23 Mod 0 and HK Mark 23 .45 ACP pistols provides shooters with match grade accuracy equal to that of the finest custom made handguns and exceed the most stringent operational requirements ever demanded of a combat handgun. The Mk 23/Mark 23 provides this accuracy without the need for hand-fitted parts common in custom-match pistols costing thousands of dollars more. Repair of the Mk23/Mark 23 is reduced to a simple parts exchange.

The HK Mark 23 is a commercial model of the U.S. Government issue Mk 23, MOD 0 Offensive Handgun and is available in limited numbers. Designated the "Mark 23", it is almost identical to the Mk23, MOD 0 pistol used by the Special Operations Command, right down to its threaded barrel. The principal differences are the slide inscriptions (Mark 23 as opposed to MK 23) and a barrel manufactured to SAAMI headspace specifications. Commercial Mark 23 pistols come supplied with 10-round magazines. Military and law enforcement models have 12-round magazines like the Special Operations model.

One of the most thoroughly tested handguns in history, the Mk23/Mark 23 met the most stringent operational and accuracy requirements ever demanded of a combat handgun. Mk 23 pistols achieved match grade accuracy with an average of 1.4 inches extreme spread in 5-round shot groups at 25 meters with service ammunition. Endurance testing demonstrated a service life of over 30,000 rounds of +P ammunition, with an additional 30,000 rounds certified on the slide and frame.

To meet the reliability requirement, the pistol had to demonstrate a minimum of 2,000 mean rounds between stoppages (MRBS) with both M1911 ball and +P ammunition. All pistols exceeded the 2000 MRBS with an average of 6000 MRBS.

In more than 450 accuracy test firings from a precision firing fixture, Mk 23 pistols far exceeded the government requirement, averagin 1.44 inches, with 65 groups of less than one inch. There were four groups of .5 inches, with 5 rounds going through the same hole! This included firing with and without the sound/flash suppressor attached.

Three pistols were tested for accuracy after firing over 30,000 rounds, the specified service life of the pistol, and still met the new pistol accuracy requirement. An innovative design feature, a high temperature rubber O-ring on the barrel that seals the barrel in the slide until unlocking, led to this remarkable achievement. The O-ring lasts beyond 20,000 rounds and can be replaced by the operator without tools in seconds.

To meet operational environmental requirements, the pistol was function tested at +140 and -25 F, exposed to 2 hours of submersion in sea water at 66 feet, placed in surf, salt-fog, sand-dust, mud, icing, unlubricated and fouled environments.

The barrel is threaded to accept accessories such as a flash and sound suppressor and the unique HK polygonal bore profile increases muzzle velocity and service life, reduces bore fouling and eases cleaning.

The Mk23 OWHS specifically includes a suppressor designed by Knight's Armament Company. Suppressed, the Mk23 produces only 132db of noise when fired dry, and a mere 122db when wet, about as loud as a .22 caliber pistol. Additionally, the can acts as an excellent flash suppressor which is essential for quiet sentry removal. The can is about seven and a half inches long, an inch and a half in diameter, and weighs almost a pound. Civilians may own the can but must comply with NFA regulations. Contact your local ATF office for more information, and then contact Knight's Armament Company directly.

Molded into the frame are special accessory grooves for attaching a light or laser aimer. The frame mounted Mk23 decocking lever is separate from the ambidextrous safety lever. It allows the hammer to be lowered quietly and safely from the single action position. When the hammer is down, the ambidextrous frame mounted safety lever is locked in the fire position so that the pistol is always ready for double action operation. When the hammer is "cocked and locked" in single action mode with the safety lever on "safe", the decocker is blocked so that the pistol is always ready for single action operation.

Even with the safety lever engaged, the slide can still be manipulated to load or clear the pistol. The extended slide release lever and the ambidextrous magazine release are easily actuated without adjustment of the firing grip using the firing hand thumb or index finger.

Other notable features include a mechanical recoil reduction system that that reduces recoil forces to the shooter and components of the pistol by as much as 30%, a reinforced polymer frame, a one-piece machined steel slide, and a law encorcement/military capacity of thirteen rounds (12 in the magazine, 1 in the chamber.) The weapon is aimed using either iron sights or an optional laiser aiming component (currently under development.) The iron sights provide a 3-dot sight picture with white or optional self-luminous tritium dots.

The Heckler & Koch Special Operations Handgun is designed to fire a minimum of 30,000 rounds of +P ammunition prior to depot level maintenance. After depot level maintenance, the pistol must have at least 30,000 rounds of additional service life on the slide and frame.

The Mk 23 became the first caliber .45 ACP pistol to enter U.S. military service since the venerable Government Model 1911A1. On May 1, 1996, the first Mk 23 pistols were delivered to the U.S. Special Operations Command for operational deployment. Since December 1996, the civilian version (dubbed Mark 23) has been shipping to HK authorized dealers. Retail price is $1995.00 for civilians and rumored to be around $1600 for law enforcement.As these will be a limited production run, the Mark 23 will surely become a valuable collector's item.

Specifications

Images:

[MK23] [MK23 (another view)] [MK23 w/ Test Targets] [USP45 vs. MK23] [MK23 w/ ITI LAM]

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