The Korriphila HSP 701 is a paradox in the world of gunsmithing: designed by a Czech and built in Germany, it was created around the quintessential American caliber, the .45 ACP.
Few were made (fewer than 300) over a period of eight years, as they were strictly handmade. Among collectors, their reputation has mythical dimensions. The same is true for the price, which in some cases reaches five-figure numbers, provided someone is willing to part with one.
Complex combinations
Edgar Budischowsky started with the clear intention of building the best carry pistol in the world. This was the only criterion. Cost and marketability played no role in the endeavor. Liberated from any hierarchy and sales pressure, he incorporated what he considered to be the best elements into the design for the most accurate and reliable mechanism.
The frame and slide were constructed from forged steel. The barrel was firmly fixed to the frame with the recoil spring surrounding it (like on the Walther PP) for greater accuracy. There were no locks on the barrel and slide, but a straight blowback upon firing.
A delay mechanism with a steel roller wedged into a corresponding recess in the frame provides the necessary delay. Until the momentum overcomes the roller's resistance and pushes the slide back, the pressure within the chamber has dropped to a safe level. It is described as the "delayed blowback principle."
The Heckler & Koch G3 rifle works in the same way, only it uses two rollers on the sides of the frame instead of one on the bottom. The breech block assembly can be easily detached from the slide body for maintenance.
The hammer is external and features a "drop safety" that prevents accidental firing if the weapon is violently struck. A rod above the firing pin protrudes from the rear of the slide if a cartridge is present. It serves as a tactile and visual warning to the operator.
The grip accepted a single-stack magazine with the release button on the left side. The capacity is 7 rounds (.45) or 9 rounds in 7.65mm and 9mm.
The only other control was the slide stop lever. It also functions as a decocker (hammer de-cocking mechanism).
The trigger mechanism is also unique. The basic configuration is double-action for the first shot and single-action thereafter, as the return of the slide cocks the hammer for each subsequent shot. The customer could, upon ordering, choose a single-action-only trigger (manual cocking) with an additional safety lever on the frame. Or even an exclusively double-action model with the hammer returning to the rest position after each shot.
Initially, the pistol was designed to operate with the .45 ACP cartridge, a fact that is "surprising" given that it was manufactured in Germany. Budischowsky was consciously targeting the American market. The HSP 701 received some rave reviews from famous columnists like Jeff Cooper, and orders began to arrive despite the high price (it cost $2,000 in 1985).
Like a handmade suit
There was never a "production line" for the Korriphila. From 1984 until the end of production, there were only 3-4 master gunsmiths working in Heidelberg. They crafted every piece with absolute precision and methodicalness. Typically, annual production did not exceed 30 pistols. It is estimated that fewer than 300 ever left the workshop. Each craftsman was responsible for one weapon from the beginning to the final finish. Even the company's logo was hand-carved.
Every spare part and component started as a steel bar to be shaped after hours of careful grinding and polishing. There is no room anywhere for "tolerances" or gaps between parts. This, in addition to the sense of quality, also provides unusual accuracy.
Every pistol left Budischowsky's hands with a test target. The dispersion was usually 2.5-3cm at 25 yards (the test was done according to the Anglo-Saxon standard). Such accuracy is considered enviable for target pistols, not defensive ones.
In addition to the trigger configuration, customers could choose the barrel length (4 or 5 inches), the finish (stainless or carbon steel), the engraving and decoration of the metal, the sights, and even the size of the controls. The grips were made of selected wood, ivory, or other exotic materials.
Several Europeans ordered their pistols in 9mm Parabellum and .30 Luger (7.65x21mm). Some were made in .38 Super and a very few in 10mm Auto and 9mm Ultra.
Among the already small production, certain sets stand out, having been ordered from the start as a "matching pair," and the "Eye of Thor" version with a Damascus steel slide. Collectors and connoisseurs of the Korriphila story consider that, with the exception of the pairs, no HSP 701 is absolutely identical to another.
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