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ould be with a single lug in the form of a rectangular block increased accuracy and velocity. The pistol is Heckled, ice, unlu-ersurrounding & K theo chamberch that M fits intok the2 ejection3 Mdesignedod to0 go 30,000 S OroundsC beforeO depot-levelM h, and it port in the slide. A dual recoil spring allows for less maintenance. After such maintenance, the slide felt recoil and an increased service life. The frame and frame should be able to last another 30,000 bmitted test of the gun is made from a lightweight, yet very rounds. The magazine holds 12 rounds, which, tols exceeded strong polymer. It is double action or single action. with one in the chamber, makes for a total capacity standards There is a separate decocking lever and an of 13 cartridges. The dovetailed fixed sights are ore than 450 ambidextrous safety that allows for “cocked and high enough to give a line of sight over 25 meters, the locked” carry. When the safety is engaged with the suppressor, and have either white dots or, optionally, tritium inserts. A special maritime sur- face coating is applied to protect against corrosion. Heckler & Koch has made a civilian version of the Mk23 available in limited numbers from time to time. Named the Mark 23, it differs only in the markings on the slide and that the chamber is cut to SAAMI specifi- cations. Like the Mk23, serial numbers are prefixed with “23.“ It will accept all the accessories of the Mk23, including the suppressor and the laser-aiming module. The pistol illustrated is a Mark 23, and was made in 1997. It came with a camouflage ballistic nylon carrying case, with loops and compartments for the pistol, instructions, spare magazines, a the hammer cocked, the suppressor, and the LAM. decocker is inactivated. Although the pistol is large When the hammer is low- (about the same size as a dgun ered, the safety is deacti- Desert Eagle), it’s surprising- vated, so the gun is always ly light because of the ready for double action fir- polymer frame. In fact, ups, with 65 ing. The slide can be retract- both the big Mark 23 and h. There ed to clear the pistol with the the smaller 1911A1 pis- ve rounds safety on. A conventional tol (with unloaded ! In a nut- 1911-style slide stop is uti- magazines) weigh out. It was lized. The trigger guard is large exactly the same on history. In to accommodate gloves. The my postal scale: 2-1/2 the Army magazine release lever is pounds. That frame termed the mounted with projections soaks up felt recoil ns System on both sides of the base of well, and the dual he new pis- the trigger guard. In use, it is pressed down with recoil springs help also. These features allow the a sound and either the thumb on one side, or the index finger pistol to get repeat shots downrange quickly and ments called on the other. The barrel is threaded for a special accurately. It’s easy to shoot, even with +P or .45 uld include suppressor that allows for semi-auto firing, and Super ammo. I can see that it would be ideal for there is a rail on the dust cover that accepts a laser flat-out close quarters combat. 23 Mod 0, aiming/light module. The barrel incorporates a The civilian version, the Mark 23, is getting hard y 1, 1996. The high-temperature rubber O-ring where the muzzle to find due to small production numbers and heavy 01. The Mk23 mates with the slide, in order to give a tight lockup. demand in spite of its high cost. These H&K mas- ch .45 ACP The O-ring lasts for over 20,000 rounds and can be terpieces richly deserve to be called classics, given rall length of replaced in seconds without tools. The barrel uti- their state-of-the-art combat handgun status. If ks to the slide lizes H&K’s hammer-forged polygonal rifling for you’re lucky enough to find one, it’s a real prize. DP