General Facts
- TYPE
Pistol - ORIGIN
Germany - NICKNAMES
P11 (German police service designation) - DESIGNED
1964 - 1967 - DESIGNER
Alex Seidel and Tilo Müller (H&K) - PRODUCTION
1968 - 1984 - PRODUCERS Germany - Heckler & Koch
Licensed production:
France - MAS - QUANTITY
47.650 produced, including civilian sales - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
High production quality
Multiple interchangeable calibers
Limited magazine size
Small calibers with limited stopping power
Introduction
The HK 4 is a pocket-size pistol of German origin. It was the first pistol to be produced by Heckler & Koch. The name HK 4 was derived from being available in four calibers. It also was one of the first modular designs, being convertible to each of the four calibers.
Design
The HK 4 has some features of the Mauser HSc but is different in many aspects. The HK 4 is a double action pistol that uses the straight blowback principle. Besides for the grip plates the pistol is fully made out of metal. An internal slide stop mechanism is fitted, which disengages by inserting a magazine. Fixed iron sights are used for aiming.
Firepower
The HK 4 is a semi-automatic pistol and was available in four calibers. Most were produced in .380 ACP and 7.65mm Browning. The other two options are .25 ACP and .22 Long Rifle. In .380 ACP the magazine holds 7 rounds, in all other models 8 rounds.
Users
The HK 4 was mainly sold as a civilian pistol, some with a four barrel kit. As a service pistol it was adopted by the German police. About a quarter of the total production went to the German police.
HK 4
The HK 4 is a double action pocket-size pistol. The 4 in the name refers to its modular design. It can be reconfigured to any of four calibers by replacing the barrel and magazine.
- Specifications:
- HK 4 (.380)
- HK 4 (7.65mm)
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
| Magazine | 7 rounds |
| Operation | Straight blowback, double action |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 85 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 254 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 299 m/s |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 157 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.52 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, fixed, blade front, notch rear |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.65x17mm Browning |
| Magazine | 8 rounds |
| Operation | Straight blowback, double action |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 85 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 254 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 302 m/s |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 157 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.52 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, fixed, blade front, notch rear |
| Remarks | - |
Media
Walther PP
As a small pistol the HK 4 was a direct competitor to the successful Walther PP pistol.
H&K P9
The larger H&K P9 was designed as a more capable weapon for law enforcement and military use than the HK 4.