Korth Ratzeburg Sport Stainless 4" .357 Magnum

Korth revolvers have a reputation that's hard to overstate. Willi Korth built them in small numbers in Ratzeburg, a lakeside town in northern Germany, and he built them like no one else. Parts were machined from solid steel and fitted by hand. Tolerances were tight. Prices were high. People who owned one tended to keep it.

This is a Korth Sport in .357 Magnum with a 4-inch barrel, finished in satin stainless. It's an original Ratzeburg gun, marked "Made in W. Germany" and "Waffenfabrik Korth Ratzeburg Lbg" on the right side of the frame. That matters. Production later moved away from Ratzeburg, and collectors draw a clear line between the guns made there and everything that came after.

The Sport configuration was built for the range. You get a fully adjustable target rear sight and a ramped front blade with a red insert. A full-length lug runs under the barrel, with a window cut for the ejector rod, and it puts weight out front to help the gun settle between shots. The six-shot cylinder swings out cleanly and locks up with the precision Korth was known for. Then there's the trigger. Korth actions are famous for a crisp single-action break and a double-action pull that feels almost too smooth for a factory gun.

The grips are checkered walnut target panels with a contoured palm swell. The original box label lists left-hand grips as a special-order feature. That's an unusual request, and a nice detail for anyone who shoots from the other side.

The gun itself looks great. The stainless is clean and even, the markings are crisp, and the walnut shows good grain with little sign of handling. It comes in its original black Korth box, which shows its age, with the factory label still filled out by hand.

Stainless Ratzeburg Korths don't turn up often. If you've been waiting for one, this is a good one to see.