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Heckler & Koch haven’t always been the most responsive when it comes to servicing the demands of the American civilian firearms market. Just like Colt and FN, the folks at H&K had been relying primarily on military contracts for their cash flow and largely ignoring the civilian market. Also just like Colt this strategy has nearly run them into the ground financially. New at NRA this year H&K is releasing a civilian version of their MP5K submachine gun, finally starting to fill a demand that has existed since time immemorial . . .

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From the press release:

Heckler & Koch is introducing the new SP5K pistol at the 2016 NRA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. A semi-automatic pistol based on the MP5K, the all-new 9 mm SP5K was developed by Heckler & Koch as a sporting pistol that matches the look and feel of the famous submachine gun.
Designed and manufactured as a civilian pistol, the SP5K marks the return of the roller delayed blowback operating system to an HK commercial product. This system is well-known for its accuracy and reliability. Originally developed on the G3 rifle, it has been used on many of Heckler & Koch’s most memorable firearms of the last 60 years . . .
Covered by Heckler & Koch’s limited lifetime warranty, the HK SP5K is a faithful rendering of the iconic MP5K as a semi-automatic pistol. Projected availability is July 2016 with a MSRP of $2699.

The MP5 line of firearms has been specifically banned from importation into the United States for quite some time — with an exception for law enforcemenr, of course. In order to make this work in any way H&K needs to make it seem like their SP5K is a completely different firearm in much the same way that AR-15 manufacturers in states with an “assault weapons ban” have done.

That’s why you’re seeing the language claiming that this firearm is “based on” the MP5K instead of being a direct copy. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if H&K modified the design to be incompatible with existing MP5K parts.

For those looking to own an honest to God MP5K this is definitely your best shot. Then again, at a MSRP of $2,699 (+50% over American, Turkish, and Pakistani versions that are already on the market) one wonders whether having the gun actually stamped H&K is worth the markup especially when it isn’t a “true” MP5K.

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42 COMMENTS

  1. Somehow bringing it over at nearly $3,000 is more of an “F U” than not bringing it at all.

  3. Make it a SBR and convince the ATF to treat SBRs like handguns and I might buy one.

    Until then – I’ll take a Beretta Cx4 or a Kel Tec Sub 2000.

    They had their day in the sun and didn’t take advantage of the civilian market.

    Now they need the civilian market to bolster profits. Ha. Then their prices will have to come down.

    I’d buy a VP 9 if they were $500. They’re close but not there yet.

    • Yep, sub2k. I get Glock or Magpul mags at 1/4 the price of HK mags, as compact as possible without going SBR, probably weighs half of that SP5K, and it folds down to something comparable to the MP5K with a folding stock. I dreamed of HK as a kid, and the dream has faded.

  5. Sorry H&K, your design at this point is outdated, over-complicated and the sticker price way too high. Now somebody please design and sell a cheap, effective 9mm carbine that is the equivalent version of the AR-15. Ie, customizable, doesn’t require super fancy parts, doesn’t cost $2500 and is suitable for my wife.

    • Maybe just buy a 600 dollar ar15

      If you fancy mid-length, they can be had for less than 1000 as well

      Just my 0.02. Dunno too much about pistol caliber carbines though

    • Dedicated 9mm AR lower. Accepts Colt SMG mags. Another version accepts Glock mags.

  6. Idiots.

    I’m sure there are 11 or 12 clowns out there who will buy them, though.

  8. Between your glowing reviews of the Brethren Arms BA9 and the modern B&T APC9 I struggle very hard to see how this is even worth considering.

    $800 over the BA9, for what you described as a solid MP5/SP89 clone, I took it as an iteration of the platform that one would be hard pressed to find room for improvement on beyond after-market (which isn’t the case here anyway). I don’t know what German and US laws are raising this, or if it’s manufacturing costs, which is hard to believe on a platform so old that is just polymer and stamped steel.

    H&K lover as I may be, and regardless the reason, no matter how justified, for the outrageous price tag: nobody can see this as anything other than an “H&K tax”

    When PTR is pumping out $1,200 HK91 clones and everyone else is coming in under $2,000 for quality SP89 clones… I just shake my head. Come on! What are they even thinking? I almost thought with the VP9 they were beginning to realize people would actually buy more of their guns if they put them at a lower price point.

    Maybe we do suck and they really do hate us.

    • $1200? Heck I just picked up a C308 today for $700. Other than the lack of a drum diopter sight, it’s the exact same gun.

    • No, to the scorpion and I want the mpx in 357 sig as they promised, till they get that out, no thank you. But with only buying of your 2 I can reload so much ammo.:)

    • I think you might have some time to wait till someone makes the 922(r) parts. Because of German law it will most likely not be backwards compatible with old hk mp5 parts. So because of the cost there should be a significantly long time before someone starts to make the US parts due to lack of maker and risk of return.
      It took a while for the scorpion to get it 922r parts and that is a cheap gun and more will be sold of it the ever of this gun.

  11. I have zero interest. And ordinarily I love everything German. My family is German. (von Achmed)

    Just not HK.

  12. Wow, maybe Walther will import an MPL, sell it for less than $2,000 and outclass HK yet again.

  15. If they can remove the front push-pin and make a MSG-90A1 BATF approvable and sell it in the US at a reasonable price, I’ll save some change and buy that instead. They can keep their 50 year-old tech (yes, MP-5 was introduced in 1964; adopted by German Federal Police in 1968).

  17. That sure seems like a practical weapon at a reasonable price. Makes the Desert Eagle look like an “if you could only have one handgun” handgun.

  19. I’d buy one in a minute if you could get a real folding stock on it.

    This type of weapon just makes zero sense without that

  22. I honestly disagree with the idea that for “those looking to own an honest to God MP5K this is definitely your best shot.” A Zenith Z5P, which MSRPs at $1,800, comes with a threaded tri-lug barrel and a paddle mag release. Feature wise, the only advantage this new HK has is that it comes with an ambidextrous Navy-style lower, but you can upgrade a Zenith’s SEF-style lower to an ambi lower for about $400. If you want a tri-lug barrel and a paddle mag release installed on the SP5K, you’re looking at about $1,100 in parts and labor to get it done.

    Basically, you can have a similarly-featured MP5K made by MKE and stamped Z5P for $2,200, or an MP5K made by HK and stamped SP5K for $3,800.

    And if you’re REALLY anal, the Z5P has a two-pin lower design just like the select fire MP5s, which the SP5K lacks.

    I’ll take the MKE/Zenith personally…

  24. Aside from the curiosity value, I wouldn’t buy this. It’s a single shot pistol with the form factor of a sub.
    Unless you get an extremely awkward holster for it, you’re going to end up carrying by the sling, with it slung across your chest/shoulders. Which is extremely impractical.

  25. I did just purchase this over priced 50 year old joke!
    It sure is fun to tear up targets and after 300 rounds this morning totally happy with my purchase. Mounted a Tricon MOA and works great.
    Picked it up with five 30 round mags.

  26. I bought a HK SP89 in 1989 and sold it in 2005 for 2.7X what I paid for it new to a gun dealer who wanted to convert it. My opinion of it is: solid, reliable, cool-looking BUT it is just a 9mm handgun that weighs a ton. Very happy to sell it at a good profit. Don’t like 9mm anyway. Did the same with a 1990 HK SR9, nice rifle but it turned into safe queen so I traded it for a new PTR 91 SC with 4 20r mags, new S&W 642 and new Galco holster. The HK SR9 had that pretty kevlar wrap woodgrain finish that I was scared would get scratched in the field and lose value. I’m happy with the trade.

  27. It looks like HK is wising up and learning from the mistakes of the past. Kudos H&K!
    This clown would love one of these for sure!

  28. I love H & K even own a few, there is nothing better than the 91 & 93 but, they priced this just a little to high.
    Would really like to see the comparison between the CZ vs the H&K. One test that would interest me is the grain size @ 50-100 yards, the Sig & the CZ does not like any ammo below 140 grain.
    The MOA with 115 grain wax like 5 MOA but as I moved up the CZ EVO would tighten up to like 2-3 MOA @ 75 yards w/155 grain FMJ.
    Now I was using a SIG Romeo 4 & I could tell you that this is just as good as the Aimpoint but I’m sure the Romeo can not handle the punishment that a Aimpoint can handle.
    I have seen Aimpoints take IED’s & still stayed “ZEROED” but I’m sure I will see any IEDs anytime soon.

    Love “The Truth About Guns” it’s like they always have the reviews you need but they thoroughly test the weapon from inside/ out.
    They even tell you or describe all the available accessories for the weapon of choice, very nice to know what’s out there or what’s coming…..

    Thanks so much

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