Heckler & Koch: a buyer's guide to HK

A short history

Heckler & Koch was registered on December 28, 1949 by three former Mauser engineers, Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch and Alex Seidel, in what was left of the Mauser plant in Oberndorf am Neckar after French occupation forces dismantled it. The company still runs from Oberndorf, under the motto Keine Kompromisse: "No compromises."

HK's reputation came from military contracts. The G3 rifle became West Germany's standard service rifle in 1959. The MP5 submachine gun followed (introduced as the HK54 in 1966 and launched as the MP5 in 1969) and went on to serve police and special-operations units around the world. Later came the USP pistol, adopted by the German army in 1994, the G36 rifle in 1995, and the HK416, which Norway fielded as its standard rifle in 2007.

In the U.S., HK USA handles sales and support, with operations in Virginia, New Hampshire and Georgia.

Roller-delayed blowback: what makes the classic HKs different

The G3, MP5 and their civilian cousins use a roller-delayed blowback action instead of a gas piston. Two rollers in the bolt hold it shut until pressure drops, which gives these guns their famously smooth, flat recoil and their distinctive "HK slap" when you charge them. Shooters love them; gunsmiths will tell you they reward someone who knows them.

HK guns you'll see in a gun shop

• VP9: HK's striker-fired 9mm, known for its trigger and ergonomics.
• P30 and USP: hammer-fired service pistols with a long track record.
• HK45: a .45 ACP pistol developed from the USP line.
• MR556A1: the U.S. civilian version of the HK416 rifle.
• SP5: a semi-automatic pistol version of the MP5.
• HK94: the semi-automatic MP5 carbine imported in the 1980s. Imports ended with the 1989 import restrictions, so HK94s are collector pieces and popular bases for MP5-style SBR builds.
• UMP: HK's lighter, polymer-bodied submachine gun. Original UMP magazines and demilled UMP parts kits are popular with builders.

Buying an HK: what to look for

• Paperwork on NFA builds. If an HK-style gun is an SBR or wears a suppressor, ask how it was made and transferred. We walk you through it on every sale. (See our 2026 NFA update.)
• Marked magazines. Many surplus HK magazines are stamped "RESTRICTED LAW ENFORCEMENT / GOVERNMENT USE ONLY" with a date. That marking was required under the 1994 federal magazine ban, which expired in 2004, so federally these magazines are legal for civilians to own today. Some states still limit magazine capacity.
• Parts kits. A demilled kit has its receiver destroyed and serial removed, so it isn't a firearm, but some states restrict certain parts. Check your local laws.
• Used roller guns. Check the bolt gap, the condition of the rollers and the cocking tube. A worn locking piece changes how the gun runs.

Heckler & Koch at Trademark Guns

In stock now in Birmingham (3 items). Prices and availability are live from our inventory.

Common questions

Where are HK guns made?

Heckler & Koch is based in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany. HK USA handles U.S. sales and support, with operations in Virginia, New Hampshire and Georgia.

What is the civilian version of the MP5?

HK sells the SP5 pistol today. In the 1980s it imported the HK94 carbine, which ended with the 1989 import restrictions.

Is an HK parts kit a firearm?

Not when it is properly demilled: the receiver is destroyed and the serial removed. Some states and cities restrict certain parts or kits, so check your local laws.

Sources

• Heckler & Koch (Wikipedia)
• HK USA