HK Plant Tour

[G24]

Going to the HK plant tomorrow for a tour. I will post some pictures Friday.

[zepheris.GLOCK]

Awesome, definately keep us posted!

[bac1023]

Have fun and post those pics!

[G24]

Well, the tour went as planned, but HK did not allow pictures inside the production facility. They had a patent room where you could touch and examine all HK products, and pictures were allowed. All the pics I have involve my finger on the trigger, normally a big no-no, but the guns were inactive and I had to dry fire everything. So don't harass me about the whole finger-on-the-trigger thing!

Inside the plant, there were MP5's and USP's by the hundreds, all over the place! Incredible. Our guide took us through all the steps in making rifles and pistols. It was pretty interesting. The P7M8 is still in production, contrary to what I've read before. I saw dozens of frames and half assembled pistols around the assembly area.

I could write more if anyone is interested, so let me know. For now, here are some pictures.

[G24]

Picture attached

[G24]

Picture

[G24]

pic

[G24]

I have a bunch more. I can send them to you via PM.

[Fireman1291]

More info on USP/p2000 building process please. How did it look, were they in a assembly line, being tested, what? :drools: more info please.

[G24]

There were racks and racks of the P2000. The guide took us around the plant and showed each step in the process, from barrel making to casting the receivers. The particular P2000 he picked up and showed us was going to some Spanish police outfit. He was telling us not only is there a laser engraved bar code on the slide, but an RF trasmitter in the grip panel that allows for quick scan by a reader. The whole plant was completely modernized and equipped with state-of-the-art milling machines, casting machines, etc... The method of making the barrels was interesting. They took a blank, which was about 1.5 inches in diameter, and 3 feet long,drilled a hole, depending on the caliber, polished the crap out of it and it was then ready for rifling. A mandrel was put through the blank, and 4, 140 ton hammers beating 1000 times a minute literally pressed the barrel around the rifling until the product was finished. For pistol barrels, the longer piece is then cut into the correct size. The chambers are not reamed, but again pounded into shape. Then the barrels are hardened by a piece of equipment, automatically, leaving the chamber out of the process.

The assembly line was just that: a line of work benches with parts for each stage of assembly. The finished product, the P2000 in this case, is then test fired with two over pressured rounds and function tested with a whole magazine. The facility has a 25 meter range on one level and a longer range in the basement. They also have a 300 meter range somewhere down the road.

It was amazing to see so many, literally thousands of USP's, MP5's, and G36's everywhere in the assembly area. Racks and racks of MP5's needing to be refurbished were everywhere. Our guide told us that HK tried to discontinue the MP5 three years ago, but demand was so high that it was not possible. He was really pushing the UMP models, as they are much lighter. Anymore specific questions, just ask.

[G24]

Board of Pistols

[654Boomer]

Greetings G24,

First . . . thanx for posting the info and photos from your tour!;)

I would love to go sometine, but I know that won't happen anytime soon.

Did the tour guide/leader describe anything about the manufacture process of the "Hostile Environment" finish, found on the USP/P2000 (and I assume others)? Is the metal soaked in a chemical, heated, treated, etc???

While I am not a metallurgist, I am fascinated by the durability of the weapons with HE finish (HK), Nitron (Sig), Tennifer (Glock), etc.

These are much more durable than "traditional" bluing and look just plain beautiful compared to blued weapons.

Any thoughts or info would be appreciated!

[P7Guru]

Did you see the room where they secretly still make the P7?;g

[G24]

Yes I did. The guide said they make them in runs of 1000.

[P7Guru]

Stop teasing! Picture?

[G24]

Sadly, we were not allowed to take pics on the production floor. But up on the wall in the area where they assemble the P7's, hung a display of 8 P7 frames in various stages of completion. It was cool. After fondling the pistol in the showroom, I think I may have to get one. I know the gate guards at Geilenkirchen Nato Base, Germany, carry the P7.

[G24]

Originally posted by 654Boomer
Greetings G24,

First . . . thanx for posting the info and photos from your tour!;)

I would love to go sometine, but I know that won't happen anytime soon.

Did the tour guide/leader describe anything about the manufacture process of the "Hostile Environment" finish, found on the USP/P2000 (and I assume others)? Is the metal soaked in a chemical, heated, treated, etc???

While I am not a metallurgist, I am fascinated by the durability of the weapons with HE finish (HK), Nitron (Sig), Tennifer (Glock), etc.

These are much more durable than "traditional" bluing and look just plain beautiful compared to blued weapons.

Any thoughts or info would be appreciated!

The finishing area was closed off and he did not go into specifics. Sorry I couldn't be more help in that area.

[P7Guru]

G24,

Thanks for the info. I am soooooooooooo jealous!

GHB

[thejackbull45]

What parts are actually manufactured in the US or is this just an assembly plant?

[P7Guru]

Nothing in US, yet.

[thejackbull45]

Originally posted by P7Guru
Did you see the room where they secretly still make the P7?;g

I thought the P7 was discontinued?

[pangris]

Hmmm... Jubilee owners will not be pleased...

Paul

[P7Guru]

Apparently they are still making P7s in short runs. The Jubliee was never advertised as the last of the P7s. NIB 2005 marked P7s have been cropping up over the last few months.