Daewoo K5/DP51
Notes: The K5 is
a pistol normally carried by South Korean military officers. It is based on a
conventional Browning action with the addition of the Browning Fast Action
trigger system, called 3H (High-accuracy first shot, High-speed shot,
High-reliability) in its implementation by Daewoo.
3H allows the K5 to be loaded normally and then decocked normally, like
any other double-action pistol. However, during loading, as the slide is pulled
back and released, a return spring for the hammer is compressed, staying that
way when the K5 is decocked. This allows that first double-action trigger pull
to feel more like a light single-action trigger pull, allowing for a much faster
and more accurate follow-up shot. The pistol must simply be cocked and the
hammer lowered to allow a rapid shot with minimal recoil. Trigger pressure
required is cut in half as opposed to normal double action actuation.
The K5 uses
purpose-built double-column magazines, but can also feed from Smith & Wesson
59-series magazines, though they will protrude slightly from the bottom of the
grip. The frame of the K5 is made
of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy (the same alloy used to make most AR-15/M16-type lower
receivers), and the slide is made of 4140 forged steel; the barrel is of
somewhat stronger 4150 steel. The barrel is 4.1 inches long, making it
equivalent to a Commander-sized pistol.
Sights are of the 3-dot type. The K5 has a manual safety and a slide
lock, as well as a passive firing pin safety which prevents the firing pin from
moving forward unless the trigger is pulled. The K5 uses an ambidextrous manual
safety, but this safety has the problem of being difficult to return to the safe
position without having to shift one’s grip on the weapon. In addition,
left-handed shooters will find that safety on the right side is much smaller
than that on the left side. Some other complaints include the sights; they are
of the three-dot type, but most shooters find the rear notch to be too wide for
quick shots, and the three white dots are large enough to be distracting. The
front sight is also considered by many shooters to be too low.
The K5 was
marketed commercially as the DP51 in the early to late 1990s, primarily by
American companies under license; FirstShot, Kimber, B-West, and Davidson’s were
the primary sellers. A compact
version known as the DP51C, with a 3.6-inch barrel and a slightly abbreviated
grip, was also sold on the international market.
The DH40, a version in .40 Smith & Wesson, was also available, as was the
DH45, in .45 ACP. the DH45 had several teething problems due to the light alloy
frame and the powerful .45 ACP cartridge. This caused the withdrawal of the DH45
from the market after only a few weeks, until some frame strengthening was done;
this improved DH45 is often referred to as the DH45 Mark II. The DP51S was
offered, which had a DP51C slide and barrel on a DP51 gripframe. In 2011, the
DP51 was re-introduced to the market through an American company, Lionheart
Industries. These were designated
the LH9, LH40, LH9C, and LH9 Mk II (with a Picatinny rail under the dust cover).
The LH-series had the additions of a redesigned hammer, wider slide
serrations, serrations on the front of the slide, redesigned grips, and a
Cerakote finish.
The LH9 is
otherwise so similar to a DP51 that parts will interchange between the two.
Users of the
K5/DP51 include South Korea, Guatemala, Indonesia, Singapore, Macedonia, and
Thailand.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
K5/DP51/LH9 |
9mm Parabellum |
0.73 kg |
13, 15 |
$240 |
DP51C/LH9C |
9mm Parabellum |
0.69 kg |
10 |
$235 |
DP51S |
9mm Parabellum |
0.71 kg |
13, 15 |
$237 |
DH40/LH40 |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
0.73 kg |
13 |
$314 |
DH45 |
.45 ACP |
0.73 kg |
10 |
$400 |
LH9 Mk II |
9mm Parabellum |
0.75 kg |
13, 15 |
$243 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
K5/DP51/LH9/LH9 Mk II |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
DP51C/LH9C |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
DP51S |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
DH40/LH40 |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
13 |
DH45 |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
11 |
Daewoo DH380
Notes: This
South Korean pistol was influenced by the Walther PPK. It is a compact weapon
for use by undercover police forces. The weapon may be fired single-action or
double-action. The 3H mechanism (see K5 pistol above) is employed, as are
luminous night sights. The barrel is 3.8 inches long. The safety/decocker is
slide-mounted. Magazines are an issue, as though they were designed with a
capacity of eight, they tend to fail to feed unless they are loaded with only
seven rounds. The finish is normally matte black with black plastic grip plates.
The DH-380 is
rather a rare weapon, as only 1500 were manufactured.
The DP52 is
basically a smaller brother to the DH380.
The DP52 is chambered for .22 Long Rifle cartridges, and uses a shorter
3.57-inch barrel as well as a smaller frame and grip. It is meant for undercover
police and civilian security police use, but with a suppressor makes an
excellent assassin's weapon.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
DH380 |
.380 ACP |
0.71 kg |
8 |
$142 |
DP52 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.65 kg |
10 |
$91 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
DH380 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
DP52 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
7 |
Daewoo/Lionheart Regulus
Notes: The
Regulus is a development of the LH9, itself a development of the DP51.
It is sort of an LH9 on steroids, with the improvements of the LH9 over
the DP52 as well as Novak hi-viz/fiberoptic adjustable sights, an improved
extractor, an improved recoil spring, rubber grips, and an upgraded Cerakote
Elite finish. It comes in a Blackout finish, which is all matte black; Urban,
which is a medium gray; and Reveal, which is Flat Dark Earth.
The Regulus comes in three varieties: The Alpha, which has a 4.1-inch
barrel; the Beta, which has a 3.7-inch barrel; and the Combat, which has a
4.7-inch threaded barrel, and also has suppressor-height sights and a Light Sand
finish. The barrels are what Lionheart calls a Tru-Axis barrel, which is a sort
of match-quality barrel. All have a short length of Picatinny Rail under the
dust cover. The Regulus retains the ability to use Smith & Wesson 59-series
magazines, but as the standard Regulus magazines incorporate a finger step,
59-series magazines will not fit as well in a Regulus. DP51 magazines will also
fit in a Regulus, with the same caveats.
Regulus magazines, however, will not fit in a DP51.
The Regulus was
introduced in 2016, but was retired in 2023 in favor of Lionheart’s Vulcan 9
pistol.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Regulus Alpha |
9mm Parabellum |
0.77 kg |
13, 15, 18 |
$244 |
Regulus Beta |
9mm Parabellum |
0.7 kg |
13, 15, 18 |
$239 |
Regulus Combat |
9mm Parabellum |
0.78 kg |
13, 15, 18 |
$250 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Regulus Alpha |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
Regulus Beta |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Regulus Combat |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |