Description
Compact in form yet uncompromising in execution, the Korth Ratzeburg Combat 3 Inch .357 Magnum stands as a masterclass in German revolver engineering, where precision machining meets purposeful design. Produced during the revered Ratzeburg era, this Combat configuration embodies the craftsmanship and mechanical excellence that established Korth as one of the most elite revolver manufacturers in the world.
Chambered in .357 Magnum, this 3-inch Combat variant was designed with balance and control in mind. The shortened barrel enhances handling characteristics while preserving the strength and accuracy expected from the Korth name. Every surface reflects the meticulous hand-fitting and finishing that defined Willi Korth’s philosophy, tight tolerances, glass-smooth operation, and absolute mechanical harmony.
The revolver features a deep, lustrous blued finish that accentuates the sculpted contours of the frame and cylinder. Light plays subtly across the metalwork, revealing the precision polishing beneath. Complementing the steel are richly grained walnut grips, hand-fitted and ergonomically shaped, providing both visual warmth and confident purchase in the hand.
Mechanically, the revolver performs as collectors expect from Ratzeburg production. The double-action pull is remarkably smooth, while the single-action break is crisp and predictable, hallmarks of Korth’s renowned action tuning. Timing and lockup are exemplary, reinforcing the revolver’s reputation for durability and precision under firing conditions.
This example is further elevated by its collector integrity. All serialized components are matching, preserving the revolver’s originality and reinforcing its desirability within advanced Korth collections. Such consistency is increasingly difficult to find in Combat-length configurations, particularly in this level of preservation.
The 3-inch Combat format occupies a unique space within the Korth lineage, offering the portability of a defensive revolver while maintaining the mechanical refinement of a competition-grade arm. It is both a functional tool and a mechanical art piece, equally suited to display or discerning range use.
For collectors focused on Ratzeburg-era production, this revolver represents an important and highly desirable configuration, compact, powerful, and unmistakably Korth.
