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