Heckler & Koch MP5K
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Barrel
- 115 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.50 kg
- Introduced
- 1976
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Heckler & Koch MP5K (Kurz, German for 'short') is a compact variant of the iconic MP5 submachine gun, developed in 1976 at the request of a South American customer requiring a weapon optimized for close-quarters battle and covert operations. The MP5K retains the parent weapon's renowned roller-delayed blowback operating system, firing from a closed bolt for exceptional accuracy, but packs it into a dramatically smaller package with a 115mm barrel and an overall length of just 368mm. The shortened barrel and lighter bolt assembly increase the cyclic rate to approximately 900 rounds per minute compared to the standard MP5's 800 rpm. Lacking a buttstock in its base configuration, the MP5K was designed to be fired from the hip, from a briefcase using a special trigger mechanism, or with an optional sling. The weapon became the preferred concealed protection weapon for executive protection details, close-protection teams, and VIP security units worldwide, and has been adopted by special forces and law enforcement agencies in over 40 countries.
The MP5K was originally developed for a South American client needing an ultra-concealable automatic weapon. HK designed a special briefcase with an internal trigger mechanism that allowed the MP5K to be fired without removing it, making it the ultimate executive protection weapon.
The MP5K was specifically designed for close-quarters battle and covert carry scenarios. A specialized briefcase was developed that allowed the MP5K to be concealed and fired through a trigger mechanism without removing the weapon. The foregrip replaced the standard MP5's handguard and serves as both a grip surface and a barrel guard. The MP5K-PDW variant, introduced in 1991, added a folding stock and threaded barrel for suppressor attachment, making it more versatile for extended engagements. The SP89 was the semi-automatic civilian version sold in the United States before import restrictions. MilitaryFactory lists 1991 as the introduction date, likely referring to the MP5K-PDW variant, but the original MP5K dates to 1976.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Heckler & Koch
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1976
- Variant of
- Compact
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 115 mm
- Overall length
- 368 mm
- Height
- 205 mm
- Width
- 50 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.50 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 2.72 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Roller delayed blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Select fire
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 375 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 524 J
- Effective range
- 200 m
- Maximum range
- 1500 m
- Rate of fire
- 900 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Roller delayed blowback
Closed bolt firing
Cold hammer forged barrel
Select fire
Modular trigger group
Iron sights
Vertical foregrip
No buttstock
Compact design
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 201 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 2.50 kg | 3.18 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 200 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 368 mm | 723 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Barrel lengthAmong 202 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 115 mm | 213 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Magazine capacityAmong 204 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 30 | 32 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Heckler & Koch MP5K
How much does the Heckler & Koch MP5K weigh?
The Heckler & Koch MP5K weighs 2.50 kg (5.51 lb) empty and 2.72 kg (6.00 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Heckler & Koch MP5K?
The Heckler & Koch MP5K is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Heckler & Koch MP5K hold?
The Heckler & Koch MP5K holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Heckler & Koch MP5K?
The Heckler & Koch MP5K is 368 mm (14.5 in) long overall, with a 115 mm (4.53 in) barrel.
Who makes the Heckler & Koch MP5K?
The Heckler & Koch MP5K is made by Heckler & Koch (Germany). It was designed by Tilo Moller.
When was the Heckler & Koch MP5K introduced?
The Heckler & Koch MP5K was introduced in 1976.
How does the Heckler & Koch MP5K operate?
The Heckler & Koch MP5K uses a roller delayed blowback action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- German Federal Police (GSG 9)
- Germany
- United States Secret Service
- United States
- United States Delta Force
- United States
- British Special Air Service (SAS)
- United Kingdom
- French GIGN
- France
- Turkish National Police Special Operations
- Türkiye
- Australian Federal Police
- Australia
- South Korean Special Forces
- South Korea
- Royal Malaysian Police
- Malaysia
- Saudi Arabian Armed Forces
- Saudi Arabia
Provenance
Confidence in this record
87%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/hk-mp5k' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "hk-mp5k", "name": "Heckler & Koch MP5K", "manufacturer": { "id": "heckler-koch", "name": "Heckler & Koch", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 1949, "website": "https://www.heckler-koch.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "ae60994f5b45d604da21fcd14b728cfa9d2e62000c92e596de4c48c4be768979" }, "category": { "id": "submachine-gun", "name": "Submachine Gun", "description": "Automatic firearms chambered in pistol calibers" }, "country_of_origin": "DE", "year_introduced": 1976, "barrel_length_mm": 115, "weight_empty_g": 2500, "action_type": "roller_delayed_blowback"}