About Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch was founded on December 28, 1949 by Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch, and Alex Seidel — former Mauser engineers who built the company from the remnants of the Mauser factory in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany. Over seven decades, H&K has grown into the primary small arms supplier for NATO and EU member states, manufacturing handguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers trusted by armed forces and law enforcement agencies on every continent.
H&K's "No Compromises" motto is not marketing — it is the standard under which every firearm is engineered. The company pioneered the use of polymers in weapon design, polygonal rifling for extended barrel life, and roller-delayed blowback actions for exceptional accuracy. With a 2022 revenue of €305.1 million and 1,156 employees, H&K continues to define the standard for professional-grade military and law enforcement firearms.
Product Families
VP Series
H&K's flagship striker-fired duty pistols, adopted by police forces worldwide. The VP9 features H&K's cold hammer-forged barrel, ergonomic grip with interchangeable backstraps and side panels, and fully ambidextrous controls. The VP9A1 and CC9 micro-compact represent the current evolution of the platform.
P30 & Legacy Pistols
The P30, HK45, and USP form H&K's proven hammer-fired duty pistol family, offered in multiple calibers and action variants. Long favored by European law enforcement and U.S. federal agencies for their reliability, accuracy, and interchangeable grip systems.
MP5
In continuous production since 1966, the MP5 is the definitive law enforcement submachine gun. Used by SWAT teams, counter-terrorism units, and elite military forces on every continent, its roller-delayed blowback action delivers exceptional accuracy in a compact format that has never been surpassed.
MP7A2
An ultra-compact personal defense weapon engineered to defeat body armor at close range. Firing the proprietary 4.6×30mm cartridge, the MP7A2 is deployed by special operations forces and counter-terrorism units globally — including Germany's GSG 9, the UK's SAS, and U.S. SOCOM.
HK416 & HK433
H&K's next-generation military assault rifles. The HK416 is standard-issue for the Norwegian Armed Forces and operated by elite units worldwide. The HK433 was selected in 2021 as the new Bundeswehr service rifle, replacing the G36 and cementing H&K as Germany's primary military arms supplier for the next generation.
Company History
December 28, 1949
Founded in Oberndorf am Neckar by Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch, and Alex Seidel — former Mauser engineers rebuilding from the ruins of postwar Germany.
1956
G3 battle rifle developed in response to West German military requirements, using design principles rooted in the Spanish CETME.
1959
G3 adopted by the Bundeswehr as the standard service rifle, establishing H&K as Germany's primary military arms supplier.
1966
MP5 submachine gun enters production. Over the following decades it becomes the world's most widely deployed law enforcement SMG and an enduring symbol of counter-terrorism capability.
1994
USP (Universal Self-loading Pistol) introduced. Adopted across U.S. federal law enforcement and numerous international agencies as a reliable high-capacity duty pistol in multiple calibers and action types.
1995
G36 assault rifle adopted by the Bundeswehr, replacing the G3 and marking H&K's transition to modern polymer-construction rifles for NATO forces.
2007
HK416 adopted by the Norwegian Armed Forces as their standard-issue service rifle — the first NATO military to field an assault rifle outside the M16/M4 family as its primary weapon.
2012
VP9 striker-fired pistol introduced. Rapidly adopted by law enforcement agencies across Europe and North America for its ergonomics, accuracy, and duty reliability.
2021
HK433 selected as the new Bundeswehr service rifle following competitive evaluation, cementing H&K's position as Germany's principal military arms supplier for the next generation.
2022
H&K switches to 100% renewable electricity at its Oberndorf facility, avoiding approximately 4,200 tonnes of CO² annually, targeting net-zero emissions by 2030.
Current News & Releases
VP9A1 — Current Generation
The VP9A1 updates H&K's award-winning platform with enhanced magazine compatibility and refined controls. Available through GDS for qualifying LE and MIL purchasers at MLE pricing.
CC9 Micro-Compact
H&K's CC9 brings full VP9 performance to a no-compromise micro-compact form factor, purpose-built for plainclothes duty, backup weapon roles, and off-duty carry by qualified officers.
HK433 — Bundeswehr Adoption (2021)
After competitive evaluation, the German Federal Ministry of Defense selected the HK433 to replace the G36 as the Bundeswehr's primary service rifle. The HK433 continues to attract interest from other NATO member states.
Net-Zero by 2030
Since 2022, H&K's Oberndorf facility operates entirely on renewable electricity, avoiding ~4,200 tonnes of CO² annually as part of a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.
Law Enforcement & Military Program
Guardian Defense Solutions is an authorized H&K MLE dealer, providing law enforcement and government agencies with access to H&K's full duty product line. All H&K products available through GDS require agency or qualifying LE/MIL credentials. The program covers both individual officer purchases and full agency procurement, with dedicated support for evaluation, demonstration, and volume ordering.
H&K products carried through GDS include the VP9, P30, HK45, USP, MP5, and MP7A2 — covering duty pistol, submachine gun, and personal defense weapon requirements across a wide range of department sizes and mission profiles.