Daewoo K5
S&T Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries) · Pistol · In Production · 1989
Also known as: DP51, DP-51, Daewoo DH9
Overview
The Daewoo K5 is the standard sidearm of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, adopted in 1989. It is a 9x19mm DA/SA semi-automatic pistol with a forged 7075-T6 aluminum frame, forged 4140 steel slide, and Browning-style tilting-barrel short-recoil action. Its trademark feature is the 'fast action' trigger, an unusual decocker design that lets the hammer be carried decocked while the mainspring remains compressed for a single-action-weight first shot.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 734 g (25.9 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 868 g (30.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Barrel Length | 104 mm (4.09") |
| Height | 125 mm (4.92") |
| Width | 33.5 mm (1.32") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 13 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 351 m/s (1152 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 459 J (339 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Matte Anodized |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Ambidextrous Manual Safety, Passive Firing Pin Safety, Fast Action Decocker
- Features: Fast Action Trigger, Browning Tilting Barrel Lockup, Three Dot Iron Sights, Forged Aluminum Alloy Frame, Compatible With Dp51 Magazines
Variants
- Daewoo DP51 — Civilian Export
- Daewoo DP51C — Compact
- Daewoo DP51 Mk II — Improved Civilian
- Daewoo DH40 — 40 Sw Chambering
Service history
Operators
- Republic of Korea Armed Forces · adopted 1989 · as K5
- Indonesian Police
- Singapore Special Operations Force
- Bangladesh Armed Forces
- Guatemalan Armed Forces
Conflicts
- Iraq War (2003-2011)
- Korean DMZ tensions / inter-Korean standoff (1953-present)
Production
Production years: 1989-present
Standard ROK officer sidearm; civilian DP51 series widely exported to the United States during the 1990s
Origin
Country of origin: South Korea
Designer: Daewoo Precision Industries design team
Notes
The K5 is exported to civilian and police markets as the DP51 and DP51C, with caliber variants in .40 S&W (DH40) and .45 ACP (DH45). The fast-action trigger is the K5's signature: pulling the hammer back without firing leaves the spring tensioned, and the next pull is essentially a single-action weight despite the hammer appearing decocked.
Background
The 'fast action' trigger of the K5 puzzled American shooters when DP51 imports arrived in the 1990s; the hammer could be pushed forward into a 'decocked' position, yet the trigger pull was lighter than any other DA/SA pistol because the mainspring stayed under tension behind the scenes.