The firearms manufacturer and importer Century Arms has recently unveiled the new AP series of large format centerfire pistols which use an HK-style roller lock action: The new AP5-SD (9mm), AP-51 (7.62 NATO) and AP-53 (5.56 NATO) pistols are created in collaboration with MKE.
All three new large-format pistols take after the classic German-produced HK firearms that hit the scene at the height of the Cold War during the 1970s. Firearms like the original G3, MP5 and HK53 use a roller-delayed blowback action designed and engineered by Germany during the 1930s. This action system became famous for its use in WW2 era MG-34 and MG-42 machine guns. After the war, Heckler & Koch engineers took the basic design and adapted it to fit hand-held shoulder-fired firearms such as the 7.62 NATO G3, 9mm MP5 and 5.56 NATO HK53, which are what Century Arms' new AP series of large-format pistols are based on.
The AP5-SD is based on the classic MP-5SD submachine gun which is best known for having a quiet integral suppressor. However, to ease regulatory burdens, the AP5-SD only has a mock suppressor but otherwise, it has features and parts that are faithful to the original. While the HK51 PDW was never officially produced by HK in Germany, the original versions of these firearms were built by Bill Fleming after the British SAS were looking for an “MP5 sized” version of the HK G3 rifle. Real HK-51s are rare and highly collectible, so the AP-51 is an affordable way to shoot and own a version of that firearm. The 5.56 NATO AP-53 is based on the HK53, which in turn was a compact version of HK’s original roller-lock 5.56 NATO HK-33 rifle.
Century Arms Vice President of Business Development Adam Ruonala said, “Century Arms is proud to have the opportunity to partner with MKE, the only HK-licensed manufacturer of roller delayed blowback firearms in the world, to bring these hard-to-find pieces of history to the US consumer at a price point never even imagined before today.”
To learn more the new AP large format pistols or other firearms offered by Century Arms, visit centuryarms.com.
