Hk

Hk

In 1949 two ex-Mauser engineers, Edmond Heckler and Theodor Koch, started a company in Germany to make machine parts. In 1956 the company participated in the German Government's tender for a new infantry rifle. With its development of the G3 assault rifle Heckler & Koch won this tender, and in 1959 the G3 was officially declared as the new standard assault rifle of the German Bundeswehr. In 1970 they began the production of a new machine pistol, the MP5 which gained a great reputation worldwide. In 1990 however, a major contract for the revolutionary G-11 caseless-cartridge rifle failed to materialize and HK encountered financial difficulties. In 1991 the company was sold to become a part of the large British defense group British Aerospace/Royal Ordnance. During the 1990s HK had good success, producing the P8 pistol and the G36 assault rifle. In 2002 British Aerospace/Royal Ordnance restructured its business and sold HK to private investors. Since then the company has continued with good success in commercial, defense and law enforcement markets.