View source for Daewoo Precision Industries K5

{{short description|Semi-automatic pistol}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Daewoo Precision Industries K5
| image              = Daewoo DP51 9 mm PARA.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Daewoo K5
| origin             = South Korea
| type               = [[Semi-automatic pistol]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1989–present
| used_by            = See [[Daewoo Precision Industries K5#Users|Users]]
| wars               = [[War on Terror|Global War on Terrorism]]<br />[[Iraq War]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[SNT Motiv|Daewoo Precision Industries]]
| design_date        = 1984–1988
| manufacturer       = Daewoo Precision Industries <small>(1981-1999)</small><br />Daewoo Telecom <small>(1999-2002)</small><br />Daewoo Precision <small>(2002-2006)</small><br />S&T Daewoo <small>(2006-2012)</small><br />S&T Motiv <small>(2012-2021)</small><br />[[SNT Motiv]] <small>(2021-present)</small>
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 1989–present
| number             = 
| variants           = See ''[[Daewoo K5#Variants|Variants]]''
<!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|734|g|abbr=on}} DP51<br />{{convert|751|g|abbr=on}} DP51 MKII<br />{{convert|686|g|abbr=on}} DP51C<ref name="S&T Motiv Defense Catalog p.26-27">{{cite web|url=http://www.sntmotiv.com/eng/business/defense_catalog.html|title=S&T Motiv-About S&T-Business-Defence Business|website=www.sntmotiv.com}}</ref>
| length             = {{convert|178|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} DP51 (MKII)<br />{{convert|177.8|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} DP51C
| part_length        = {{convert|104.14|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}DP51 (MKII)<br />{{convert|91.14|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} DP51C
| height             = {{convert|125|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} DP51 (MKII)<br />{{convert|118|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} DP51C
| width              = {{convert|33.5|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| crew               = 
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[9×19mm Parabellum]]
| caliber            = [[9×19mm Parabellum|9 mm]]
| action             = Tilting Barrel Short Recoil
| rate               = 
| velocity           = 
| range              = {{convert|50|m|yd|abbr=on}}
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 13- or 15-round magazine DP51 (MKII)<br />10-round magazine DP51C<br />Also accepts 10-, 13-, 14- or 15-round [[S&W 5906]] magazines, but they will protrude out from the magazine well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guns.com/2012/12/12/daewoo-dp-51-k5/|title=A Look at the Obscure Daewoo DP-51 K5|date=12 December 2012|access-date=1 May 2015|archive-date=23 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623061022/http://www.guns.com/2012/12/12/daewoo-dp-51-k5/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| sights             = [[Iron sights]]
}}

The '''Daewoo Precision Industries K5''' or '''K5/DP51''' series is a [[9×19mm]] [[semi-automatic pistol]] produced by [[SNT Motiv]] (formerly S&T Daewoo) of South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sntdaewoo.com/st/business07.html|title=Business Outline, Defense Business|access-date=2010-07-01|publisher=[[S&T Daewoo]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206111554/http://www.sntdaewoo.com/st/business07.html|archive-date=2010-02-06}}</ref>

The K5 was introduced in 1989. It is recoil operated and uses a conventional Browning-type locking system. It is mostly carried by commissioned officers in the [[Republic of Korea Armed Forces|South Korean military]].

==Design==
[[File:Daewoo DP51.JPG|thumb|left|A commercial DP51 version of the K5 9mm service pistol]]

The K5 is a compact, lightweight pistol with an unconventional trigger mechanism called "fast action". The frame is made of forged [[7075 aluminium alloy|7075-T6 aluminum alloy]] with a matte anodized finish, while the slide is constructed out of forged [[41xx steel|4140 steel]] with a matte finish. The [[gun barrel|barrel]] is made of forged 4150 steel with a {{convert|104.14|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} (6 grooves) right twist.<ref name="S&T Motiv Defense Catalog p.26-27"/>

The pistol features an unusual "fast action" trigger mechanism which allows the hammer to be decocked while still keeping the mainspring compressed. The "fast action" (also known as Triple Action, and most recently known as Double Action Plus+) mode allows the trigger travel of the double-action mode and the trigger weight of single-action mode. This allows a more accurate first shot due to the lighter weight of the trigger. It is also safer due to the longer trigger travel required to fire the pistol. A light pull on the trigger causes the hammer to flick back, after which the pistol would behave in conventional [[Trigger (firearms)#Single-action|single-action]] mode.
The pistol can also be fired in traditional [[Trigger (firearms)#Double-action.2Fsingle-action|double and single-action]] modes.

The factory double-column type [[Magazine (firearm)|box magazine]]s hold 13 or 15 rounds for the full size variant or for the compact variant 10 rounds. Smith & Wesson 59-series magazines are known to be compatible with the DP51 but will protrude slightly. The magazine release is of the push button type.

The pistol has three-dot [[iron sights]]. The [[Safety (firearms)|safety]] consists of an ambidextrous [[Safety (firearms)|safety]] external safety and a passive firing pin block which (as its name implies) blocks the [[firing pin]] from moving forward unless the trigger is pulled.

The handgrip panels are made of one piece polymer.

==Commercial sales==
[[File:White BG - Alpha Black Ejection(1).jpg|left|thumb|Lionheart Industries REGULUS Blackout Alpha pistol.]]
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2019}}

The K5 was marketed commercially in the United States between the early to late 1990s through various importers, including FirstShot, Inc., Kimber of America, Inc., B-West Imports, Inc., and Davidsons, Inc. as the DP51, with a compact version known as the DP51C and {{not a typo|.40}} S&W caliber version known as the DH40.

It was reintroduced to the U.S. market through collaboration between Daewoo (now [[SNT Motiv]]) and Lionheart Industries of Redmond, WA in 2011 as the LH9, LH9C, and LH9 MKII (amongst other variants), featuring numerous updates including a redesigned hammer, wider slide serrations with added serrations to the front of the slide, redesigned grips, Cerakote finish, and optional Picatinny rail (as the MKII).

The internal design and basic functions remain identical to the original and all the parts interchange between the original and the Lionheart variants.

A later variant of the pistol was introduced in 2016 by Lionheart called the REGULUS, chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum. The REGULUS was made in the United States, not imported, as was the case with prior models of Lionheart pistols. 

The REGULUS built on the LH9 by adding Novak sight cuts, an accessory rail on the dust cover, and an overall change of the pistol's aesthetic. In 2019 the REGULUS was re-released by Lionheart's new owner when the company moved from Renton, Washington to Winder Georgia. Further refinements were made to the pistol including a redesign of the extractor, redesign of the recoil spring assembly, the addition of G10 grips, and an update to the pistol's finish using Cerekote Elite.

==Variants==
* XK5: Experimental prototype.
* K5: Standard mass-produced variant.
** DP51: Commercial version of K5.<ref name="Pistol">{{cite web|url=http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg47-e.htm|title=Modern Firearm's Daewoo DP-51 / K5 pistol|access-date=2008-10-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008102540/http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg47-e.htm|archive-date=2008-10-08}}</ref>
*** DP51S: Semi-compact version with compact slide and full-sized frame.
*** DP51C: Compact version of DP51.<ref name="Pistol"/>
** DH40: Commercial version of K5 chambered in [[{{not a typo|.40}} S&W]].<ref name="Pistol"/>
** DH45: Commercial version of K5 chambered in [[{{not a typo|.45 ACP}}]].
** LH9: Updated Version of the DP51 introduced by Lionheart Industries in 2011.
*** LH9C: Compact version of the LH9.
*** LH9 MKII: LH9 equipped with integral picatinny rail.
**REGULUS: Updated version of LH9
***REGULUS Alpha: Full size pistol
***REGULUS Beta: Compact pistol

==Users==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->

*{{flag|Guatemala}}: Purchased in 2011.<ref name="서울경제">{{cite web |url=http://economy.hankooki.com/lpage/society/201109/e20110915100158120420.htm |title=[파워 경제인] 김택권 S&T대우 대표 |publisher=서울경제 |date=2011-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112230920/http://economy.hankooki.com/lpage/society/201109/e20110915100158120420.htm |archive-date=2016-01-12 }}</ref>{{verification needed|date=September 2019}} 
*{{flag|Indonesia}}: Purchased in 2011.<ref name="서울경제"/>{{verification needed|date=September 2019}}
*{{flag|Republic of Korea}}: Standard sidearm.<ref name="Pistol"/>
*{{flag|Singapore}}: [[Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation]] (CDO FN){{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
*{{flag|North Macedonia}}: [[Army of the Republic of North Macedonia|Macedonia Armed Forces]]{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
*{{flag|Thailand}}: 200 K5s transferred according to a 2019 SIPRI small arms report.<ref name="SIPRI19">{{cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.smallarmssurvey.org |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211191444/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |title= Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide|last= Southby-Tailyour|first=Ewen |year=2005 |publisher=Janes |location=London |isbn=978-0-00-718329-6 }}
* {{cite book |title= Jane's Guns Recognition Guide Second Edition|last= Hogg|first=Ian |year=2000 |publisher=Janes |location=Glasgow |isbn=978-0-00-472453-9 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Daewoo K5}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100130124539/http://www.sntdaewoo.com/st/en_main.htm S&T Daewoo Homepage]
* [http://www.lionheartindustries.com/ US Distributor Lionhart Industries Homepage]
* [http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/skor/daewoo-dp-51-e.html Modern Firearms, World Guns, ''Daewoo DP-51 / K5 pistol (Republic of Korea / South Korea)'']
* [http://www.recoilweb.com/lionhearts-lh9-43589.html Proper lineage: a review of Lionheart’s LH9 Aaron Cowan April 30, 2014]

{{Modern South Korean Infantry Weapons}}

[[Category:9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols]]
[[Category:Post–Cold War weapons of South Korea]]
[[Category:Semi-automatic pistols of South Korea]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1989]]