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1,848 Posts
It happened the first time I shot an MP5. I took the gun apart, and realized some of what went into the design. The quality, the engineering, the overengineering actually. A true system approach. And then as with many of you, I started to experience their different firearms, and realized that there was some serious quality going on here. I started doing some research, and realized that there was not much information out there to be had, especially about those in Germany who are responsible for "the most advanced tactical firearms on Earth." Once I read about the G11, it was all over for me.
At HK, like the engineers under Kelly Johnson at Lockheed in the 60s who were responsible for the SR-71, an aircraft that to this day cannot be matched in speed, altitude and a host of other records, the engineers who conceived of the G11 were still years ahead of everyone else in firearms design. That intrigued me to no end, and my voracious appetite for knowledge was getting stifled by the lack of info that was readily available.
I started gathering literature, and found that the German produced literature in the form of cut sheets and trifold brochures had great photography and really showed off the guns. Before I knew it I had a literature collection, without ever intending to have one.
I had talked about putting together a website, and this site debuted, very incomplete, in April, 1999. My skills as a web designer leave a lot to be desired, but it is the content that makes HKPRO attractive, I believe.
HKPRO the name just came out of my head, as a desire to have a website name that is more catchy than "Tom's Totally Ate Up Unofficial HK Page." Know what I mean? I think it works well.
There are many here on this board who know who I am. It is not a secret, though I appreciate people not divulging it unnecessarily, I am still uncomfortable about it. I am a pretty private person I guess, as much as having an Internet presence can give you privacy.
Someone on the other thread said that I have incredible access. I do not work for the company, but I am in law enforcement. I am a certified Master MP5 Instructor, and HK armorer, among other things. Now maybe you can see why I always hammer on the legal issues surrounding this site. I don't accept ads for hi cap SOCOM .45 mags or USP45 mags or 'white' USP9 or .40 mags, (except the few that larryccf brought in with his P8 pistols.) Crap, there is another unfinished page, the P8!
You know full well that many in America want to do away with private firearms ownership, and the Internet attracts the few that want to make it bad for the many. I am confident that most ALL of the visitors to my site, and you the regular members are law abiding citizens and quite a few LEO's who just want to be left alone to enjoy their [lately demonized] hobby.
HK in VA has been very kind to me, and is very supportive of the website. After all, it is a rather large free commercial for them, is it not? They have not just handed me scads of literature, but with specific questions, they are good about helping me. I have no idea how the Germans at HK feel about the site. One of my great goals, is to get to Oberndorf, and hopefully that will happen next year.
Some of you have suggested that I write a book. Folks, that has already been done, most recently by Manfred Kersten, and Walter Schmid. The anniversary book is the most comprehensive book ever written about HK, and is one of the few books out there that I would ever pay a bunch of money for something that I can't read. Actually, I rely on my four years of HS German that I now wish I had paid much greater attention to for information for the site that comes from that book. It is rumored to be available in English someday, and if and when that happens, you will have the most comprehensive work. There is no need for me to re-write it. Those authors being German got much more access than anyone from the U.S. coming in cold could ever hope to get.
Sometimes people wonder where I get the great photographs. Most all of the photographs come from books and magazines that you can own, except I guess now 'HK-Die Pistolen' is out of print. The most amazing thing is the amount of people who from all over the world are sending me pictures, especially for the HK in Action pages.
This website is taking on a life of its own, and it is very gratifying. You cannot imagine the amount of traffic, and it is most all word of mouth for the most part. There are a lot more things planned for the future, and it is just a lot of fun to do. I am thinking about starting a page for YOU to display your collections, as the result of visitor input to the suggestion boards. What do you think about it? I don't want people with gun poses, but static collection shots that are of decent quality might be doable.
Think about this, all you who read this post. HK is not just a gun that you own! Maybe it is like a fine collector automobile, like a fine sports car, that you care for and only drive when the weather is perfect, or like a Harley motorcycle. There is a pride of ownership that comes from it, and causes you to want to own a shirt, or an HK knife or jacket, or to visit a website that adds to your enjoyment.
I hope that you will continue to enjoy this website as much as I enjoy making it. I don't feel that I am ever going to be "finished" and I hope that I never am. With your help, it will hopefully continue to improve for many years to come.
--Tom
(HKPRO)
At HK, like the engineers under Kelly Johnson at Lockheed in the 60s who were responsible for the SR-71, an aircraft that to this day cannot be matched in speed, altitude and a host of other records, the engineers who conceived of the G11 were still years ahead of everyone else in firearms design. That intrigued me to no end, and my voracious appetite for knowledge was getting stifled by the lack of info that was readily available.
I started gathering literature, and found that the German produced literature in the form of cut sheets and trifold brochures had great photography and really showed off the guns. Before I knew it I had a literature collection, without ever intending to have one.
I had talked about putting together a website, and this site debuted, very incomplete, in April, 1999. My skills as a web designer leave a lot to be desired, but it is the content that makes HKPRO attractive, I believe.
HKPRO the name just came out of my head, as a desire to have a website name that is more catchy than "Tom's Totally Ate Up Unofficial HK Page." Know what I mean? I think it works well.
There are many here on this board who know who I am. It is not a secret, though I appreciate people not divulging it unnecessarily, I am still uncomfortable about it. I am a pretty private person I guess, as much as having an Internet presence can give you privacy.
Someone on the other thread said that I have incredible access. I do not work for the company, but I am in law enforcement. I am a certified Master MP5 Instructor, and HK armorer, among other things. Now maybe you can see why I always hammer on the legal issues surrounding this site. I don't accept ads for hi cap SOCOM .45 mags or USP45 mags or 'white' USP9 or .40 mags, (except the few that larryccf brought in with his P8 pistols.) Crap, there is another unfinished page, the P8!
You know full well that many in America want to do away with private firearms ownership, and the Internet attracts the few that want to make it bad for the many. I am confident that most ALL of the visitors to my site, and you the regular members are law abiding citizens and quite a few LEO's who just want to be left alone to enjoy their [lately demonized] hobby.HK in VA has been very kind to me, and is very supportive of the website. After all, it is a rather large free commercial for them, is it not? They have not just handed me scads of literature, but with specific questions, they are good about helping me. I have no idea how the Germans at HK feel about the site. One of my great goals, is to get to Oberndorf, and hopefully that will happen next year.
Some of you have suggested that I write a book. Folks, that has already been done, most recently by Manfred Kersten, and Walter Schmid. The anniversary book is the most comprehensive book ever written about HK, and is one of the few books out there that I would ever pay a bunch of money for something that I can't read. Actually, I rely on my four years of HS German that I now wish I had paid much greater attention to for information for the site that comes from that book. It is rumored to be available in English someday, and if and when that happens, you will have the most comprehensive work. There is no need for me to re-write it. Those authors being German got much more access than anyone from the U.S. coming in cold could ever hope to get.
Sometimes people wonder where I get the great photographs. Most all of the photographs come from books and magazines that you can own, except I guess now 'HK-Die Pistolen' is out of print. The most amazing thing is the amount of people who from all over the world are sending me pictures, especially for the HK in Action pages.
This website is taking on a life of its own, and it is very gratifying. You cannot imagine the amount of traffic, and it is most all word of mouth for the most part. There are a lot more things planned for the future, and it is just a lot of fun to do. I am thinking about starting a page for YOU to display your collections, as the result of visitor input to the suggestion boards. What do you think about it? I don't want people with gun poses, but static collection shots that are of decent quality might be doable.
Think about this, all you who read this post. HK is not just a gun that you own! Maybe it is like a fine collector automobile, like a fine sports car, that you care for and only drive when the weather is perfect, or like a Harley motorcycle. There is a pride of ownership that comes from it, and causes you to want to own a shirt, or an HK knife or jacket, or to visit a website that adds to your enjoyment.
I hope that you will continue to enjoy this website as much as I enjoy making it. I don't feel that I am ever going to be "finished" and I hope that I never am. With your help, it will hopefully continue to improve for many years to come.
--Tom
(HKPRO)
