Mythical HK32 seen in the wild
As the western world moved away from full power battle rifles such as the H&K G3, FN FAL and M14, Heckler & Koch developed the HK32 and HK33 chambered in 7.62×39mm and 5.56×45mm respectively. Both were based on the G3 design and roller-delayed blowback operating mechanism.
The HK32K. Photo from HKPro.com
While appearing in promotional literature, the HK32 never went into production, or so everyone says.
Wamba, an very observant member of the HKPro.com forum, noticed photos of a Mexican policeman holding what appears to be the HK32.
The photo appeared in this article.
The magazine, both outside appearance and curvature, is significantly different from the HK33.
HK33 5.56×45mm. Showing 25, 30 and 40 round magazines.
The receiver also looks slightly different to the SW32, a clone of the HK33 made by Specials Weapons Inc chambered for 7.62×39mm.
SW32
I think the most likely explication for these rifles ending up with the Mexican police is that H&K sent pre-production samples to the Mexican Army who manufacture H&K weapons under license and they somehow made their way into the police arsenal.
Wow! This is like finding a guy hunting deer with a .276 Pedersen rifle.
“…and they somehow made their way into the police arsenal.”
And after last weeks informational post will somehow make their way into a drug lords arsenal.
Since a staged or doctored photo of a mexican policeman is unheard of, I must believe that the firearm pictured is an actual, working weapon, not a pellet shooting training weapon or a doctored photo. Therefore I fear that it was smuggeled across the border from America.
Sorry, just watched the evening news, lost touch with reality.
irishman, the Mexican cops have plenty of weapons that fire real bullets. I see no reason why they would go to such great lengths to stage a photo with a replica of a weapon that never went into production.
Hahahaha, good one Irishman! Beautiful weapon though. I wouldn’t mind owning one with a 40 round clip somewhere Obama and his spooks can’t find me. Something about that gun screams not legal to own. Haha!
The likely explanation is that the weapon is a HK32 manufactured by the
Mexican HK licensee, either because someone in the Mexican security services determined that 7.62×39mm was a better round than the 5.56×45mm, or because they thought it might be useful to be able to use the same ammo as their opponents in the Mexican crime world, who use significant quantities of the AK-47 type rifles, typically sourced from various poorly controlled third world arsenals and/or China, NOT the United States!
I would favor the latter explanation. It is probably relatively new production.