No parts interchangeable with a K-80.

The KX-5 was the next logical generation after the KS-5 and KS-5 specials. Rather than a pin set adjustable rib like on the early KS guns the rib on the KX-5 was dial adjustable on the front. I have owned all three and they were all enjoyable to shoot.

Im sure other owners will post as there is a lot more info out there..

 

The gun never caught on as shooters were moving to higher rib guns.
It was essentially jut a revamped KS-5.
A simple proven platform.

I think they stopped making them about 2008.


Its All good

West

 

If I remember correctly there was a LOT of complaints about the 5 series and cocking being done by the top lever was hurting many older gents arthritic thumbs. So now the KX6 is cocked by the opening of the barrel again. Adding a few moving parts. Tim Smith at Dupont told me he just loved the old design for simplicity less moving parts and just an all round workhorse. But I guess I am a little off subject as none of this has anything to do with the origins. Enjoy

 

This is really fantastic information, I had no idea of all the changes in the series! Thanks for the contribution. I suppose there was never a KS-1, 2, 3, or 4?

 

Is the new KX-6 Special made in Germany like the K80?

 

Yes it is made in Germany.

Its All Good

West

 

I think I figured out the original name (KS-5) Krieghoff Single 1985. Not sure what the X means though in KX, maybe they just thought X was a cool letter.

 

I believe also that you're correct - the KS5 meant Krieghoff Single 1985.

 

Story I read years ago was that they claimed there was five moving parts in the receiver.If someone has one,please count!

 

I disassembled mine the other day and there certainly isn't to many moving parts in it. I was blown away with how simple it was.

 

For those that have owned one, how big a deal is the lever-cocking thing? (I have two bad thumbs).
Can you just open it with the base of your thumb?

 

I Love my KX5s... More reliable than a lot of others out there.

 

I shoot one and it does have some resistance but I do not notice it especially when I'm shooting and focused.Since you have thumb issues I would definately shoot a hundred rounds with one and come to your own conclusion before purchasing one. Love the gun bought it off of George MT on this sight.

 

Trail,
Hardly noticed the difference on the thumb lever effort between my KS-5 and 90-T. Dale

 

U might want to surch for an older post about this . I think and I said that before : The KX 5 has way better faster triggers the any K 80 and way less moving parts then the KX6

 

I had one for 3yrs. loved it but wanted a combo and sold it,one big mistake,in my second yr. I did shoot around 350 rnds. in a day but my thumb ws not to uncomfortable.At a 100 or 200 a day was nothing.

 

If I remember correctly, only offered with tubes! If fixed had been available, I would have owned one! Tom Rhoads

 

I owned one of the first KS-5s, in fact one of the 35 or 36 that had scroll engraved receivers called Scroll Arabesque grade. It had a fixed choke but tubes were available. If I have my numbers right, they listed for $5,800 and since a K-80 with one barrel wasn't "that much" more at around $7,000, they didn't sell well so Krieghoff was closing them out at the 1986 Grand for $3,600, only about $800 more than a standard grade KS-5. When I passed to to my son, I bought a KS-5 Special and later one of the first KX-5s to enter the country. All three were great shooters and the cocking via the top lever was never an issue for either of us. It did help to place your fingers on the wood alongside the lever and "squeeze" with your fingers and thumb.

Yes, the "KS-5" name did originate in "Krieghoff Single" and either the year (1985) or the number of moving parts, which was five or six with a release trigger. Interestingly, there were two screws in the trigger, one that adjusted the pull trigger sear and one for the release sear if the gun was so equipped. Krieghoff International later drilled the Allen screw heads out of the screws for liability reasons when the guns were returned to Ottsville for servicing but I could change my first KS-5 from pull to release and back again in seconds - about one full turn one way on one screw and a full turn in the opposite direction on the other screw (or something like that - it's been 30+ years).

My only complaint with either gun was the plain wood they came with. My KX-5 especially looked like oak furniture and I was fitted and picked out AAAA Exhibition-grade English Walnut blanks for a Wenig stock at the last Grand at Vandalia (it was almost as much as the gun cost!). It was a gorgeous gun and I believe someone in the western part of the country now owns it.

Ed

 

I have recently purchased a ks5 and really like it. Only problem is every 50 rounds or so it it hard to break open. It seem lever gets slightly Jamed

 

then bring it to Krieghoff in Ottsville PA and have it looked at before that starts causing more problems

 

I think I will do that when all this is settled down. I have only shot about 200 rounds through it and have been trying different oils and grease to see if it improves. But for know at a standstill like everyone else

 

Where is the lever. That usually starts happening when the locking bolt needs to be rebuilt or replaced. It starts sticking.

If I remember right the KX-5 came out in 2002 as an upgrade to the KS-5 Special. They changed the forend release to a rod and end button similar to a Perazzi TM-1, from the under side release lever, and the went to an adjustable LOP trigger with a wider comfortable blade like the K-80. They added a forend iron block also so you can see it, instead of a steel insert in the wood. They all came with the adjustable rib with the dial adjustment. I believe all were choke tubed and they had an adjustable comb. They also went from a slanted post rib to a straight up post. The changes were I guess an upgrade, but maybe also a marketing change.

Otherwise everything else was pretty much KS-5 Special. The receivers are identical with parts and configuration of the same simplified but very efficient construction.

 

The lever returns to center. And when it sticks if you push up slightly thenpush to right that helps but can be tight to open

 

The pressure to open the top lever is the cocking of the hammer and mainspring.

When you say top lever returns to center, are you saying it is center or left of center? If so, then it needs a rebuild of the bolt. Ottsville will do that for you and an annual while it is there for around $350.

 

I have a ks5 and I have been noticing that I have been having trouble opening the action every 20 or so rounds. Looks like I need a annual service.

 

Just checked it almost dead center if anything it is very slightly right of center

 

I bought a ks-5 special around 1989 from a dealer in Mayfield Kentucky. Think his name was Kirk. I shot that gun well, good enough to pay for my first k-80 with winnings. Really liked it but wanted a combo set to shoot doubles. Not much recoil and I never noticed any fatigue from the cock on opening feature. Never had one lick of problems and as others have said, it was a pretty simple mechanical design.

 

I just had an annual and a barrel lug rebuild done at ottsville. If you get the barrel lug rebuild done while the annual is done you save about 60 bucks. The annual was $220 and the barrel lug rebuild was an additional $280. Gun locks up like new! If you want a barrel reblue your looking at $450. I sent mine to phi crenwedge and he charged me about $180 with return shipping. Looks better than new. Thinking of getting a release now that krieghoff is offering 15% off...