H&K Mk. 23

The Heckler and Koch Mk. 23 is an Offensive Handgun Weapons System developed in the early 1990s for United States Special Operations Command. The Mk. 23 is a derivative of the USP, first introduced in 1989.

HISTORY
The Mk. 23 was the result of a US Military request for an Offensive Handgun for the Special Operations Command. Whereas most handguns are considered defensive weapons, USSOCOM wanted a handgun capable of being used effectively in an OFFENSIVE role. The result is an outstanding design that combines reliability with accuracy. The Weapon is considered a Match-Grade pistol, capable of a 2 inch grouping at 50 yards.

NCIS SERVICE
In 2006, The Defense Department issued a memorandum to the various Law Enforcement Agencies within DOD that there was a surplus of Mk. 23 Handguns in the USSOCOM Inventory. Requisitions were accepted and filled from NCIS and Army CID for the weapons, for use by their Contingency Response Teams.

Currently, NCIS has 150 Mk. 23s in the inventory. Two of the weapons have been requisitioned by the Great Lakes NCIS Field Office. The current users are Special Agents Benjamin Pierce and Dawn Morgan.