The HK MARK 23 Pistol gives shooters match grade accuracy equal to that of the finest custom made handguns -yet they exceed the most stringent operational requirements ever demanded of a combat handgun. One of the most thoroughly tested handguns in history, the MK23/MARK 23 project, originated in 1991 when HK began development for the U.S. Special Operations Command, the unit that directs the activities of Americas most elite military units, including the Navy SEALs and the Army Special Forces. On May 1, 1996, the first MK23 Pistols were delivered to the U.S. Special Operations Command for operational deployment.