Introduced in 1979, this particular P7 was manufactured in 1980, very early in the production run and among the first to be brought stateside by HK Inc. of Arlington, Virginia. Originally developed as a sidearm for West German police and adopted by the GSG 9 counter-terror unit, the P7 has a number of interesting features, including a gas-delayed blowback operation and a multi-function cocking lever/slide release that allows a trigger pull comparable to a dedicated single action trigger with the safety margin of a heavyweight DAO trigger. Fixed three dot sights, with the importer mark on the slide, the "IA (antler)" Ulm Proof House date code on the frame, textured grip panels, heel mounted magazine catch and a "HJ" marked single stack magazine. The matching numbered box contains an extra magazine, multi-tool, gas chamber brush, manual and a matching numbered test target (5 rounds in a 2 inch pattern at 27 yards). Also included with the pistol is a collection of documents, most important being a 2007 letter from J. Philip Bailey, identifying this pistol by serial number as being of the Collection/Estate of Colonel Rex Applegate. One of the big names in close quarters combat, Colonel Applegate literally wrote the book on close combat, "Kill or Get Killed" (1952 edition copy included), written based on a detailed study performed by Applegate on orders from OSS chief "Wild Bill" Donovan to assemble a course of training for American operatives. During this time he also collaborated with Fairbairn and Sykes of Shanghai Police fame and acted as a bodyguard for President Roosevelt at top level meetings, and in the post-war years he was a known correspondent of James Bond author Ian Fleming and advisor to Hollywood star John Wayne, as well as earning a brevet rank of general from the Mexican Army, developing new anti-riot techniques, sitting on the NRA Board of Directors, and serving as a trainer and expert to a number of police and military units.

Excellent, 98% original finish, showing a tiny rub on the left side of the slide and light operating wear on the slide and cocking lever. The box shows rubbing and handling appropriate to age, and the book has some tears on the dust jacket along with an old inventory label. Mechanically excellent. An top quality early P7 pistol attributed to one of the big names in American combat arts.