Picture this: It’s January at SHOT Show 2023, and the show floor is packed. Everyone’s hustling through the aisles, chatting with industry folks, and hunting down the hottest new gear. I had my list, like everyone else—the latest stuff to check out, the people to meet, and the innovations to get excited about. However, I also had my sights set on something different. I was on a mission to find fresh takes on an old idea—the wheelgun. My unexpected find was the new Spohr L562.
The Spohr L562 Revolver
Colt had its blued Python on display. Taurus showed off a new single-action. Kimber was in the limelight with its new K6XS. And then, tucked away in a small booth that could’ve been easy to miss, there was Spohr—a German outfit that looked like they were ready to prove themselves.
The booth was small and sandwiched between others, but there was a palpable energy. These guys were hungry and eager to show what they’d brought over from the other side of the Atlantic.
I leaned up against the glass and took a closer look. What did I see? It was like opening a treasure chest: full bull barrels with Picatinny rails, adjustable mainsprings, and rebound springs. This was a wishlist of features, all crammed into a single display. They were Smith & Wesson-inspired actions but with that undeniable touch of German precision.
You know how every manufacturer has a vibe—like how a gun feels and what it says about the company’s attitude? Korth guns are for those who shoot competitively or just want to admire their beauty. Smith & Wesson’s revolvers? Built for real-world use, they get dirty and don’t care. Manurhin? There’s a whole rich history and lore that comes with owning one.
But here was Spohr—a company with no lore, no long-standing icon, no century-old reputation to lean on. It’s just a crew of passionate people hell-bent on making the highest quality revolver they could. It felt like a blank slate. A revolver ready to write its own story.
A Wheelgun Built for Serious Use
Chatting with the folks at the booth, it was clear that this gun was built with the intention of serious use. It spoke to me. A revolver that wanted to be shot a lot and still be handed down someday. Not something obnoxious or overstated, just a really good-feeling wheelgun.
Now, I know this might sound like I’m going off on some mystical journey, like I’ve become a wheelgun shaman telling campfire stories. But bear with me here—the magic is real.
So, there I was, the new guy in the room, getting curious looks.
They saw my show tag and said, “Oh cool, Hang Fire TV, I like the reference.”
I joked back, “I’d love to get one of these in my hands for a review.”
They asked how big my channel was, and I laughed, “Not big enough for you!”
But they didn’t brush me off. Instead, one of the reps looked me in the eye, handed me his card, and said, “Send me an email; we’ll get you a sample.”
Right there, that was the moment. The show could’ve ended for me then and there—I was thrilled.
Fast forward a few weeks. I’m back home, emails flying back and forth. And then, the tracking info drops. It’s on the way. When it finally arrived, the presentation was exactly what I’d hoped for: a black code-locked case with precision-cut foam inserts lined with a velvet-like material, all very understated yet purpose-built.
Inside sat the revolver, along with some paperwork, a sight tool, and a cool velcro patch with the Spohr logo. They even threw in a right-handed leather thumb-snap holster. Classy touch.
An L-Frame-Sized .357 Revolver
Now, let’s talk about the L562. The “L” stands for what you’d expect. It’s an L-frame-sized, 6-round .357 revolver. On first inspection, it’s a stunner: full backstrap wooden stocks, full under-lug barrel, ergonomic release latch. The thing has heft at 2 lbs 9.8 oz, which puts it on par with my Franken 686-1. Same weight, but the Spohr comes with all sorts of interesting mechanical tweaks.
What hit me first was the sheer level of precision. Every edge was chamfered or broken, giving it a refined feel while still looking sharp. The rear sight is an LPA sight cut for Smith & Wesson, which means you can mount just about any sight system on it.
Speed loaders? No problem. The Safariland L-Frame and HKS 586 models ran without a hitch. It’s designed to be user-friendly in every way.
Out on the range, I put it through its paces with both .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads. Speer Lawman .38 and Federal American Eagle .357 performed beautifully. The Spohr features a cold hammer-forged polygon match barrel, and it showed. At 10 yards in double-action, the revolver made tight cloverleaf groupings, standing. This pistol was more accurate than I could ever be.
After getting a feel for it, I decided to run it quickly through some drills—three shots, two to center mass, then up to the head. The revolver was responsive and smooth, and if there was a weak link, it was me.
The L562 Action
Here’s where it gets even more interesting. I couldn’t wait to get this gun back to the shop and pull the side plate to see what secrets it was hiding. The side plate came off the classic Smith way. Remove the grips, take the weight off the mainspring, and pull the screws. And let me tell you, this side plate was tight, which is a good thing because it’s a stressed member that needs to fit just right.
Underneath, it was like a familiar song but played on a new instrument. It’s a mechanical copy of a Smith & Wesson action but with all the parts made from forged stainless steel. Every component was wire EDM cut, precision ground, and fit with exacting standards. It’s not just about looks; each pin seemed tig-welded by hand, every piece polished and perfected.
The Spohr uses a coil-spring mainspring, which typically can cause stacking in the trigger pull. However, Spohr addressed this by adding a bearing at the base of the spring that pivots with the hammer. As a result, it maintains smooth alignment throughout the cycle.
The mainspring is also incredibly adjustable, from feather-light to all the way up to high-level resistance. The trigger has a set screw, too, which lets you dial in for either double-action-only shooting or strict single-action precision.
And then, there’s the cylinder. It’s got a polished race for the bolt. You might wonder why. The answer? So it’s concentric with the yoke, making the rotation feel like butter. The yoke itself has a dual lock-up system, reducing any cylinder chatter and making reloads quick and efficient.
Built to Impress, Built to Shoot, Built to Last
So, what’s the bottom line? This is one hell of a machine. It’s built to impress, built to shoot, and built to last. At $2,600, it’s not cheap, but it delivers quality that would cost twice as much if you tried to build it yourself. The Spohr L562 isn’t just good; it’s in a league of its own.
For a brand with no legacy or fanfare, Spohr has shown up in a big way. If you’re looking for a revolver that breaks the mold, this one is worth every bit of the attention it’s starting to get. And who knows? Maybe someday, Spohr will be the benchmark everyone’s talking about when it comes to high-quality wheelguns.
I’ve never seen quality delivered this high at this low a price. The gun isn’t just good. It’s otherworldly. Shoot safe!
For more information, please visit SpohrGuns.com.
Spohr L562 Features
- Caliber: .357Magnum
- Barrel length: 4 inch
- 6-shot cylinder
- Weight approx. 42 oz
- Completely stainless
- Cold hammer forged polygon match barrel (300mm twist length)
- Trigger weight approx. 2,8 lbs
- Wire eroded trigger system: solid hammer LX-V1 & solid trigger LX-V2
- Adjustable trigger stop
- Fluted cylinder
- Match cylinder release
- Walnut combat grips
- Black front sight with LPA TXT rear sight
- Delivered in premium gun case
- MSRP: $2,699.00
