The Black Kite is a large-caliber semi-automatic handgun appearing in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.
Appearances[]
Shadow of Chernobyl[]
A real gun for real heroes. It is big, heavy and very destructive. It is not very popular in the Zone due to its price and size. After all, you don't go hunting for elephants every day!
― Shadow of Chernobyl in-game description
The Black Kite has a powerful damage per bullet and uses the .45 ACP cartridge making it the most powerful sidearm of the game. This, however, is offset by its mediocre fire rate and accuracy, high recoil and poor handling.
The player can also fit a silencer, although this will decrease the weapon's power slightly – then again it will still have the most power of any pistol, aside from the Big Ben.
It seems that the Black Kite is much more powerful than in other games, since the Black Kite can kill even stalkers wearing exoskeletons with one headshot – impossible in other games. Additionally, the Black Kite also possesses a unique recoil kick-back that noticeably displaces the user's view per shot in a vertical manner, making accurate, follow-up shots quite challenging to do.
Acquisition[]
Only one Black Kite is a guaranteed find in the game, being found on Freeman's body in the Wild Territory, although it is rarely found in perfect condition. It can also, rarely, drop from crates that more commonly drop grenades in and around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
In the console release of the game, another Black Kite can be obtained by completing Max's mission Get a flash drive from the crazy sniper. It should be noted that in the PC/original release of the game, Max does in fact promise the weapon for completing the job, but only gives a Walker P9m instead.
Unique variants[]
- Big Ben - a unique Black Kite chambered in 9x39mm, which can be found in the Wild Territory.
Clear Sky[]
The true gun of true heroes - bulky, heavy and highly lethal. Its limited use in the Zone can be attributed to its price, size, and a shortage of elephants to hunt. Uses .45 ammo.
― In-game description
When fully upgraded for accuracy, the Black Kite has the hitting power rivaling an assault rifle, while its accuracy is second only to the Kora-919; making it the second-most accurate .45 ACP pistol in the game and second to none in terms of pistol firepower.
Unlike in Shadow of Chernobyl, the recoil of the gun is lesser in comparison as the kick-back has been removed and instead replaced with the generic, circular recoil pattern inherent of all pistols, although at the most noticeable case. However, the gun's handling is still compromised by rapid firing, making it very easy to lose aim of a distant target if firing in that manner.
Acquisition[]
The Black Kite is a more exclusive and rare weapon in Clear Sky. The Bandits in Limansk mostly use the Black Kite as a sidearm. Kostyan and Hog are known to carry one of these pistols. Alternatively, one can either join the Bandits and buy it from Tooth. One other way to get it is to kill all Bandits at their base until the base door opens, and kill their leader, Yoga, or Senka, as they both carry the weapon. The Black Kite may also be found in the Garbage but this is rare. The Black Kite maybe found in the hands of a dead Bandit member in the Depot, but it is rare to the side-arm in the hands of one of the Bandits in the Depot.
Upgrades[]
The Black Kite shares the same upgrades as all pistols. Aydar and Thunderov are the only ones who can fully upgrade the Black Kite, though the player will need to get two USB flash disks containing upgrade schematics for Aydar in order to fully upgrade it. Limpid and Garin can also upgrade the Black Kite but cannot install the final upgrades.
Upgrades marked in green are accuracy upgrades, while those marked in red are rate of fire upgrades. They are mutually exclusive.
 Bolt mechanism modification (750 RU)  Fire rate +25%A technological modification of the bolt mechanism allows for a higher rate of fire.
 Bolt mechanism modification (750 RU)  Recoil -20%Careful adjustment of the bolt mechanism increases the weapon's precision.
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 Barrel modification (1125 RU) Recoil -50%Installing a muzzle brake allows recoil to be reduced significantly.
 Barrel replacement (1125 RU)  Flatness +30%An upgrade for weapons with integrated silencers. Replaces the combined barrel and silencer with a solid barrel.
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 Barrel modification (750 RU)  Weight -20%Careful adjustment of the bolt mechanism increases the weapon's precision.
 Barrel replacement (750 RU) Flatness +20%This durable steel barrel resists deformation and allows for better bullet acceleration.
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 Soft trigger (750 RU)  Accuracy +20%A smooth trigger pull allows firing accuracy to be increased.
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 Anatomical grip (750 RU) Accuracy +20%Tailor-made ergonomic grip designed specifically for you.
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 Extended magazine (750 RU)  Mag. size +4Increasing magazine capacity using improvised means.
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Unique variants[]
- Modified shooter - a unique Black Kite with some pre-installed modifications, which can be found in the Garbage as part of an optional side mission provided by local Bandits (Find the modified weapon).
- Big Ben - a unique variant which was cut from the final release of the game.
Call of Pripyat[]
The ultimate hand cannon - bulky, heavy and highly lethal. Developed as a specialized weapon for hunting medium-sized and large game, as well as for shooting competitions involving firing at steel body targets at distances over 50 meters. Its limited use in the Zone can be attributed to its price, size and weight, which are all double those of other pistols.
― Call of Pripyat in-game description
Upgrade view
In Call of Pripyat, the Black Kite is more common than in Clear Sky but still remains rare. It is one of the least reliable weapons of the game.
Stats-wise, it is the most accurate and powerful .45 ACP pistol before upgrades, but is also less reliable and has a small magazine capacity. It also weighs more than any other pistol.
Acquisition[]
It is sold by Owl if the player achieves friendly reputation with the Bandits, and by Hawaiian if the player has obtained the achievement A Friend of Freedom.
Known users include Pilot (although it is not obtainable), Jack and the Monolith Master. Jack will be likely the first opportunity to get the weapon, while the Monolith Master is an easy kill since he does not react to the player's presence - although he is protected by various Monolith fighters around the area. Sultan's messenger at the end of the mission Theft also wields this pistol. It is, otherwise, carried by random Freedom veterans and experts, Bandits (strangely including rookies) and Loners veterans.
It can be found in the following stashes:
- Jupiter – Atop the northwestern plateau behind Kopachy near the Ash Heap anomaly, beneath a tree (includes one SVUmk-2, 20 sniper rounds, 50 .45 ACP rounds, medical supplies).
- Zaton – inside the drawer of a desk located in the small building at the entrance of the Testing Workshop. Also has few boxes of .45 ACP rounds, vodka, bandages.
- Pripyat - Inside a wrecked car (AZLK-2140), between the River Port and the Vine anomaly. Also contains two boxes of .45 ACP rounds, an Antidote and one F1 grenade.
Upgrades[]
 Moving bolt section (600 RU)  Fire rate +10%Provides an increase in rate of fire without overloading other parts through additional recoil.
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 Polymer recoil buffer (1200 RU)  Recoil -20%A small buffer that takes on some of the recoil.
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 Combined two spring return module (1800 RU)  Accuracy +30%Installation of this module considerably improves groupings without sacrificing firing speed.
 Integrated barrel lifting compensator (1800 RU) Recoil -30%Introduction of additional compensation holes brings about a significant reduction in recoil.
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 Long barrel section (600 RU)  Flatness +10%Replacement of a regular barrel with a longer one improves accuracy and flatness, but reduces the rate of fire.
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 Chrome plating of the internal side of the barrel (1200 RU)  Reliability +15%Chrome plating improves the barrel's life cycle.
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 Sinusoidal rifling of barrel (1800 RU) Fire rate +25%Allows barrel heat to be reduced and increases the rate of fire without sacrificing flatness.
 Pneumatic booster installation (1800 RU) Flatness +30%A pneumatic booster allows some of the recoil to be converted into higher barrel pressure, increasing muzzle velocity.
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 Polymer pistol frame (600 RU)  Weight -0.70 kgA technical replacement of the pistol frame with a lighter one does not affect the weapon's reliability.
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 Changing handle shape with a straight rear section (1200 RU)  Handling +15%A change in the rear section makes for a more ergonomic handle shape.
 Amortization handle (1200 RU) Recoil -20%An amortization handle reduces recoil.
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 A handle with a changed shape with replaceable plates (1800 RU) Recoil -30%The possibility of choosing a suitable plate makes for a more ergonomic handle shape.
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 Double trigger firing mechanism (600 RU) Accuracy +10%The trigger is armed by the first shot, with all other shots occurring during automatic trigger arming.
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 Modular firing mechanism (1200 RU) Reliability +15%A modular firing mechanism provides easier maintenance and parts replacement, as well as certain improvements in ease of use.
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 Increased magazine capacity (1800 RU) Mag. size +4Magazine capacity increase without increasing weapon part length.
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Unique variants[]
- Steppe Eagle - a unique Black Kite with higher accuracy than the base model, sold by Nimble.
Sounds[]
| Shadow of Chernobyl | Clear Sky | Call of Pripyat | |
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| Draw | |||
| Holster | |||
| Shoot | |||
| Empty | |||
| Reload | |||
| Close | |||
Gallery[]
Shadow of Chernobyl[]
Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat[]
Trivia[]
- The Black Kite is known as Black Eagle in some translations.
- Black kite and Steppe eagle are the common names for two bird species.
- There are no Desert Eagles chambered for .45 ACP ammunition in real life. The .45 chambering was most likely done to avoid creating a new ammunition type that would be suited for a single weapon in the game.
- A silenced Black Kite can be seen behind Nimble in Call of Pripyat. However, it is not obtainable and none of the Black Kites in the game can accept a silencer.
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