Heckler & Koch VP70


The VP70 is a 9×19mm, 18-round, double action only, semi-automatic/three-round burst capable polymer frame pistol manufactured by German arms firm Heckler & Koch GmbH. VP stands for Volkspistole, and the designation 70 was for the first year of production: 1970.

Design

The VP70 combined a number of design features that were innovative, or at least very unusual for its time:
Unlike the military VP70M, the civilian VP70Z does have a safety. It is the circular button located immediately behind the trigger and is a common crossblock safety. On the military frame, this is replaced with a non-functional plug.

Variants

The handgun comes in two varieties. The "M" variant is selective-fire, the "Z" variant is a semi-automatic only version. While the "Z" version originally has no provision to mount the stock, it can be fitted after minor alterations to the handgrip.
Four hundred VP70Zs were made in 9×21mm IMI; these samples were made primarily for the civilian market of Italy, where the use of the 9×19mm Parabellum is permitted only to military and law enforcement agencies. All of the VP70Z pistols sold to Italy had the provision to mount the stock, but still lacked the three-round burst firing capability.

Users