Heckler & Koch P9
Encyclopedia
The HK P9 is a semi-automatic pistol from Heckler & Koch
in 9 mm Parabellum and the first to use a variation of H&K's roller delayed blowback system in a pistol format and polygonal rifling
now common in H&K designs. Designed in 1965 and produced between 1969 and 1978, only 485 of these pistols were produced. A double action version, the more popular P9S was manufactured in greater quantity. Though Heckler & Koch ceased production of this pistol in 1978, it is still available in a licensed Greek version called the EP9S.
The P9S differs from the earlier P9 by being a conventional double action pistol able to be fired both with a cocked hammer and with the hammer forward on a loaded chamber.
and a pressed steel slide that contains the precision machined internal parts including a polygonally rifled barrel. High profile fixed sights are fitted with two red rectangles on the rear sight and a white stripe on the drift adjustable front blade sight. Vertical zeroing is accomplished by fitting front sights of a different height.
The P9S was adopted by the US Navy for use with a sound suppressor. The sound suppressors of the period were comparatively large and the model frequently shown with the P9S make the pistol's sights unusable so the suppressor was equipped with sights. The fixed barrel of the P9S allows the pistol to operate reliably with the suppressor attached without requiring the recoil booster. Most long and short recoil designs need to compensate for the added muzzle mass and mechanical movement of a mounted suppressor.
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
in 9 mm Parabellum and the first to use a variation of H&K's roller delayed blowback system in a pistol format and polygonal rifling
Polygonal rifling
Polygonal rifling is a type of gun barrel rifling where the traditional lands and grooves are replaced by "hills and valleys" in a rounded polygonal pattern, usually a hexagon or octagon....
now common in H&K designs. Designed in 1965 and produced between 1969 and 1978, only 485 of these pistols were produced. A double action version, the more popular P9S was manufactured in greater quantity. Though Heckler & Koch ceased production of this pistol in 1978, it is still available in a licensed Greek version called the EP9S.
The P9S differs from the earlier P9 by being a conventional double action pistol able to be fired both with a cocked hammer and with the hammer forward on a loaded chamber.
Overview
The P9 is a roller delayed pistol manufactured from a pressed steel frame covered in polymerPolymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
and a pressed steel slide that contains the precision machined internal parts including a polygonally rifled barrel. High profile fixed sights are fitted with two red rectangles on the rear sight and a white stripe on the drift adjustable front blade sight. Vertical zeroing is accomplished by fitting front sights of a different height.
The P9S was adopted by the US Navy for use with a sound suppressor. The sound suppressors of the period were comparatively large and the model frequently shown with the P9S make the pistol's sights unusable so the suppressor was equipped with sights. The fixed barrel of the P9S allows the pistol to operate reliably with the suppressor attached without requiring the recoil booster. Most long and short recoil designs need to compensate for the added muzzle mass and mechanical movement of a mounted suppressor.
Operational traits
This weapon uses a heel-mounted magazine release. It fires double or single action and uses a lever on the left side of the pistol grip to both decock a cocked hammer or to manually re-cock it for a single action first shot. The hammer is concealed within the slide with a protruding pin at the rear of the slide to indicate whether it is cocked. A manual safety is found at the left rear of the slide.Users
- EP9S variant.: Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police.: Brigade Speciale BeveiligingsopdrachtenBrigade Speciale BeveiligingsopdrachtenThe Brigade Speciale Beveiligingsopdrachten or BSB is a special forces/special operations unit of the Koninklijke Marechaussee, the Dutch gendarmerie corps...
.: U.S. Navy.