The Brügger & Thomet VP9 (Veterinary Pistol 9mm) is a manual repeater, magazine fed, integrally-suppressed pistol created by Brügger & Thomet (now B&T) for use as a veterinary pistol for putting down sick and wounded animals. The design is based on the Welrod pistol.
| VP9 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bolt action suppressed pistol |
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Brügger & Thomet |
| Produced | 2014–[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 900 g (32 oz) 920 g (32 oz) (SIX-9) |
| Length | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Barrel length | 50 mm (2.0 in) (Barrel) 80 mm (3.1 in) (SIX-9 Barrel) 154 mm (6.1 in) (Suppressor) |
| Height | 114 mm (4.5 in) (VP9) 142 mm (5.6 in) (SIX-9) 63 mm (2.5 in) (VP9 magazine removed) |
| Diameter | 35 mm (1.4 in) (Suppressor section) 130 mm (5.1 in) (Barrel section) |
| Cartridge | 9×19 Parabellum, .45 ACP (SIX-45 Only) |
| Action | Bolt-action |
| Effective firing range | approximately 5 meters[citation needed] |
| Feed system | 5-round detachable box magazine/pistol grip 8-round detachable magazine (SIX-45 Only)[2] |
| Sights | Open iron sights (100 mm length) |
| References | [1][3] |
Design
editThe design is heavily based on the Welrod pistol designed by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) for use in World War II and is mechanically almost identical.[4] Its original purpose was to quickly and humanely put down sick animals without frightening nearby animals or people.[5][1][3][4][6][7] B&T first produced the pistol when approached by a customer requesting 25 bolt-action suppressed pistols. B&T suggested using the Welrod design but adapting it for 9mm which the customer agreed to. Initially only 30 were made, 25 for the customer and 5 for hobby use by B&T employees, but production and sales were expanded when it was realized that there was a market for such a pistol.[5]
Variants
editBeginning in 2021,[6] Brügger & Thomet began importing a version of the pistol to the United States as the Station SIX-9. To comply with American handgun regulations, the barrel length was increased and the grip was lengthened.[5] The integral suppressor included with the gun is of a wiper-style design while an additional metal-baffle training suppressor is available.[8] A second .45 ACP variant called the Station SIX-45 with a further lengthened grip and feeding from 1911 magazines was also announced.[5]
See also
edit- Welrod – British integrally suppressed pistol
References
edit- ^ a b c Ferguson, Jonathan. "Swiss VP9 integrally-suppressed pistol – Armament Research Services". Armament Research. Armament Research Services. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ "RSR Stock #: BANDT-410110 Manufacturer Part #: BT-410110". Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ a b Zimmerman, Mark (19 September 2014). "VP9 Suppressed Pistol from B&T: The Silent Helper". Small Arms Review. Small Arms Review. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ a b McCollum, Ian (15 December 2018). "B&T VP9 Silenced Pistol: A Modern Welrod". Forgotten Weapons. Retrieved 16 December 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d "B&T Veterinary Pistol VP9". RECOILtv. Recoil Magazine.
- ^ a b "Preview: Brugger & Thomet Station SIX Suppressed Pistol". American Rifleman. 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "The quiet choice in 9mm: VP9". B&T. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "B&T Station SIX-9 operator manual" (PDF). August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
External links
edit- Product page at Brügger & Thomet Archived