Truvelo ADP / Wilson Combat ADP / Heritage 'Stealth'

ADP pistol, right side.

ADP pistol, left side; note that pistol bears Italian "Tanfoglio P 25" markings on the slide.

Characteristics

Type	Double Action Only with pre-cocked striker
Caliber	9x19 Luger / Parabellum (also .40SW)
Weight	560 g (19.5oz) empty
Length	160 mm (6.3")
Barrel length	95 mm (3.75")
Magazine capacity	10 rounds

The ADP (Advanced Defensive Pistol) has been developed by South African gun designer Alex Du Plessis in about 1991. ADP pistol was intended for concealed carry by various police and security services, as well as by civilian users. First production guns appeared in 1994 from South African company Aserma. At about the same time, rights for ADP design were sold to Italian company Tanfoglio, that briefly manufactured ADP as Tanfoglio P-25. Same pistol also was sold in USA trough second half of 1990s as Heritage Stealth. In the year 1995, an improved version of the basic design was introduced, the ADP mark II pistol. In about 1998, the noted South African arms making company Truvelo Armory took over production of ADP pistols, chambered for 9mm and .40SW ammunition. A new .45ADP (based on shortened .45ACP case, basically similar in concept to current .45GAP) round also was advertised in this pistol, but apparently it was never made in quantity. In the year 2004 it was announced that Truvelo will cease production of ADP pistols because of "insufficient market demand", but early in 2006 US-based company Wilson Combat announced that it will import newly made ADP Mark II pistols into United sates under its own name, so it seems that production of this gun will be resumed.

ADP pistol uses gas-delayed blowback action with stationery barrel. Gas piston is located below the barrel, and hot powder gases are fed there from the bore via small port near the chamber. Gas piston is inserted into the cylinder from the front, and is connected to the slide, in the same manner as in famous HK P7 pistol. The frame is made from impact-resistant polymer, with removable steel insert that hosts slide rails and barrel. Trigger is striker-fired, double-action only with pre-cocking (therefore second strike on misfired round is impossible without at least a partial slide retraction). Manual safety is somewhat unusual in its placement, as its levers are located just behind the trigger, at either side of the frame. Sights are fixed, with the rear sight blade dovetailed to the slide.

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RAP-401 and RAP-440

RAP-440 pistol, left side.

RAP-440 pistol, right side.

Characteristics

Type	Double Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	9x19 Luger / Parabellum and .40SW
Weight unloaded	915 g
Length	165 mm
Barrel length	89 mm
Magazine capacity	8 (9mm) or 7 (.40) rounds

In the late nineties, the South African police issued a requirement for a compact, concealable pistol chambered for 9x19 ammunition. In 1997, the contract for a new police pistol went to the Republic Arms Company, which had developed the RAP-401 pistol, a relatively compact sidearm suitable for concealed carry. Later on, Republic Arms also produced a .40 calibre version of the same pistol, intended for export. This was designated RAP-440. It seems that RAP pistols were influenced by the Spanish Astra A-75. RAP pistols are favored for their reliability and mild recoil; on the other hand, these pistols are somewhat heavy for their pocket size.

The RAP-401 is a short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol of all-steel construction. It uses a modified Browning type locking system, as the barrel engages the slide with a single lug that enters the ejection window. Unlocking is controlled by a cam-shaped lug below the barrel. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and frame-mounted safety, which also doubles as a decocker. Sights are fixed. Magazines are single-stack; the magazine release button is located at the base of the trigger-guard.

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Vector CP1

Vektor CP1, right side.

 

Vektor CP1, left side.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Chamber: 9x19 Luger/Para
Weight w. empty magazine: 720 g
Length: 177 mm
Barrel length: 100 mm
Capacity: 13 (standard magazine) or 12 (compact magazine) rounds

9mm Vektor СР1 pistol was intended as a concealed carry weapon for police and civilian public. Designed and manufactured by the Vektor, a small-arms division of the South African military DENEL Corporation, it has an unusual, streamlined design with a polymer frame and an even more unusual safety, located at the front of the trigger-guard. Introduced during the late nineties, it is still manufactured in limited numbers, mostly for export.

The CP1 uses a gas- delayed blowback action with gas cylinder located below the barrel, design probably borrowed from the German HK P7 pistol. Trigger is double action, striker fired. Manual safety is located at the front of the trigger guard. To set on Safe, the button must be pressed rearward from the front; to set on Fire, button must be pressed forward from inside the triggerguard. Pistol also fitted with automated trigger safety. Magazines are double stack; 12-round magazines are flush fit with the bottom of the grip, 13-round magazines have extended finger rests at the bottom.

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Vektor SP1 and SP2

Vektor SP1 pistol, left side. Note that safety is engaged while hammer is cocked.

 

Vektor SP1 pistol, rght side.

Vektor SP1 pistol, General's (compact) model.

Vektor SP1 Sport pistol, with long barrel and adjustable target sight.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Caliber SP1 - 9x19mm Luger, SP2 - .40SW
Length 210 mm
Weight unloaded 995 g
Barrel Length 118 mm
Magazine 11 rounds (.40SW), 15 rounds (9mm)

In 1992 Vektor (a small arms division of the South African DENEL corporation) produced an improved 9mm version of the Z-88 pistol (a locally produced copy of Beretta 92F), known as the Vektor SP1. A little later, Vektor also introduced a .40 S&W calibre version of the SP1, known as the SP2. Both pistols were and still are exported to Europe and South America, in several versions. SP-1 pistol is currently in service with South African armed forces.

The Vektor SP1 and SP2 pistols are almost the same, except for the calibre and magazines, and broadly based on the Italian Beretta 92 design. SP stands for “Service Pistol” and both weapons are full-sized, holster type pistols of solid construction. Vektor also makes compact versions of both models, marketed as “General models”; these have shorter barrels, slides and grips.
The Vektor SP1 is a short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol. It uses a Walther-type tilting locking piece, located below the straight-recoiling barrel, to lock it to the slide. The frame is made from aluminium alloy, other parts are steel. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and a frame-mounted, ambidextrous safety that allows for "cocked and locked" carry. Sights are fixed; the front sight is pinned to the slide, the rear is dovetailed. Magazines are double stack; the magazine release button is located at the base of trigger-guard.

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