Heckler & Koch VP70

The Heckler & Koch VP70 is a German semi-automatic/burst fire pistol. The VP stands for Volkspistole ("People's Pistol", a designation that would similarly be used for the later Heckler & Koch VP9) and the 70 refers to its year of introduction, 1970. The VP70 has the distinction of being the world's first polymer-framed production handgun, beating out the much more well-known Glock pistol series by 12 years. The military version is able to use a detachable stock that acts as a holster when not in use, similar to the Mauser C96. Attaching this stock also allows the shooter to operate a selector switch which turns the pistol into a machine pistol firing three round bursts, with a cyclic fire rate of 2200 rounds per minute. The VP70 has extra deep rifling that allows gas to escape out the muzzle, reducing the velocity of ammo by over 10%. This loss in power makes the VP70 able to use 9x19 in a straight blowback action without making the slide excessively heavy. The VP70 saw limited use among a few police and military forces and was discontinued in 1989. Complaints were often leveled at its poor ergonomics and heavy double-action only trigger.
It was produced in two models, the VP70M (Militär, military) which was select-fire capable and the VP70Z (Zivil, civilian) which is semi-automatic only. Other than lacking the facility to take the stock, the civilian version's only functional difference is the inclusion of a cross-bolt safety at the base of the trigger guard; the military one instead relies on its double-action-only operation and resultant heavy trigger pull.
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==Specifications==
(1970–1989)
Type: Pistol, Machine Pistol
Caliber: 9x19mm Parabellum, 9x21mm IMI
Weight: 1.8 lbs (0.82 kg)
Length: 8 in (20.4 cm)
Barrel Length: 4.6 in (11.6 cm)
Capacity: 18-round box magazine
Fire Modes: Semi-Auto (VP70Z), Semi-Auto/3-Round-Burst (VP70M)
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=== Film ===
Title 	Actor 	Character 	Note 	Date
I Killed Lúcio Flávio (Eu Matei Lúcio Flávio)	Jece Valadão 	Mariel Maryscôtt 	Heckler & Koch VP70M with stock attached	1979
Flashpoint 	Terry Alexander 	Agent Peterson 	Heckler & Koch VP70Z; Suppressed 	1984
The Protector 	 	Kidnapper 	 	1985
Aliens 	Ricco Ross 	Pvt. Frost 	 	1986
Aliens 	William Hope 	Lt. Gorman 	 	1986
Avenging Force 	Loren Farmer 	Andrew Parker 	 	1986
Renegades 	Kiefer Sutherland	Buster McHenry 	 	1989
The Handmaid's Tale 	Robert Duvall 	Commander Fred 	 	1990
Kuffs 	 	street thug 	 	1992
Rage and Honor 	Jon Van Ness 	Talbot 	 	1992
Police Story 3: Supercop 	Kenneth Tsang 	Chaibat 	 	1992
Street Fighter 	Gregg Rainwater 	T. Hawk 	 	1993
Red Rock West 	J.T. Walsh 	Sheriff Wayne Brown	 	1993
Red Rock West 	Lara Flynn Boyle 	Suzanne Williams 	 	1993
Darkman II: The Return of Durant 	David Ferry 	Eddie 	 	1995
The Island of Dr. Moreau 	Val Kilmer 	Dr. Montgomery 	 	1996
The Island of Dr. Moreau 	Temuera Morrison 	Azazello 	 	1996
The Island of Dr. Moreau 	Daniel Rigney 	Hyena-Swine 	 	1996
Mask of Death 	Jerry Wasserman 	Tony Lopata 	 	1996
Payback 	 	Chinese mobster 	 	1999
Half Past Dead 	Morris Chestnut 	49er One 	 	2002
Avenging Angelo 	Billy Gardell 	Bruno 	 	2002
The Matrix Revolutions 	 	Club guard 	 	2003
Be Cool 	 	Russian mobster 	 	2005
=== Television ===
Show Title 	Actor 	Character 	Episode / Note 	Air Date
The A-Team 	 	Terrorist 	 	1983-1987
Blue Thunder 	Dick Butkus 	"Ski" Butowski 	 	1984
Blue Thunder 	Bubba Smith 	"Bubba" Kelsey 	 	1984
Dempsey and Makepeace 	Ray Charleson 	Joe Delaney 	"The Hit" (S02E08) 	1984
MacGyver (1985 TV Series)	Douglas Dirkson 	Reverend Mather 	"The Enemy Within" (S1E15) / live gun, shot for real	1986
MacGyver (1985 TV Series)	Beau Starr 	GRU Assassin Anton Lem	"The Enemy Within" (S1E15) / unfired 	1986
MacGyver (1985 TV Series)	Richard Dean Anderson	MacGyver 	"The Enemy Within" (S1E15) / unfired 	1986
MacGyver (1985 TV Series)	Ned Bellamy 	Larkin 	"Ugly Duckling" (S1E18) / supressed 	1986
Firefly 	Jonathan M. Woodward 	Tracey 	"The Message" (S01E12) 	2003
Painkiller Jane 	 	thug 	"Pilot" (S01E01) 	2007
===Anime===
Title 	Character 	Note 	Date
Gunsmith Cats 	Natasha Radinov	 	1995 - 1996
Gunslinger Girl 	Claes 	VP70M with stock 	2003
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex	 	Visible in Kusanagi's gunrack	2002 - 2003
Gungrave 	 	 	2003-2004
A Certain Magical Index II 	Accelerator 	 	2010
Aria the Scarlet Ammo 	A Student 	 	2011
A Certain Magical Index III 	Mercenary 	 	2018
===Video Game===
Game Title 	Appears as 	Mods 	Note 	Release Date
Resident Evil 2 	 	optional shoulder stock 	M model 	1998
Jurassic Park: Trespasser 	 	 	M model; incorrectly fires in bursts without the stock 	1998
Resident Evil 4 	Matilda 	with shoulder stock fitted 	M model 	2005
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D	Matilda 	with shoulder stock fitted 	M model 	2011
Cry of Fear 	 	with shoulder stock fitted 	M model 	2012
Resident Evil 6 	"Wing Shooter" 	 	can be duel-wielded 	2013
Aliens: Colonial Marines 	"88 Mod 4 Combat Pistol"	with various attachments 	1970 model, with green grips and synthetic slide, fitted with an underbarrel accessory rail, infinite reserve ammo	2013
Aliens: Colonial Marines 	"Gorman's Pistol" 	 	Black frame, infinite reserve ammo 	2013
World of Guns: Gun Disassembly 	HK VP70M 	with shoulder stock 	M model 	2014
Umbrella Corps 	418 Matilda 	with optional suppressors and optics 	 	2016
Umbrella Corps 	418 Matilda SP 	with shoulder stock, 3-round burst fire and optional suppressors and optics	 	2016
Resident Evil 2 (2019) 	Matilda 	optional shoulder stock, compensator, and extended magazine 	M model, incorrect 12/24 round capacity 	2019
Resident Evil 4 (2023 VG) 	Matilda 	optional shoulder stock 	M model 	2023
=See Also=
Category:Gun
Category:Pistol
Category:Machine Pistol