Brügger & Thomet VP9
Swiss integrally suppressed pistol
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The Brügger & Thomet VP9 (Veterinary Pistol 9mm) is a manually repeating, 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 |
| Unit cost | $2,100 |
| 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 |
|
| Diameter |
|
| Cartridge | 9×19 Parabellum, .45 ACP (SIX-45 Only) |
| Action | Bolt-action |
| Effective firing range | approximately 5 meters[citation needed] |
| Feed system |
|
| Sights | Open iron sights (100 mm length) |
| References | [1][3] |
Design
The 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 kill 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 9 mm 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
Beginning 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 wipe-style design; additionally, a 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 M1911 magazines was also announced.[5]