Serial number - 224-010183. This pistol is in great condition and comes with two (15 rnd) magazines. Experience gained with the P30 hammer-fired pistol had a direct influence on the design of the VP9, but the VP9 breaks new ground with its integration of a unique striker firing system with an enhanced HK 'light pull' trigger. This is part 2 of my HK VP9 review, I now have it topped with an RMR and am doing more shooting in this one. Heckler and Koch did a phenomenal job on this th.
(or how to interpret HK's codes and other arcane details)
HK developed a series of codes to help identify their military/law enforcement firearms. Using their 2 number codes, it is possible to identify the type of firearm (belt-fed machinegun, submachinegun, etc) and the caliber. Here is how the code system breaks out:
Type of Weapon |
Box (magazine) fed LMG |
Belt fed machine gun |
Select fire assault rifle |
Paramilitary rifle |
Submachine gun |
Grenade launcher |
Grenade launcher, added to weapon |
n/a |
Semi-auto rifles |
Caliber |
7.62x51mm |
7.62x39mm |
5.56x45mm |
9x19mm |
n/a |
4.6x36mm |
n/a |
n/a |
40mm |
Naturally, there are combos of the first and second number that (as much as we might want one) would produce an HK firearm model number that doesn't (or won't ever) exist. For example: the HK59, the BIG brother of the MP5.... :-)
There have been model number changes over the years, most notably the models 91 and 93. They were originally imported as the 41 and 43, respectively, and if you look at the coding, you'll see they are identified as 'Paramilitary' rifles -- which to this day I maintain that they are. They are not 'Assault Rifles' (which is a media term).
HK Date Codes
Date codes are the next thing that cause a little confusion for new HK owners. Like the model numbering scheme, the date codes are a 2 letter code and indicate the year of manufacture:
Corresponding digit |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 (J used for mags, K for firearms) |
Therefore, if your HK91 shows a date code of IH, it was made in 1987. Pretty simple.
Hk Vp9 Serial Number Lookup
Now that we have that squared away, I have to note that it appears that HK has changed their date coding for post-ban LE/military magazines, and there hasn't been any definitive documentation to indicate what this is.
Hk Vp9 Serial Number Lookup Us
Last Update:11/22/2003 03:07 PM