Vektor Z88

Last updated
Vektor Z88
Vektor Z88 9mm.png
Vektor Z88
Type Semi-Automatic Pistol
Place of originFlag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Service history
Used bySee Users
Production history
Manufacturer Denel Land Systems
Unit cost$200 - $300
Produced1988-present
Specifications
Mass950 grams (34 ounces)
Length277 mm (10.9 in)
Barrel  length127 mm (5.0 in)
Caliber 9mm Parabellum
Barrels127 mm
Muzzle velocity 330-360m/s
Effective firing range50m
Feed system15-round box magazine
SightsFixed sights

The Vektor Z88 ("Z-88") is a 9mm semi-automatic pistol produced by Vektor, the small arms brand name of Denel Land Systems, in South Africa. It was named after TD Zeederberg, Lyttelton Engineering Works (LIW), who was involved in overseeing the manufacture of the Z88. [1] The number 88 is based on the year 1988 when the pistol was first produced. [1]

Contents

History

In 1985, the South African police was looking for a new pistol, which was only realized through domestic production due to arms embargos placed on South Africa at the time. [1] In April 1986, LIW began to work on manufacturing the Z88. In August 1988, around 200 pistols were made. [1]

In November 2024, it was reported on corruption issues on pistol procurements for the South African police in an effort to potentially replace the Z88. [2]

Design

The Z88 is a copy of the Beretta 92F, which makes it physically similar to the 92F. [3] They were manufactured in South Africa on machinery used for the Beretta 92F. [4]

Variants

The Z88 was developed into the Vektor SP1, released in January 1993. [5]

Users

Criminal activities

The Z88 is implicated heavily in gang crime in South Africa; this is reportedly due to stolen firearms from police armouries. [9] [10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hogg (1994), p. 42.
  2. ↑ https://iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/2024-11-03-siu-called-on-to-probe-r9-7m-pistol-procurement/
  3. ↑ "Fact file: Denel Z88 pistol - DefenceWeb". defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  4. ↑ "The Proliferation of Firearms in South Africa, 1994-2004" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-06-12.
  5. ↑ Keegan, M (30 April 2005). The proliferation of firearms in South Africa, 1994-2004 (PDF). Johannesburg: Gun Free South Africa. pp. 45–46. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Ezell, Edward (1985). Small Arms Today. Vol. 2nd. Stackpole Books. p. 327. ISBN   0811722805.
  7. ↑ "Firearms used by the South African Police Service – Specifications and purpose". 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  8. ↑ Engelbrecht, Leon (25 January 2010). "Police up arsenal". defenceWeb. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  9. ↑ IRISH-QHOBOSHEANE, Jenni (September 2021). "How To Silence The Guns?: Southern Africa's illegal firearms markets" (PDF). Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Mitchley, Alex (18 September 2021). "Guns for hire: Mapping the source of South Africa's deadly illicit firearm trade". News24. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.

Bibliography


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