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Ref. Firearms developed and manufactured in Southern Africa 1949-2000. By Piet Winterbach, Danie Joubert + Chas Lotter. Credit for this information goes to Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Ass. All rights are reserved. No part of this information may be reproduced, stored, manipulated in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any mechanical, electronic or digital form or by any other means, without prior written permission of the publishers. Any person who engage in any unauthorised activity in relation to this publication shall be liable to criminal prosecution and cliams for civil and criminal damages 

Lyttelton Engineering Works has been in existence since 1953. During that period it has been known as the Defence Ordinance Workshop, Lyttelton Engineering Works and Vektor and Denel Land Systems, as well as having been owned by a number of government entities. 

The Z88 was developed in the mid-1980s, at the urgent request of the South African Police, who needed a considerable number of both new and replacement pistols following their planned rapid expansion and South Africa was und world sanctions. 

The United States Military had at that stage finished their trails to find a replacement for theColt 1911A1. They had selected the Beretta 92F it as the most modern handgun available at the time. The SAP had been a user of Beretta products for a long time and was well aquanted with them, so it seemed logical that the new standard handgun would be a Beretta or something very similar.

Several manufacturers of Beretta 92 type handguns were approached with the proposal that their pistols be manufactured in South Africa. They all declined, since the United Nations arms embargo was then in place. 

Armscor approached Musgrave and Lyttelton Engineering Worksin 1984 with a requirement to manufacture a new service pistol based on the Beretta 92SB and parts must interchange with Beretta pistols already in service. This was because the winner of the US military pistol trails, the Beretta 92F was closely based in the Beretta 92SB. While it was impossible to obtain samples of the Beretta 92F at the time, Musgrave had commercial Beretta 92SB pistols in stock which could be used as a basis from which to develop a new pistol. 

The original idea was for Musgrave to be contracted to draw up a data pack by reverse engineering the Beretta 92SB, and for LEW to then do the series production of the resultant design. It was projected that spare manufacturing capability at LEW would become available as production of the R4 series rifles would be completed by 1986. Musgrave accordingly drew up the data pack, which was completed in late 1985, and also manufactured two examples in its tool room.

Upon receipt of the Musgrave data pack, it soon became evident to the engineers at LEW that it was not compatible with LEW’s manufacturing methods and machines. It was a serious drawback as the planning was to for the pistols to be ready for issue in 1986. The senior manager at LEW, TD Zeederberg, tasked the LEW engineer responsible for the Z88 project to draw up ‘a new project plan – one which would deliver the new pistol to the SAP by 1988. 

LEW requested twenty Beretta SB pistols from Musgrave for reverse engineereing. Four examples of these were subjected to an excelerated endurance firing trail, to ensure the design was suitable. The view was taken that ther is no point in requiring the new pistols to fire 12000 rounds, if the original design was not capable of doing so. They were impressed when they saw that the pistol were in very good condition afterwards. All the parts were manufactured on jigs and fixtures designed for this purpose, except for the frame, due to the complexity of this part. The frame was machined from bar stock on a CNC milling machine.

The Z88 was one of few commercially successful pistols manufactured in South Africa and was made to an extremely high standard. I believe the Z in Z88 is named after the senior manager at LEW, Mr Zeederberg. 

Now jump to the Vektor SP1. The Z88.would serve as the basis for the later and highly successful SP series of pistols made in 1991 to 1998

The management team at LEW (later Vektor) was only too aware of the limitation, and likely future ramifications, of the initial unlicenced production of the Z88 pistol. A settlement was eventually reached with Beretta in the 1990s which allowed for continued production of the Z88 for local requirements, but with very tight restrictions on any other sales. For all intents and puposes the Z88 could not be exported. A decision was made to design a new handgun bsad on the Z88, but one that was not bound by these restrictions. The LEW tean set out to design what would become the SP1 pistol, with the SP being a acrumen for “Service Pistol”. This designation would remain throughout the different production versions from 1991 to 1998 when production was terminated.

The first SP1 Standard pistols were delivered in 1992. The pistol would eventually involve into an ertire series of handguns which include a compact version, numerous target and competition variants as well as a 40 S&W chambered series. Note while the standard baseline SP1 was designated and known as the “SP1”, this variant will be named as “SP1 Standard” in the publication so as to avoid confusion with other variants in the series. 

The engineering team worked on the following parameters: 
•	The new pistol is to be based internally on the Z88 so as to ensure as much commonality of 
        parts as possible, as well as to cut down on the design and development process.
•	Drastically change the external appearance of the new pistol so that it bore no resemblance 
        to the Z88/Beretta 92 SB or 92F.
•	Discard the slide mounted hammer drop type safety in exchange for a frame mounted thumb 
        operated safety. This parameter was set by Jock Germishuis, a member of LEW management 
        team, since his personal practical pistol shooting experience di not favour a slide mounted 
        hammer drop safety. 
•	Every effort was to be made to enhance the handgun’s ergonomics.
•	Production costs to be reduced as much as possible. 

The following changes were made to the Z88 to create the SP1 Standard pistol:
•	New profile slide.
•	New profile frame.
•	Slightly shorter barrel.
•	New profile hammer.
•	Thumb operated frame mounted safety replacing slide mounted hammer drop safety.
•	Simplified disassembly latch without the spring.
•	New design ergonomic design polymer grip.  
•	New front sight.

The most obvios change that was made to the Z88 was the external appearance of the slide. The SP1’s slide was enclosed and more angular with slab sides, while the Z88 had the characteristic Beretta slide with round corners. Production costs were reduced considerably by having straight lines on the slide. This simplify production, as well as saving on the set-up time needed to position the slide in the milling machine.

Fine grooves were machined on top of the slide to create an anti-glare surface. The slide houses the spring-loaded firing pin as well as the front and rear sights, with the rear sight adjustable for windage. The front sight sits in a slot in the slide from the front and is pinned in place. The rear sight is the same as that is used on the Z88. All models in the SP series used the same slide, albeit with model specific markings and accessories fitted.

The SP1 series’ method of operation is identical to the Z88 and Beretta 92 series. The barrel remains locked into the slide until the assembly recoils to the rear, unlocks the barrel and ejects the spent cartridge case, whereafter the recoil spring returns the slide into battery and chambers a fresh round.

The SP1’s frame also anderwent a number of changes to distinguish from the Z88, but was still manufactured from the same high strength 7075 aluminium alloy. The frame houses the trigger, mainspring, disassembly lever and safety catch assembleies. The trigger guard profile was changed, showing amuch thinner profile all around. The front part of the trigger guard was changed from a semi-circular shape to a more angular shape. The entire back strap of the SP1 was cut away to improve ergonomics and also to change the SP1’s grip profile, so as to further distinguish it from the Z88 profile.

The grip is a single, wrap-around unit, manufactured from high strength injection polymer. It is fitted to the frame by a single button head screw at the botom of the grip. It features checkering on the sides, aswell as on the back strap. The provision of a comfortable grip was regarded as a key feature of the design. A metal Vektor logo is mounted in the grip.

The first SP1s were fitted with the third model Z88 steel triggers which are smooth and ungrooved. The trigger was changed on later production SP1s to a high strength polymer dsign, with a more pronounced hook and integral grooves to improve trigger finger contact.  

The recoil spring guide rod was initially manufactured from a high strength injection moulded polymer. This was chosen in order to reduce production costs, as the original seel guide rod as used in the Z88 was expensive. This plastic guide rod didn’t find favour with the users however, and the steel guide rod was eventually used on all subsequent SP1s.

Each SP1 Standard pistol was supplied with two fifteen round Z88 magazines.The first LEW magazines were supplied with an aluminium flour plate and had the LEW logo stamped on the magazine body. The SP1’s magazine floor plate were however all manufactured from high strength injection moulded polymer, The original Z88 magazine floor plates were manufactured from aluminium which had to be hard anodized. The later magazine bodies were stamped with the new Vektor logo, which was first used as a brand name for LEW small arms in 1992 when the H5 pump-action rifle was launched. 

The SP1 pistol was exported to the United States of America when US firearm law prohibited the sale of magazines with a capacity of more than ten rounds. As these export SP1s had to be completed in a short time. Vektor bought ten round magazines from the Italian magazine manufacturer Mec-Gar for this purpose. This gave Vektor enough time to design and develop their own ten round magazines and to tool up. The locally developed ten round magazines have an oblong dimple pressed into both sides of the body and a thin wire-cut slot around the magazine body. The result is that the top and bottom sections of the magazine only remain connected by the dimples. These dimples stop the magazine follower’s downward movement at ten rounds, while the slot ensures that the magazine body shoud split into two should these restricting dimples be removed. These magazines were manufactured solely for the US market. They may be encountered in outh Africa since “Vektor USA” marked pistols were sold locally, following Denel’s withdrawal from the US market. 

Special nineteen round, high capasity magazines were later developed when Vektor introduced the SP1 Sport and Target model pistols. These handguns required magazines with a higher capacity than the original thifteen rounds. The design was quite ingenous in that the Vector engineers utilized the existing fifteen round magazine body, but increased the capacity by fitting a deeper magazine floor plate. Theses deeper floor plates were initially machined from aluminium, but were later injection moulded using the same material as the original floor plates. A special spring was also designed, which allowed the coils to calapse within itself when compressed. The magazine follower was also redesigned to allow the spring to sit deeper into it and was done to create more space for the spring to function properly.

Serial numbers on the early SP1 Standard pistols were only applied on the left-hand side of the frame. This was changed following a requirement from the South African Police Service that serial numbers be applied to the frame and barrel. Henceforth all subsequent pistols in the SP series were marked in the following manner: 
•	Serial number applied to left front area of the frame.
•	Serial number applied to the bottom of the barrel. 
•	Serial numbers on the SP Ultra Sport and Competition model serial numbers were applied to 
        the bottom of the frame, due to the mounting of the optical sight.

All the SP1 pistols exported to the USA had the serial number applied to the slide as well, directly below the ejection port.

The vast majority of SP1 Standard pistols were delivered with a black, hard anodised aluminium frame and s chemically blacked steel slide. Other finishes were available to accommodate client’s requests. The second most common was a clear anodized aluminium frame and an electroless nickel plated slide.

The SP1 pistol was 210 mm long, and weighed 995g unloaded. 

SP1 Sport Pistol.
Vektor introduced the SP1 Sport soon after theintroduction of the SP1 Standard model in 1992. It was designed as a entry level pistol for the sport shooter. While more expensive than the SP1 Standard it was still much more affordable than any smilar imported model, and was fitted as standard with assesories normally only found in custom build sporting pistols. It was used with great success in both local and international competitions.

The Vektor SP1 Standard pistol was used as a starting point and the following features were incorporated: 
•	The method of operation was the same as that of the SP1 Standard except for the single 
        action trigger.
•	Fitted with a longer barrel. This was required for the new compensator which was attached by 
        means of special fine threading at the muzzle.

Vektor designed a new three port compensator. This blended into the pistols external lines with a prominent angle at the bottom front end. The compensator is semi permanent fixed tohe barrel hence the barrel, slide and compensator remains together when the pistol is disassembled for cleaning. The threads on the barrel and compensator are “timed”, in that the start of the thread is at a specific point and angle with the compensator being rotated to its final upright posision by applying pre-determined point.

The front sight was relocated to the compensator, thereby lengthening the sight radius and improving accuracy. This sight was positioned on the rear part, behind the ports, to present the sight picture being obscured by the vented gas. A high profile rear sight, drift adjustable for windage was designed and fitted by Vektor. 

The extended magazine release button consists of a standard magazine release button, fitted with an injection moulded extension piece. The trigger mechanism was changed from the standard double action to a single-action only type in order to facilitate single action only functioning, and therfor can not be used with the SP1 Standard hammer. 

Various designs of adjustable trigger stops were mounted in the SP1 Sport’s frame to prevent over travel. An SP1 Standard slide was used, but with the slot for the front sight plugged. The side of the slide was marked “Sport”. The majority of sport models were delivered in standard black finish as found on the SP1 Standard, although some were delivered in clear anodized frame and an electroless nickel plated slide.

The pistol were 240 mm long and weighed 1080g 

The SP1 Target Pistol.
Vektor introduced the SP1 Target pistol following negotiations in Germany in the mid 1990s. The SP1 Target was designed from input given by this distributor. Target and sport shooting is quite popular in Germany, but a handgun must have certain features to qualify. Vecktor proposed its SP1 Sport model and certain modifications were suggested. These were implemented and the SP1 Target was the result, which was for all practical purposes made exclusively for export, although it could be supplied locally on request.

The following changes were made to the SP1 Target model:
•	Fitted with a longer barrel with polygonal rifling with the additional length being required for 
        the barrel weight.
•	Vektor designed barrel weight fitted to th front of the barrel with its profile resembling the 
        first, three port compensator of the SP1 sport model. This is mounted to the barrel by means 
        of a complex set of finely threaded bushes which were installed using a special tool. This 
        complicated method was required as all possible play had to be removed between the barrel 
        and the barrel weight. The front sight form an integral part of the barrel weight.
•	Fully adjustable rear sight (Vektor purchased these commercially for fitment). 
•	Extended magazine release with polymer extension piece. 
•	Extended safety lever with thicker profile. 
•	A special target trigger with a straight, vertical profile. 
•	The hammer was modified to facilitate single action functioning and is not interchangeable 
        with the standard SP1 hammer.
•	Finished with achemically blackened slide and a clear anodized frame.

The same trigger stop and trigger mechanism as was used in the SP1 Sport was fitted to the SP1 Target. A standard SP1 slidec was used, with the slot for the front sight plugged. The side of the slide was marked: ”SP1 Target”.

The method of operation for the SP1 Target remained the same as that of the SP1 Sport. The pistol were 244 mm long and weighed 1155g.  

SP1 NT.
The SP1 NT was introduced in appoximately 1995 and was designed as a more advanced sport pistol than the original entry level SP1 Sport. The SP1 NT was developed to a specification received from Vektor’s European distributor. It was intended to be sold
In Germany. 

The design of this firearm was based on the SP1 Sport and has the following features: 
•	Same method of operation as the SP1 Sport. 
•	Same threaded end barrel as that used on the SP1 Sport. 
•	Same three port compensator as on the SP1 Sport model. 
•	LPA fully adjustable commercial off the shelf rear sight with two white dots,fitted to the slide. 
        Both windage and elevation adjustable.
•	 Standard SP1 style magazine release button. 
•	Same trigger mechanism as the SP1 Sport model, with same safety lever as mounted on the 
        SP1 Target model. 
•	Special nthinner target trigger with a straight, vertical profile fitted, with same trigger stop as 
        used on the SP1 Sport model. 
•	SP1 Standard slide used, but with the slot for the front sight plugged. The side of the slide 
        was marked: “Sport”.
•	Finished in an Electroless nickel-plated slide and an clear anodized, aluminium frame.

The pistol is 240 mm long and weighed 1080g.

SP1 ultra Sport Pistol
The SP1 Ultra Sport was introduced in 1996 and was designed in order to compete in ISPC open classcompetition shooting. This firearm was the zenith of Vektor’s sport pistol development, since offered a huge leap in design and performance when compared to the original SP1 Sport model. 

The SP1 Ultra Sport model was based on the SP1 Standard pistol, but incorporated the following features: 
•	Same method of operation as the SP1 NT model.
•	Fitted with a 148 mm barrel, with the length dictated by the new design compensator.
•	A new design compensator with a slimmer profile featuring three ports, as well as three 
        additional vent ports at the 12 o’clock position to counter the verticle movement during recoil.
•	The injection moulded polymer magazine bevel fitted to the base of the pistol frame and 
        secured to the frame by the grip mounting screw. 
•	Injection moulded polymer T shaped cocking handle fitted on the slide in place of the fixed 
        rear sight. This was necessitated by the red dot sight mounting around the slide, which 
        prevented access the the serrations at the rear of the slide. 
•	Injection moulded polymer rear sight mount for an electronic red dot sight fitted. 
•	Standard SP1 frame strengthened in the area immediately in front of the trigger guard to 
        provide more material for a secure mounting of the sight mount. 
•	Integrilly machined beavertail extention on frame. 
•	No open sights of any kind were fitted. 
•	Same trigger mechanism as the SP1 NT. 
•	Same straight trigger as used on the SP1 NT.
•	Same trigger stop as used in the SP1 NT.
•	 A standard SP1 slide with the slot for the front sight plugged. The slide was marked Sport.
•	The same thicker profile safety lever that was used on the SP1 NT/Target. 
•	Finished with a chemically blackened slide  and black anodized aluminum frame, although 
        other finishes could be had on request. Nearly all, if not all, SP1 Ultra Sport pistols were 
        delivered with a black slide and frame. The pistol was 280 mm long and weighed 1190g. The 
        magazine took 19 rounds. 

SP1 Competition “Stock gun” pistol.
The SP1 Competion pistol, commonly refered to as the “Stock Gun” was introduced in 1998 and was designed to compete in ISPC standard class completion shooting and was the last of Vektor’s sport pistol developments.

The SP1 Competition model was based on the SP1 Ultra Sport an incorporated the following features:
•	Standard SP1 118 mm length barrel. 
•	Steel, removable front sight and high profile rear sight fitted to the slide.
•	Standard SP1 slide used, but with additional set of gripping grooves machined into the front 
        end of the slide. The side of the slide was marked as “Stock Gun”. 
•	A recoil damper was incorporated into the recoil spring guide by fitting a synthetic sleeve over 
        the front of the guide rod. This synthetic sleeve acted as a buffer for the slide to impact 
        against during the recoil cycle. 
•	Finished with a chemically blackened slide and black anodized aluminium frame, although 
        other finishes could be had on request. The pistol was 222 mm long and weighed 1020g. The 
        magazine held 19 rounds. 

SP1 General’s Model Pistol
The SP1 Genral’s Model was introduced in 1998 follow a request from Vektor’s marketing department for a model which could offer clients a more compact alternative handgun. The SP1 General’s model was also offered to the SA National Defence Force as the general staff’s official sidearm. The intention was that the standard SP1 pistol might then be adopted by the SANDF to replace their ageing Star pistols. Two hundred examples were delivered. The SP1 however was not adopted due to budgetary priorities. 

The SP1 Generals model proved to be one of Vektor’s best selling handguns with many being exported. When Denel decided to exit the USA market it still had a large quantity of them on hand. These pistols with slides marked “Vektor USA”, were sold in South Africa.

The SP1 General’s Model was based on the standard SP1 and incorporate th following features: 
•	Same principle of operationas the standard SP1 pistol. 
•	Fitted with a shorter 103 mm barrel.
•	Standard SP1 frame with shortened front and grip. 
•	Polymer grip shortened and the external desgn changed, while retaining the same method of 
        fastening as the standard SP1. 
•	Standard SP1 slide shortened by approximately 15 mm. At first the standard SP1/Z88 magazine was shortened to fit the shorter grip, giving a magazine capasiy of eleven rounds. The Vektor’s engineers then designed an ingenious magazine spring which compressed with-in itself, resulting in a much lower compressed length, enabling the magazine capacity to be increased to fithteen rounds. A special ten round magazine was manufactured for the USA market, which incorporate and wire cut magazine body. 
•	Unique shallower mazine floor plate fitted. 
•	Standard SP1 double-action trigger mechanism. 
•	Curved polymer trigger with finger grooves. 
•	The side of the slide marked “GENERAL’S MODEL” 
•	Finished with a chemically blackened slide and a black anodized aluminium frame, although 
        other finishes could be had on request. The pistols was 190 mm long and weighed 890g.

Vektor USA SP1 Pistol
The SP1 was exported commercially from South Africa to the USA and distributed by a company called Vektor USA. This company’s address had to appear on the pistol to comply with US import and firearm legislation. The SP1 did not prove as popular in the USA as it did in Europe. Because the American market regarded it as just another high capacity 9x19 mm pistol.

When Denel severed it’s business ties with Vektor USA following the CP1 recall (As discussed in the CP1 write-up) the SP1 pistols which had been already manufactured, but not yet delivered, were sold domestically in South Africa. This is the reason why some of the last pistols sold on the South African market bear a US address. This gave rise to the myth that Vektor pistols were manufactured in the USA. In actual fact, all these pistols were manufactured locally. The Vektor USA SP1 pistols were identical in every aspect to all other standard SP1 pistols, apart from the address and serial number on the slide.

The Vector Colt SP1 pistol
A delegation from Colts Manufacturing Company visited Vektor in the late 1990s to investigate the possibility of purchasing the company. At that time Colt wanted to launch a new 9x19 mm handgun on the US market and asked if Vektor could offer a Firearm which might be suitable for this purpose. Vektor made the decision to produce a prototype SP1 pistol which resembled the Colt 1911A1, using SP1 standard components with only cosmetic changes being made to the frame and slide. A full size pistol, as well as a compact Colt Commander-type version, were manufactured on standard production machines in time for the Colt delegation visit. Only two were ever manufactured, with both featuring a chemically blackened slide and clear anodized aluminum frames. Old Beretta wooden grips were sanded down and modified to fit the new frame, which had a straight back strap similar to the Colt 1911A1. The Colt delegation handled and fired the handguns and commented favourably on both. The takeover was however not persued.

SP2 Pistol Series (1996-1998)
Many of the engineers at Vektor were avid compeditive pistol shooters and had followed the development of the 40 S&W since its inception in the early 1990s. They conducted a feasibility study which showed that it is quite possible to fit the 40 S&W cartridge into the SP1 package. Very limited low key development continued using ammonition reloaded with imported components and supplied by the engineers themselves. They found that the heavier slide of the SP1 proved ideal for the hotter 40 S&W cartridge. Full scale development began in eanest when Pretoria Metal Pressings (PMP) decided to produce ammunition locally in this calibre. The SP2 was introduced in 1996.

The design proved effective and a small number were exported to foreign police forces, althought its major success lay in the commercial market. Early SP2 pistols were fitted with parts dedicated to the 40S&W caliber, but some of these components were later retrofitted for the 9x19 mm SP1 Standard Pistol. This helped to standardized components and reduce production costs. Only four major variants of the SP2 were produced. These were the SP2 Standard, SP2 General’s Model, SP2 Ultra Sport and SP2 Competition “Stock Gun” Pistol.

The SP2 Standard Pistol was based on the SP1 Standard and incorporated the following features: 
•	Same method of operation as the SP1 Standard.
•	Fitted with a 118 mm polygonal rifled barrel. Some stoppages, which manifested as a round 
        would not chambered completely, were encountered with the very first batch of SP2 
        barrels.The cause had been traced back to a chamber which had been cut to the tighter end 
        of the tolerance and so the decision was taken to change he tolerance. This resulted in the 
        chambers being cut to specification, albeit slightly bigger.
•	The SP1 frame was used at first. The cut-out at the front of the magazine well, which forms 
        part of the feed ramp, was eventually cut deeper and enlarged to the front as to better 
        accommodated the 40 S&W cartridge. Once it was established that this modification did not 
        effectthe reliable feeding of the 9x19 mm ammunition, this frame was standardized for both 
        the SP1 and the SP2 pistols. Early SP1 frames will therefor have a small ramp, while the later 
        SP1 and SP2s feature the larger cut-out feed ramp.
•	The SP1 standard slide was used, although the breech face was enlarged to accommodate the 
        larger case diameter of the 40 S&W cartridge.
•	The SP1 standard 9x19 mm extractor was modified by smoothing the bottom corner of the    
        extractor, this was to prevent it from “biting” into the larger 40 S&W cartridge case, as the 
        cartridge case force the extractor out. Further tests proved that this modification did not 
        adversely effect the operation of the 9x19 mm SP1 mechanism, so the SP2 extractor was 
        eventually standardized for use in all the SP series pistols.
•	The SP1/Z88Standard magazine was modified for use in the SP2 by opening the feed lips as 
        well as shortening it. The caliber was stamped on the magazine body. A total of eleven rounds 
        could be accommodated in the existing magazine body, which is comparable to other 
        manufacturers’ magazines in this caliber. All SP2 magazines started out as 9x19 mm SP1/Z88 
        magazines, which were then modified by machining. This was cheaper than manufacturing 
        new dies and press tools for a small modification.
•	SP1 standard double-action trigger mechanism.
•	Curved polymer trigger with grooves.
•	Left-hand side of the slide marked indicating model and caliber, “Made in South Africa” and 
        the SABS proofmark.

The pistol is 210 mm long, 40.5 mm wide and weigh 955g

The SP2 General’s Model Pistol
The SP2 General’s Model was the second variant in the 40 S&W SP2 series and its development had priority over the sport pistols, due to its potensially larger market segment. This pistol proved to by popular in the civilian market and was also adopted as the standard firearm for the Directorate of special operations (colloquially known at the time as the Scorpions).

The SP2 General’s Model was the 40 S&W variant of the SP1 General’s Model and exhibited the same features, while incorporating all the changes necessitated by the change in caliber. These were: 
•	Shorter 103 mm long barrel.
•	SP2 Standard frame shortened at the front.
•	Grip shortened.
•	SP2 Standard slide shortened by approximately 15 mm.
•	SP2 Standard (modified SP1) magazine shortened in similar manner to that of the SP1 
        General’s Model.
•	Magazine floor plate similar to SP1 General’s Model, manufactured from the same polymer 
        material as that which was used on the other magazine floor plates.
•	SP2 Standard double-action trigger mechanism.
•	Curved Polymer trigger with grooves. 
•	The left-hand side of the slide marked indicating model and caliber. The slide also shows the 
         manufacturer’s markings and the legend “GENERAL’S MODEL”.

The pistol is 190 mm long and weigh 890g, the magazine capacity is 10 rounds.

SP2 Ultra Sport Pistol
The SP2 Ultra Sport pistol is a 40 S&W version of the SP1 Ultra Sport pistol and has all the same features. All the changes implemented for the SP2 Ultra Sport pistol are caliber specific.
These are:
•	40 S&W caliber barrel fitted with a 3 port compensator.
•	SP2 Ultra Sport pistols were sold with two fourteen round magazines. The standard SP2 
        magazine body was used and a special aluminium extended base was fitted to enable the 
        magazine capacity of fourteen rounds.
•	The left-hand side of the slide wasmark indicating model, caliber and manufacturer’s 
        markings. The slide was marked “Sport”. 
•	Finished with a chemically blackened slide and a black anodised aluminum frame, although 
        other finishes could be had on request.  Nearly all, if not all, SP2 ultra Sport models were 
        delivered with a black slide and frame.

The pistol was 280 mm long, slide width was44 mm and it weigh 1180g.

SP2 Competition “Stock Gun” pistol
The SP2 Competition Model was the fourth and final version of the 40 S&W SP2 series pistols and was designed to compete in IPSC standard class competition shooting. It was based on the SP Ultra Sport pistol, without the compensator and the accessories and is merely the 40 S&W version of the SP1 Competition.

The SP2 Competition was based on the SP2 Ultra Sport and differs as follows:
•	Standard length barrel without Compensator.
•	No injection moulded sight mount.
•	Steel removablefront sight and high profile rear sight fitted to the slide.
•	Finished with chemically blackened slide and black annodised aluminium frame, although 
        other finished could be had on request.

The pistol was 222 mm long and weigh 1190g. Magazine capacity is 14 rounds.

Miscellaneous – SP1 and SP2 Pistols
SPseries conversion kit
Vektor offered a conversion kit which was unique to the SP series of pistols. The conversion kit was either 9x19 mm or 40 S&W so as to complement the caliber the user already owned. These kits could be purchased separately, although later some sets were complete with a pistol. Most of these consisted of a 40 S&W pistol with a 9x19 mm conversion kit. Very few if any, 40 S&W conversion kits were sold.

Ref. Firearms developed and manufactured in Southern Africa 1949-2000. By Piet Winterbach, Danie Joubert + Chas Lotter. Credit for this information goes to Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Ass. All rights are reserved. No part of this information may be reproduced, stored, manipulated in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any mechanical, electronic or digital form or by any other means, without prior written permission of the publishers. Any person who engage in any unauthorised activity in relation to this publication shall be liable to criminal prosecution and cliams for civil and criminal damages
De Wilde Firearms
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