Vis (weapon)
caliber, single action, semi-automatic handgun. Originally designed by Piotr Wilniewczyc and Jan Skrzypiński in 1930. Since 1936 it was the standard handgun of the Polish Army.
Vis
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| pistolet wz. 35
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|
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| caliber
| 9 mm
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| capacity
| 8 rounds
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| dimensions
| length: 200 mm
heigth: 140 mm
barrel: 120 mm
width: 33 mm
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| initial speed
| 345 metres per second
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| initial energy
| 446 J
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| optimal range
| 50 metres
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| weight
| with ammo: 1,123 kg
without the ammo clip: 0,950 kg
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| rate of fire
| 10 rpm
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| in production:
| 1936-1945 and from 1992 onwards
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| number produced
| more than 400.000
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History
The prototype was based on American Colt M1911A1 handgun was prepared in late 1930 and in the beginning of 1931 the first pistols were ready for testing. Initially it was named WiS (an acronym of constructors' names), later the name was changed to a latinized version: Vis (meaning power in Latin).
The tests proved that the handgun is very accurate and stable while at the same time remains reliable after more than 6000 shots. The production was started in Radom State Armory in late 1935 and the following year it was introduced as a standard weapon of Polish officers of infantry and cavalry. Successively, other units were to be equipped and by 1942 all other handguns were to be withdrawn from service. By mid-1938 it was introduced in the armoured and air forces. Until the Polish September Campaign started approx. 45.000 (out of 90.000 ordered) were delivered to the army.
After Polish defeat in 1939 the Germans took over the Radom Armory and continued the production of Vis under a new name of 9 mm Pistole 35(p). Until 1945 between 300.000 and 400.000 were produced and used by the Wehrmacht.
For fear of Polish technicians working in the Armory supplying the Home Army with the weapons, the barrel production was moved to Steyer works in Austria. However, soon an underground production of Vis barrels was started in Warsaw and a big number of Vis pistols were delivered to the Home Army and were used extensively during the Warsaw Uprising. In 1944 all production was moved to Steyr works in Austria and Vis remained in production until April 1945. Vis pistols made after 1939 were issued in several different series, each with small modifications. Generally, the war-time Vis were of much lower quality than the original.
In August 1992 the Radom Arms Factory reintroduced the Vis pistol and it currently is being produced in small series on the basis of original plans and specifications.
