WIST-94

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WIST-94

Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Poland
Service history
In service	1999-present
Used by	Poland
Wars	2003 Iraq War
Production history
Designer	Wiesław Stark
Designed	1994
Manufacturer	PREXER Ltd.
Produced	1996-present
Variants	WIST-94L
Specifications
Weight	730 g (25.75 oz) 785 g (27.69 oz) (WIST-94L)
Length	190 mm (7.5 in)
Barrel length	114 mm (4.5 in)
Width	34 mm (1.3 in)
Height	135 mm (5.3 in)

Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum
Action	Short recoil
Muzzle velocity	360 m/s (1,181 ft/s) muzzle energy 518 J
Effective range	Sights ranged for 25 m
Feed system	16-round box magazine
Sights	Fixed, front blade and rear notch, marked with fluorescent dots

1 Development
2 Design details
3 Variants
4 Users
5 Source
6 External links

[edit] Development

WIST-94 was designed in WITU (Wojskowy Instytut Techniczny Uzbrojenia - Military Technical Institute of Armaments) under the code name Piryt. Two prototypes were made in 1992 differing in locking system: Model A01 used rotary-locking system and Model B01 using conventional tilting barrel locking. B01 was the only one to complete testing but the development was temporarily halted by the military cutting of funding. Financed by WITU and Pretex company, the project continued and in 1994 a new prototype was developed. Called WIST-94 it is based on the B01 prototype. The new pistol was chosen by the Polish military as its new standard sidearm.

[edit] Design details

WIST-94 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered for 9mm Parabellum round. It uses the Browning cam-lug system of operation. The polygonal-rifled barrel is locked to the slide by three locking lugs machined into the upper part of the barrel. The frame is made from polymer plastic while the slide is constructed from steel. The trigger mechanism is similar to the one used in Glock pistols: striker-fired double-action-only (DAO). After racking the slide back and after each shot fired the striker is held semi-cocked allowing for lighter trigger pull than conventional double-action. The only safety used is an internal automatic firing pin safety that unlocks the firing pin only in the final stages of the trigger pull. WIST-94 is fed by a 16 round magazine. The magazine catch is reversible for use by left-handed shooter. Slide release lever is located at the left side of the gun. The sights are fixed and are equipped with tritium inserts for low-light situations. Wist-94L is also equipped with a laser sight mounted in the upper part of trigger guard.