Wanted: Vektor CP1 pics (pre-recall / modification)

[Odd Job]

As the title says, I would like pictures of your Vektor CP1 if it was bought before the recall and it also has not been modified by the manufacturer. For those of you not in the know, these pistols were recalled by the manufacturer some time in 2000 IIRC. There was an alleged issue with the gun being able to fire if bumped or dropped.

I sent mine in to Vektor in 2001 and it was modified. Unfortunately I don't have images of the CP1 from before the modification, but I have good documentation and photographs of the CP1 from after the recall. I'll post those here (have to clean them up and scan some papers).
In the meantime I would appreciate it if somebody can advise me if they have an unmodified CP1 and are willing to take 3 photographs of it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Odd Job]

These are the papers that accompanied my Vektor when it came back from Denel. (These are not part of the original owner's manual, which is not shown here).

First there was a conformance certificate. The next two images are the front and back of that paper respectively:





Then there was an addendum to the owner's manual:



Next, here are the photographs I would like to see of a pre-recall CP1:


(Right side of rear frame area, hammer forward)


(Same area from the rear)


(Rear underside of the slide)

Basically I am interested in the hammer, firing pin assembly and the trigger bar. I also want to know whether the pre-recall CP1s had a yellow powder-coated recoil spring. I suspect they did not.

 

[dlloper]

Sure thing

Odd Job,
I would be happy to send you pics, but being new to this, (or any), forum I am afraid that I do not know how to copy pics into my post. If you could walk me through that, I would be more than happy to post them.

Sincerely,
David.

 

[Odd Job]

Sure thing, I will PM you

 

[jhco]

would anyone who has one of these be interested in selling?

 

[Odd Job]

@ jhco

Sorry I cannot sell mine, it is in South Africa and I still use it when I am out there.

I do not recommend the CP1 as a carry gun, but if you want to just own one or occasionally take it to the range, that is fine.

 

[Odd Job]

Many thanks to dlloper for pics of his pre-recall CP1:

 

[Odd Job]

If anybody else has pictures of a pre-recall Vektor CP1 please add them here.

 

[Kayback]

There is nothing wrong with the modified CP1, it is a perfectly funcitonal weapon.

Why do you say it shouldn't be a carry gun?

KBK

 

[Odd Job]

My experience (and those of others) has been that it is very fussy with ammo, has a very bad trigger (which takes long to master) and also the build quality of the gun is not very good.

In my case, I found another problem: under stress I sometimes ejected a full mag because of the position of the mag release. I solved this by installing a left hand mag release, but it is less than ideal.

 

[Spyvie]

I must confess I've never heard of a Vektor CP-1 untill now

I learn something new every day

 

[Kayback]

Odd Job, I'll grant you the trigger issue. That's the reson for the recall. Some people tried "fixing" the trigger which lead tot he possibility of the trigger tripping if it was dropped.

Personally I haven't put many rounds through a CP-1 but I have fired some. I didn't find the trigger TOO bad, especially when compared to other weapons like the Taurus Millenium and the like. Infact it has a better trigger than many DAO pistols I've shot.

One drawback I found was the placement of the saftey. The oldschool SAPS and SANDF way of shooting a pistol is sticking the index finger of the weak hand on the trigger guard. You'll understand why this was a problem in the CP-1's case

Fortunately I don't shoot like that any more.

I'm suprised you mentioned the build quality. I've always been impressed with Denel/Vektor arms. Even the god awful Z-88. That is interesting.

I didn't know about the ammo issue. Like i've said I've only put a few rounds through one.

I really didn't know about the mag release getting tripped under stress. The mag release on the ones I shot was recessed into the grip.

Are these observations based on one pistol? Maybe you got a bad one. Maybe I got good ones?

Still it's interesting to see other people's thoughts on a matter.

KBK

 

[Odd Job]

Kayback, it was definitely an issue with mine, but also a few others in South Africa where the gun was developed and sold in quantity.

I have carried that CP1 for 3 years solid, 24/7 and I have about 3000 rounds through it. Obviously I don't carry it now, because I am in London and the Vektor is in SA.

The build quality of the other LIW weapons was good. If you have a look at the Vektor SP1 and SP1 General's model, you will see what I mean.
But the CP1 was sold as an affordable, compact 9mmP. At the time I bought it, that was all I could afford.

I'll say one thing about the CP1: it is very comfortable to carry, especially IWB. It doesn't snag, is very comfortable to hold and point, and if the trigger wasn't so bad, it would rate as the best shooting pistol I have tried.

The mag release is not recessed, it is flush with the frame, and if you end up in trouble and you have a tight grip, you can accidentally eject your magazine with your right thumb. It happened several times on an anti-hijacking course.

Nevertheless, I have a lot of fondness for the CP1. It is a gun I enjoy carrying, and that has to be better than one that gets left at home!

 

[Kayback]

Wow. Never knew that. Glad I didn't pick one up when I was shopping The reason I steered clear was the fixed rear sights. I wanted tritium inserts.

I am in SA by the way, I ended up carrying a Norinco 1911 Commander for about 6 years. It was around the same price as the CP-1 and it was exactly what i was looking for.

By the time I could afford a polymer gun I went with the crowd and got a Glock.

But I've shot a couple of different CP-1's. I never noticed anything bad about the construction, but like you said my main experience is with their other weapons (Z-88, SP-1, LM4, LM5 and LM6) which I found to all be solid weapons.

KBK

 

[Odd Job]

+1 on the Galil clones. I've fired all of those in semi mode and the LM5 in auto. That was in Joburg in 2002 on a few rifle courses.
I would be more than happy to be 'stuck' with one of those if I had to

 

[Imjamie2]

CP1 Sights

Slightly off topic....

I own a CP1, that I purchased years ago. I used it as a concealed carry weapon and at some point the front sight disappeared. I've contacted Vektor a few times about buying a replacement sight, but because I am a citizen of the USA the only solution they offer me is the recall (return) of the pistol. I really like the pistol and am not willing to return it for a refund, but am at a loss without the front sight. Does anyone know where I could purchase a replacement or have one made?

 

[Odd Job]

They won't send you one? That sucks.
I advise going through a South African gunshop then. I got a spare front site and a left hand mag release for my CP1 many years back. All that stuff is in SA or I would look for the spare for you.
I'll PM you some gunshop details and maybe one of them will be able to get that for you.

 

[bjcole3]

Just bought an unmodded unfired CP-1

Is there any possibility of getting the mod done? Also is there any way to get the hard case it came with because the only thing I was able to buy was the pistol by itself.

 

[denfoote]

Do they still make the CP1??

I thought Vektor was out of business because of the fiasco!!

 

[Odd Job]

bjcole, you'll have to contact LIW at the address in the pics.
If they say they are out of business, then that will answer denfoote's question

 

[bjcole3]

This pistol is one of the '99 - 2001 models. I'm assuming it is number 890 of however many made according to the serial #

I will try the number in the pics and if they are out of business, I guess I will put the pistol up for sale. I really wanted it for a concealed carry but I don't want to risk it going off accidentally.

Of course if I don't chamber a round then it can't go off.

Thanks for the quick response,

Bill

 

[Odd Job]

You ought to keep a CCW with a round chambered, plenty of threads around here explaining why.
To be honest, I think there are much better pistols out there for concealed carry.

 

[ATF3goodthings]

Does anyone know how to tell if you have a pre or post recall cp-1?

 

[Odd Job]

Take off the slide and compare the underside of it to the photo I posted of the underside of my slide. You should see all the same slots machined in the slide. Missing slots means it is unmodified.

Also...check the trigger bar. Look at the component as described in the new parts list above. There is an extra protrusion in that trigger bar that isn't present in an original CP1. Compare my pictures with dlloper's. You see his trigger bar (from the side)? It hasn't got that extra protrusion which means it is an unmodified CP1.

If you can post pictures of your CP1 that would help (if you are still unsure).

 

[Backpacker33]

Photos of early Vektor CP1

Odd Job had asked for photos of the interior of a Vektor CP1 that had not been modified by the recall.
Mine is serial number B****3, and was not modified. I am at least the third owner and it has been fired some.