Heckler & Koch (HK) P7

The P7 features a gas-delayed blowback system modeled after the Swiss W+F 47 pistol prototype. The design uses the gas pressure of the ignited cartridge that is fed through a small vent in the barrel to retard the rearward motion of the slide by means of a piston contained inside a cylinder located beneath the barrel. The piston in the cylinder can retract and recoil the slide, opening the breech and ejecting the empty cartridge case. The chamber has 18 flutes that aid in the extraction process.

The HK P7 has an innovative trigger and a striker firing mechanism, with a squeeze cocking lever located at the front of the grip, beneath the trigger guard. Pressing the cocking lever automatically cocks the firing pin. The weapon is then fired by pressing the single stage trigger rated at approximately 20 N. This method of operation dispensed the need for a manual safety selector while providing safety for the operator carrying the pistol with a chambered round and increased the speed with which the pistol could be deployed and fired.

The P7 is fed from a single-stack box magazine (with an 8 round capacity), which is held inside the firearm’s frame with a release located at the heel of the grip.