“Scorpion” – the son of “Scorpion”

“Scorpion EVO 3” at the firing line. Photo forgottenweapons

stories about weapons. Not so long ago, during the discussion of one of the author’s articles, a discussion arose regarding the Czech submachine gun “Scorpion” model vz. 61, which was a development of Ceska Zbrojovka and was produced in Czechoslovakia from 960 to 1975. At home, he was accepted as a weapon for tankers, radar station operators, signalmen and some other specialists. In addition to the Czechoslovak army, “Scorpion” hit some African countries. But he acquired the loudest “glory” as a weapon … of radical elements and a variety of “freedom fighters”, from the “banana republics” in Latin America to numerous troubled states in the Middle East. Although the frankly weak 7,65 x 17 mm Browning cartridge, when fired at close range, nevertheless gave an excellent result, while the submachine gun itself was very portable, and its weight with cartridges was only 2 kg. Model vz. 63 could fire already shortened 9 mm cartridges, and in the vz. 68, the 9mm Parabellum cartridge, standard for Western countries, began to be used. But time flies forward quickly, so today a descendant of that “ancient” “scorpion” has already appeared in the Czech Republic, and it is also a “Scorpio”. And that’s what we’re going to tell you about today…

One of the independence fighters with a submachine gun “Scorpion” model vz. 61 in hand. From Christopher Shant’s book. “Weapon of the infantry. Encyclopedia of small arms. M.: Omega, 2006. S. 67

After World War II, the joint-stock company Česká zbrojovka (“Czechska zbroevka”) was nationalized, and its branch in Uherský Brod, which became a separate enterprise in 1950, gradually became the main manufacturer of small arms in Czechoslovakia. His most famous examples of the post-war period were the Model 48 submachine guns (renamed 1950/23 submachine guns in 25), which fired 9 mm Parabellum cartridges.

Submachine gun M48. Photo czub.cz

It was an original submachine gun with a magazine in the pistol grip and a bolt that partially ran over the barrel. At that time, these were the most advanced submachine guns in the world. By 1953, 545 pieces were produced in Uhersky Brod, of which 000 were in 345 mm Tokarev caliber (000/7,62 submachine gun). Well, the legendary compact Scorpion submachine gun turned out to be a very successful attempt to fill a niche between classic submachine guns and service pistols. Until 24, over 26 units of this submachine gun in the base caliber 2000 mm Browning were produced in Uherski Brod, and in the 207s small volumes of the pistol were produced in the Browning version in 000 mm caliber. In cooperation with CZ-USA, the production of CZ (Česká zbrojovka) weapons was launched in Kansas City, Kansas. In particular, pistols of the successful CZ P-7,65 series began to be produced there. The CZ P-1990 F (full-size), CZ P-9 SC (semi-compact), and CZ P-10 S (compact) were added the same year.

“Scorpio” model vz. 61. Holster and cartridges for it. Photo czub.cz

But, as already noted, time flies forward, and the company decided to develop a new “Scorpion” that is not inferior to the old one. Work began in 2002, and the submachine gun entered mass production in 2009. In the interval between these dates, a sample CZ 868 was created, but in the end it failed.

The prototype of the new “Scorpion” was very similar to the old one, even externally, except for the materials used in it. Instead of metal, plastic was used wherever possible, so its weight turned out to be record light. Three Picatinny rails were integrated into the design of the stock. The magazine became straight, and the pistol grip became hollow. Photo forgottenweapons

Interestingly, the idea of ​​​​creating a new PP to replace the Scorpion arose not only in the Czech Republic, but also in neighboring Slovakia. There, in 2001, a group of enthusiasts from the city of Trencin tried to create a new software called LAUGO LTG-1. In Latin, the name of the city of Trencin is written as Laugaricio, and the abbreviation LTG-1 is the first letters of the names of its developers: Jan Luchansky, Piotr Tverdym and Frantisek Gasparik – hence such a strange name. By the way, Yan Luchansky visited many hot spots and was well versed in the advantages and disadvantages of weapons from various countries.

Well, in the end, the fruit of this cooperation was this: CZ Scorpion EVO 3

Naturally, the Slovak designers began to look for investors who could support their work, and in 2004 they were lucky: the LAUGO submachine gun was noticed by the Cheshskaya Zbroevka specialists. In January 2007, a contract was signed between the LAUGO development team and CZ, and then they began to work together. “Czechska Zbroevka” started developing plastic stores, USM with a fixed queue length, design and technological documentation. Well, the LAUGO designers and developers became its full-time employees and continued to bring their brainchild to mind. So, Jan Luchansky took up ergonomics, the development of a new stock and the final debugging of the new software.

9-mm submachine gun CZ “Scorpion” EVO 3 A1 (right view). Shop for 20 or 30 rounds. A round magnet is clearly visible on the butt, and on the body under the window for ejection of cartridge cases there is a metal plate for this magnet. Photo czub.cz

9-mm submachine gun CZ “Scorpion” EVO 3 A1 (left view). Photo czub.cz

The first presentation of the new “Scorpion” took place in May 2009 at the IDET-2009 exhibition, after which it was tested in the same year, as a result of which the software already received the official name: СZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1. The abbreviation EVO 3 refers to its belonging to the third generation of submachine guns, which had the name “Scorpion”, A1 – that this is the first modification capable of automatic fire. The self-loading variant can only fire single fire and is designated with an “S”.

“Scorpion EVO 3 S1: a carbine for the civilian market. It cannot fire in bursts and is designed in such a way that it is impossible to put a trigger on it from a submachine gun. Therefore, the conversion of the civilian version into an automatic weapon is completely excluded. In addition, a characteristic external difference from military weapons is a long (412 mm) barrel, while the barrel length of the A1 model is 196 mm. They differ in the design of the muzzle brake. Photo czub.cz

Fashion is fashion. Therefore, the Scorpion has five Picatinny rails at once, which complies with the STD-MIL-1913 standard. The top rail is integrated into the receiver, while the other four are on the plastic forearm. The sights are also the most modern, made by the Italian company LPA, and consist of a fiberglass front sight and a Ghost-Ring rear sight.

Removable red dot sight and top Picatinny rail. By the way, right under the index finger you can see the magazine attachment key. It is double, right and left, with semicircular grooves for convenience. Photo czub.cz

The PP trigger mechanism is installed in a detachable housing, so it is very easy to separate it, say, for cleaning. USM trigger, designed for three modes of fire: single shots, bursts of 3 rounds and continuous. It can be changed by a double-sided flag translator (aka fuse) on both sides in the upper part of the handle, which is easily moved to the desired positions with the thumb of the shooting hand. To understand what is what and how to rearrange it, a horizontal pictogram, accessible to the understanding of the most mediocre mind, should help. The upper part of the USM body is a guide for the shutter – a simple and obvious solution, which made it possible to simplify the design of the receiver, and make the partial disassembly of the PP record-breaking fast. By the way, the handle is also easily rearranged, since it is in no way connected with the USM. After all, all people have fingers of different lengths, and this solution again allows you to achieve maximum comfort for the shooter in shooting from the new Scorpion. Now weapon designers pay attention even to such seemingly insignificant trifles.

Butt “Scorpion” leans back to the right. And it does not interfere with shooting from it. Again, there is in its design and its own “zest” – as they say, “a trifle, but nice.” The designers fixed a metal plate on the PP case on the right, and a neodymium magnet in the form of a “tablet” on the butt. This mount is very convenient. It perfectly holds the folded stock without any loose fasteners, and at the same time, it does not require much effort from the shooter to open it! Photo forgottenweapons

The stock is telescoping so again it can be adjusted in length, as can the position of the pistol grip. It is interesting that there were no requirements for adjusting the butt and the handle to the individual characteristics of the shooter in the TTZ of potential customers, but here the designers already showed their initiative and … they were not mistaken! The Scorpion has received excellent ergonomics, so it is very quickly aimed at the target and is easily kept on it even with continuous firing in long bursts.

Some samples are equipped with a hand rest so that it cannot slip onto a hot flame arrester. Photo forgottenweapons

And then in the spring of 2010, the Czech Ministry of Defense signed a contract with CZ for the supply of 572 Scorpions to arm the guards of Prague Castle, an elite unit of the Czech army that performs both representative functions and guards the residences of the Czech President.

One of the Prague Castle guards, armed with a Scorpion. Photo by the author 2017

The new “Scorpion” is a visual embodiment of a relatively new concept of PP. As you know, there are “light” and “heavy” PPs, and so after a period of enthusiasm for “light” PPs, the military again turned to heavy ones, and ergonomics again played their role here. “Skoripon” model 61, like the Israeli “Mini-Uzi” and the American “Ingram”, it is inconvenient to hold with two hands and shoot bursts. A lot of ammo is spent almost for nothing. The fact is that a modern fighter has to wear a bulletproof vest, and if he is also wearing winter clothes, then the convenience of using a weapon comes out on top. It is convenient to install removable sights and high-capacity magazines on heavy PPs. In a word, Czech designers guessed the trend in time and created a weapon for it that meets the requirements of the time.

Ian McCollin, host of Forgotten Weapons, is testing the Scorpion with a high-capacity drum magazine. It turns out there is one! As for McCollin, he is absolutely delighted with the third generation Scorpion! Photo forgottenweapons

Another feature of this software was the inscriptions stamped on it. First of all, the large-format inscription CZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1 on the action box, which catches the eye. Photo forgottenweapons

But this inscription is simply touching. “Read the instructions before use“. For the first time I meet such a “warning” on a military weapon … Photo forgottenweapons