Firearms / Sub machine guns / CZ Skorpion
CZ Skorpion
General Facts
- TYPE
Sub machine gun - ORIGIN
Czechoslovakia - NICKNAMES
M84 (Yugoslav production) - DESIGNED
1950's - DESIGNER
Ceska Zbrojovka - PRODUCTION
1959 - present - PRODUCERS
Czechoslovakia - CZ
Czech Republic - CZ
Serbia - Zastava - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Limited size and weight
Longer range than pistol
High volume of fire
Low lethality of 7.65mm round
Limited range
Introduction
The Skorpion was desiged to provide Czechoslovak army non-combat personnel with more firepower than a pistol, but without bothering them with a heavier weapon. The development took place in the 1950's. Production started in 1959 for security forces while the army adopted it after trails in 1961. The Skorpion is offten called Vz 61, which is the short notation of the official Czechoslovak military designation Samopal vzor 1961.
Design
The Skorpion was designed to be no more cumbersome than a pistol. The layout is similar to the ancient Mauser C.96 Broomhandle pistol, which was also produced in automatic versions. The magazine is inserted just in front of the trigger guard and the weapon does not extend beyond the pistol grip. The wire stock folds over the weapon, with the shoulder pad covering the barrel giving the Skorpion distinct looks. The Skorpion is a blowback operated weapon and is fitted with a rate reducer to lower the rate of fire to an acceptable level. The original version of the Skorpion fires the 7.65x17mm round. For export sales the weapon was available in 9x17mm, 9x18mm and 9x19mm as well.
Firepower
The Skorpion is a very effective machine pistol. It is easy to operate and reliable. When the stock is folded the Skorpion isn't that much larger as a pistol. It allows effective use beyond the range pistols can be used. The Skorpion fires the 7.65x17mm round from 10 or 20 round magazines. It is a select fire weapon with a cyclic rate of fire of 840 rpm. The 7.65mm rounds are not very powerful, but this is compensated by the volume of fire. The effective range is about 50 meters.
Users
Besides being used by Czechoslovak forces the Skorpion was exported to various nations. Due to its size and silent operation with silencer the Skorpion was also favoured by special forces. The Skorpion has been replaced by newer designs by many users, but it still remains in use all over the world.
Standard models
The Vz 61 is the original model and is chambered for the 7.65x17mm round. The Vz 63 fires the 9x17mm Short round, the Vz 64 the 9x18mm Makarov round and the Vz 68 the 9x19mm Parabellum round.
Type | Machine pistol |
---|---|
Caliber | 7.65x17mm Browning |
Magazine | 10, 20 rounds |
Operation | Blowback, closed bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 840 rpm |
Barrel length | 115 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 305 mm twist |
Muzzle velocity | 317 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 513 mm / 269 mm |
Width | 43 mm |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 1.30 kg |
Sights | Iron sights, 75 and 150m flip up, 148 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Machine pistol |
---|---|
Caliber | .380 ACP |
Magazine | 10, 20, 30 rounds |
Operation | Blowback, closed bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 900 rpm |
Barrel length | 113 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 292 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 513 mm / 269 mm |
Width | 49 mm |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | ? |
Sights | Iron sights, 75 and 150m flip up, 148 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Machine pistol |
---|---|
Caliber | 9x18mm Makarov |
Magazine | 12, 24 rounds |
Operation | Blowback, closed bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 900 rpm |
Barrel length | 113 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 320 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 513 mm / 269 mm |
Width | 49 mm |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | ? |
Sights | Iron sights, 75 and 150m flip up, 148 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Machine pistol |
---|---|
Caliber | 9x19mm Parabellum |
Magazine | 10, 20, 30 rounds |
Operation | Blowback, closed bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 900 rpm |
Barrel length | 113 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 320 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 513 mm / 269 mm |
Width | 49 mm |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | ? |
Sights | Iron sights, 75 and 150m flip up, 148 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Updated models
The introduction of the 9x18mm round in the Czechoslovak military resulted in the adoption of the 9x18mm variant of the Skorpion. This event allowed for some modifications as well. The updated models can be identified by the plastic pistol grip. The Vz 83 fires the 9x17mm round and the updated 7.65mm version is called the Vz 61E.
Type | Machine pistol |
---|---|
Caliber | 9x18mm Makarov |
Magazine | 12, 24 rounds |
Operation | Blowback, closed bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 900 rpm |
Barrel length | 113 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 320 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 517 mm / 270 mm |
Width | 49 mm |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 1.44 kg |
Sights | Iron sights, 75 and 150m flip up, 148 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Machine pistol |
---|---|
Caliber | .380 ACP |
Magazine | 10, 20, 30 rounds |
Operation | Blowback, closed bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 900 rpm |
Barrel length | 113 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 292 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 517 mm / 270 mm |
Width | 49 mm |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 1.44 kg |
Sights | Iron sights, 75 and 150m flip up, 148 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Machine pistol |
---|---|
Caliber | 7.65x17mm Browning |
Magazine | 10, 20 rounds |
Operation | Blowback, closed bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 840 rpm |
Barrel length | 115 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, right hand 305 mm twist |
Muzzle velocity | 317 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 517 mm / 270 mm |
Width | 43 mm |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 1.28 kg |
Sights | Iron sights, 75 and 150m flip up, 148 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |