Kevin ZP98

Kevin ZP98 (usually just Kevin) is a sub-compact semi-automatic pistol manufactured in the Czech Republic. It is manufactured and sold in the United States by Magnum Research as the Micro Desert Eagle (ME380).

Kevin handgun, walnut wood grip

Description

The Kevin is a small self-loading pistol designed for short-distance fire up to 15 m, primarily as the secondary (concealed) weapon for law enforcement officers and for protection of the citizenry. Its frame is made of a high-strength aluminium alloy, the barrel and slide of steel, the grips are from reinforced rubber compound. The pistol has a dynamic breech, DAO trigger mechanism, and fixed sight. It doesn't use any safety lever and has a patented blowback system with gas retardation to control recoil forces.

The pistol was developed at the end of the 1990s by weapon designer Antonín Zendl for the company Zbrojovka Vsetín - Indet (ZVI, originally established in Vsetín in 1937 as a part of Zbrojovka Brno).

In January 2013 ZVI laid off most of the workers.[1] However, production of the pistol in Vsetín and ammunition in Slavičín remained.

Technical data
Caliber 9 mm Browning (.380 ACP), later also 9mm Makarov variant
Total length 116 mm
Barrel length 57 mm (2​1⁄4“)
Height 95 mm (3​3⁄4“)
Width 23 mm (less than 1“)
Empty weight 400 g (14.1 oz.)
Magazine capacity 6 rounds (8 rounds magazine for training is available, 9mm Browning only)
Trigger Double-action only (DAO)
Operation Simplified gas delayed blowback
Grips Black plastic or walnut wood

Uses

Kevin became rather popular among the Czech citizens for everyday concealed carry. The right to sell the pistol in the US was given to Magnum Research, the slightly modified pistol is manufactured and assembled there under the name Micro Desert Eagle (since 2008). For the Eastern Europe markets Kevin was modified to use 9mm Makarov cartridge (2007, model ZP06 or Kevin M). Also 9mm P.A.K. (blank and tear gas) model (name: ZVI Night Hawk) was developed in 2003, and 9mm P.A.Rubber (non-lethal rubber projectile) variant (name: ZVI Wasp-R) was developed in 2008.

References
  1. "ZVI Vsetín closed down. Army started to buy ammunition elsewhere" (in Czech). MF Dnes. 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
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