Škorpion vz. 61

Škorpion vz. 61
The early vz. 61 with stock extended.
Type	Machine Pistol
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service	1961–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Vietnam War Yugoslav Wars
Production history
Designer	Miroslav Rybář
Designed	1959
Manufacturer	Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod, Zastava Arms
Produced	1961–1979
No. built	Approx. 200,000
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	1.30 kg (2.87 lb) (vz. 61) 1.28 kg (2.8 lb) (vz. 61 E) 1.44 kg (3.2 lb) (vz. 82, vz. 83)
Length	517 mm (20.4 in) stock extended / 270 mm (10.6 in) stock folded
Barrel length	115 mm (4.5 in) (vz. 61, vz. 61 E) 113 mm (4.4 in) (vz. 82, vz. 83)
Width	43 mm (1.7 in) (vz. 61, vz. 61 E) 49 mm (1.9 in) (vz. 82, vz. 83)
Cartridge	.32 ACP (7.65×17mm Browning SR) (vz. 61, vz. 61 E) 9×19mm Parabellum (vz. 68) 9×18mm Makarov (vz. 65, vz. 82) .380 ACP (9×17mm Short) (vz. 64, vz. 83)
Action	Blowback, closed bolt
Rate of fire	850 rounds/min (vz. 61, vz. 61 E) 900 rounds/min (vz. 82, vz. 83)
Muzzle velocity	320 m/s (1,050 ft/s) (vz. 61, vz. 61 E, vz. 82) 292 m/s (958.0 ft/s) (vz. 83)
Effective firing range	50–150 m (vz. 61, .32 ACP)
Feed system	10 or 20-round curved magazine, straight box magazine in 9 mm variants
Sights	Adjustable front post, flip-up rear sight 148 mm (5.8 in) sight radius

The Škorpion vz. 61 is a Czechoslovak 7.65 mm machine pistol developed in 1959 by Miroslav Rybář (1924–1970) and produced under the official designation Samopal vzor 61 ("submachine gun model 1961") by the Česká zbrojovka arms factory in Uherský Brod from 1961 to 1979.

Although it was developed for use with security forces and special forces, the weapon was also accepted into service with the Czechoslovak Army, as a personal sidearm for lower-ranking army staff, vehicle drivers, armoured vehicle personnel and special forces. Currently the weapon is in use with the armed forces of several countries as a sidearm. The Škorpion was also licence-built in Yugoslavia, designated M84. It features a synthetic pistol grip compared to the original version. A civilian, semi-automatic version was also produced, known as the M84A, also available in .380 ACP (9×17mm Short).

The Škorpion was developed in the late 1950s by Miroslav Rybář with the working name "model 59". The design was finalized in 1961 and named "Samopal Vz. 61". It was subsequently adopted by the Czechoslovak Army and security forces, and later exported to various countries. Yugoslavia produced a version under license. It was also used by armed groups, including the Irish Republican Army, Irish National Liberation Army and the Italian Red Brigades. The latter used the Škorpion in the 1978 kidnapping of Aldo Moro and was used to kill Moro. In the 1990s the Gang de Roubaix used the Škorpion in a series of attacks in France. In 2017 Police in Sweden estimated that about 50 formerly deactivated weapons from Slovakia were in circulation among criminals in Sweden.

The Škorpion is a select-fire, straight blowback-operated weapon that fires from the closed bolt position. The cartridge used produces a very low recoil impulse and this enables simple unlocked blowback operation to be employed; there is no delay mechanism and the cartridge is supported only by the inertia of the bolt and the strength of the return springs. When fired, gas pressure drives the case back in the chamber against the resistance provided by the weight of the bolt and its two recoil springs. The bolt travels back, extracting the empty case which is then ejected straight upwards through a port in the receiver housing top cover.