Scorpion EVO S3: CZ's Modern Pistol-Caliber Carbine

by
posted on December 18, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
CZ Scorpion

The first Skorpion vs. 6 pistol rolled out of the Česká zbrojovka factory, located in the Czech Republic, 60 years ago. The blowback-operated, select-fire pistol had a folding wire stock, 4.5" barrel and came with either 10- or 20-round, double-column magazines. The look was lightweight and no-nonsense. Initial chambering was .32 ACP, the sidearm cartridge preferred by the nation’s security forces at the time. The earliest models released in 1961 went to the Czech Army and the nation’s law enforcement.

Other variants appeared throughout the years, but production of the submachine gun ended in 1979. Videogames and the internet were in their infancy then, but as they grew, so too did the Skorpion’s fame. Regular gaming and online appearances of the pistol fueled chatroom discussions about virtual vs. real-world performance, and demand increased for civilian variants.

Once out from Communist rule, Česká zbrojovka—better known as simply CZ to enthusiasts—responded with semi-automatic models. Today Kansas City, Mo., based CZ-USA offers the CZ Scorpion EVO S3 in several colors and even the option of low-capacity magazines for more restrictive regions of the country.

Each are chambered in 9 mm NATO and come with cold-hammer forged, 7.75" barrels wearing a flash suppressor. Open sights ride on an 11" Picatinny rail atop the polymer receiver ship. Double-stack magazine capacity is either 20 or 10 rounds and colors available include black, battleship grey, FDE or green.

Controls on the blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol are ambidextrous and rails on the sides and bottom of the fore-end make mounting accessories a breeze. The frame is fiber-reinforced polymer and the grip can be adjusted for a more comfortable trigger reach. The manual safety is thumb activated. Weight comes in at 5 lbs. and overall length is 16".  

It no longer wears a stock when shipped from the factory, although pistol braces and other upgrades for the EVO S3 platform are available today. There’s even a full carbine conversion kit offered from CZ-USA. MSRP for a CZ Scorpion EVO S3 is either $995 or $1,025, depending on model.

American Rifleman featured the CZ Scorpion EVO 3 SI pistol as its gun of the week in 2015. Here’s a close look at the version.

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.