“Kevin” – A Czech Pocket Pistol With a Weird Delay Trick

The “Kevin” (sometimes called a ZP-98) was developed by Czech gunsmith Antonín Zendl and introduced at the IWA show in 2007. It was a micro-compact pocket pistol chambered for either .380 ACP or 9mm Makarov (the Kevin M). It held six rounds in its magazine, and the most notable feature is a pair of gas vent holes just in front of the barrel. These blow gas against the slide, maybe delaying its opening – and also reduce chamber pressure and velocity to reduce felt recoil.

In 2008, the design was licensed to Magnum Research in the US, who marketed it as the Micro Desert Eagle (because everything from Magnum Research must be somehow linked to the Desert Eagle). The Czech manufacturer went out of business in 2013, and the guns do not appear to be in production any longer in either country.

Thanks to Sellier & Bellot for giving me access to this pair of interesting pistols to film for you!