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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).
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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. However, production of the pistol in Vsetín and ammunition in Slavičín remained.
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.