From 21 to 25 September, DX Korea 2022 was held at KINTEX in South Korea. South Korea has two major defense exhibitions; one is ADEX (Aerospace-Defense Exhibition), and the other is DX (Defense Exhibition). Both are biannual, with ADEX held on odd years and DX on even years. 

Both ADEX and DX handle similar items and companies, but there are some differences. ADEX is more aerospace-oriented, since it was originally started as the Seoul Airshow in 1996, and the airshow element is still very important. DX is more of ground-oriented event, without an airshow, and far from any air bases (to the contrary, ADEX is held at Seoul Airport, a Korean Air Force base near Seoul.)

Even at the height of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020, DX opened to both local and foreign visitors, and in 2022 it saw even greater attendance.

But this year, we saw considerably more foreign visitors than expected: that was some kind of ‘butterfly effect’ of the war in Ukraine. Unlike European countries, Korea still maintains large “old school” defense industries to make tanks, artillery, and ammunition. Poland bought large quantities of Korean tanks and self-propelled howitzers, and other European countries are also in negotiations to buy munitions ranging from 155mm shells to anti-tank missiles. The U.S. and Canada already bought 100,000 155mm shells from Korea to replenish their stock.

While not as glamorous as heavy weapons, the Korean small arms industry also received some attention from potential foreign customers. Korea only has two small arms manufacturers, but one of them, SNT Motiv (yes, they changed their name again, from S&T to SNT), has one of the largest rifle factories in the world. Even with its current facility and manpower, they can beef up their capacity to 300,000 rifles per year (though only 1/10th of that is currently manufactured). The small arms industry was affected by the recent war, and many U.S. and NATO small arms companies are also very busy supplying weapons and ammo to Ukraine. In that vacuum, Korean small arms manufacturers can potentially fill in for those companies.

SNT Motiv displayed their newest development; the STP9. This is striker-fire pistol is a potential replacement for the K5 pistol. K5 has been in service more than 30 years, so the Korean army is considering a replacement program. While no official program has begun, SNT Motiv released the STP9 in an effort to gain momentum over its competitor, Dasan. Dasan is in a better position since it has manufactured Glock compatible parts and clones for the export market. SNT has very limited experience in this area. 

While there’s no official requirement for the future pistol, the army is very likely to call for a striker fired, polymer framed pistol. SNT’s new STP9 covers this and adds an interesting feature; it uses a S&W M59-compatible magazine. The reason for using the same magazine as the currently issued K5 is simple. It saves the ROK army money if it can use existing pistol magazine stocks in its new service pistol.

Another development from SNT Motiv is the STC-16 carbine. It’s not new, but in 2021 it became the most probable candidate to become the Korean special forces’ new main weapon to replace the K1A. Originally DSAR-15PC, a 5.56mm carbine from Dasan, was selected to become new special force weapon, but because of some legal troubles, that rifke was dropped from consideration. Now the STC-16 is the only candidate, but the Army demanded many changes and the result is the STC-16’s fourth iteration prototypes displayed this year.

Now it has more conventional control layout, very similar to the AR-15 series of rifles, and a lightened receiver with M-Lok hand guards. The gas system is improved a bit. It is now in final testing, and we should be hearing about the ROK Army’s decision to adopt the system soon.

Dasan is also making progress; they showed new versions of their AR-15 clone rifles, namely DSAR-762 (7.62 NATO) and DSAR-15PQ (5.56mm). Both are developed from their previous DSAR-15 series design, with advanced short stroke piston and gas regulator. The handguard is now fully M-Lok configured, and can be removed and installed with an Allen wrench.

One somewhat unusual Korean company on display was CNO Tech. This company makes practice grenade and artillery shells, but they also make a variety of crowd control ammunition; they make tear gas grenades, 37-40mm tear gas cartridges, flash bangs, 12-gauge rubber slugs, 37-40mm rubber ball, etc… They even produce launchers; single shot, double barrel, and 6-round revolver launchers, as well as vehicle-mounted or tripod-mounted multiple launcher. 

While not widely known to the public, Korea has been one of the major exporters of crowd control devices. Because of many civil unrest incidents during the 1980s and 90s, Korea developed considerable crowd control know-how and the companies involved export their products to many unnamed countries.

A final interesting prototype is Su-Optic’s SORA-1 RWS. It’s a remotely controlled weapon platform that’s light enough to be carried by two persons when disassembled (the total system weight is 15kg). Aim and observation is done by LPVO (camera attached) mounted on the rifle, which the view can be seen on the operator’s console. The left-right legs of the mount also work as a shock absorber, so even though it is lightweight, it can fire a relatively quick secondary shot. Connection can be made thru wire or wireless technology (LTE).

Overall, this year’s DX was also focused on heavy weaponry like drones, artillery and tanks. But in the small arms field, Korean companies made progress, albeit slowly. We hope to see new designs on the next exhibition, ADEX 2023.

DX Korea Visitor Guide

• Location Almost exclusively held at KINTEX, a convention center near Seoul.
• Transportation Close to subway station (Daewha), a 3rd line (Orange line). From the Inchon airport the ride is usually less than an hour.
• Accommodation Many of the official hotels joined with KINTEX are in Seoul. Most official hotels provide free shuttle to the attendees/exhibitors. But there are two hotels within walking distance, one is Kintex by Ktree (a quarter-mile away), and the other is Sono Calm hotel (a half-mile away). They have decent rooms with relatively low rates.
• Electricity 220v 50 cycle with EU type two-prong plug
• Safety South Korea is one of the safest countries, with a very low violent crime rate. 
• Tourism You can visit many interesting places in Seoul; there’s very large war memorial museum in Seoul, which is worth visiting. Also, if you’re car enthusiast, there’s a Hyundai motor gallery nearby.
• Other Tips Avoid visiting on the weekends and Friday: most of the visitors are concentrating during those 3 days, especially on Saturday and Sunday (public days).

A Reeanactor’s Paradise

The War and Peace Revival in Kent, England, has had a long history. It was originally just called “The War and Peace Show,” but the name was changed to “The War and Peace Revival,” after the owners retired and sold it to a new show manager. The show stayed at the Hop Farm Country Park in Tunbridge-Wells, until 2013, when it moved to the Folkestone Racecourse. The move was not well-received though, so in 2017, it returned to the Hop Farm. It was a success, and many old-timers returned. The Hop Farm is a good area for a large group of people to gather. The parking is better, and there is a nostalgic feeling for those who have been going to the Hop Farm for years. This is sometimes referred to as “The Beltring Show” and located in Paddock Wood. It’s about 30 miles southeast of London in Western Kent.

The first thing that greets visitors when they enter the show is the Home Front. This section is dedicated to how England looked during World War II. There are games from the Forties, shops that sell local treats and military vehicles, both old and modern. In 2019, there was a downed World War II British fighter plane on which reenactors would demonstrate how to put out a fire on the plane, though they didn’t actually light it on fire.

To the right of Home Front are the trade stalls. Here, hundreds of vendors from all over Europe come to sell various antiques and militaria. There are helmets and uniforms from World War I to modern day. Swords, both real and replicas, can also be found. There are also books on almost every military subject, including Osprey books, a well-illustrated and greatly researched series on weapons, battles, wars, equipment and other subjects. Other equipment includes bayonets, old medals, old postcards, coins, flags and countless other products. There are also local toys and candy like any fair-type event. One thing you will find throughout the show is vintage products. There is a large group of attendees who like this and enjoy dressing up in clothes from the Forties and Fifties.

While walking through the stalls, you will see some deactivated firearms. Great Britain and most of Europe have strict gun control laws, having most firearms deactivated by welding the insides. There are various levels of deactivated firearms from different legal eras, and in England, these are restricted and have ownership documents stating the method of deactivation. The most common deactivated firearms are World War II guns, like Thompson submachine guns and the Sturmgewehr 44. However, there are also more modern firearms like AK-47s and the SKS rifle. Americans cannot buy these firearms and return to the U.S. with them without first getting an approved Form 6 to import, because the receivers are still intact, even in cutaway Brens or other guns.

Behind the trade stalls is the Arena. Here, assorted historical tanks and other military vehicles drive in front of crowds while an announcer explains the history and inter esting facts about them. The Arena is also used to play reenactments by local history groups, with the ammo being blanks of course. Some of these reenactments include World War I, World War II and Vietnam. Two large mounds separate the Arena and the Reenactor’s field and can be used as a “bleacher” to watch the events.

Next to the Arena is the Reenactor’s field. Here living history groups like Eaglestorm and Three Sixty History gather for the show, coming from all over England, the rest of Europe and even Japan. Some have trenches based on World War I and World War II, with deactivated firearms and other equipment of the time period. There are also more modern reenacting groups, which have settings like Mogadishu and Northern Ireland during the Troubles. There is a large following of Vietnam War reenactors, with one group even dressed up as Vietnam War protesters, with a flowered Volkswagen van and protest signs.

Throughout the show are food stalls for vendors and show comers alike. The food varies, from sausages and fish and chips, to Asian cuisine, including Thai and Chinese. In front of the trade stalls are a couple of small restaurants where people can sit and eat. The food is good depending on where you eat. Also throughout the show are ice cream vans that sell not just ice cream but water and soda.

High in the sky above the show, a couple of WWII fighter planes can be seen on certain days. They do a number of aerial acrobatics for the crowds below. Military vehicles drive throughout the show, including tanks, trucks, Ferrets and Mules. Because of this, you should be aware of your surroundings if you go to the show.

The War and Peace Revival and the Hop Farm are located in the county of Kent. Located on the Southeast coast of England, Kent has a long and amazing history. It is the home of the White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle, Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and countless other castles and towns. The famous Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket, Writer H. G. Wells and Major General James Wolfe are just a few of the famous people who were born here. Famous residents who lived here include Charles Dickens and General Charles Cornwallis.

This year marked the 75th anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy, one of the greatest military operations of all time. World War II plays a large part of the area’s history, as the skies were filled in the Battle of Britain aerial war. Kent played an important role in the War. The evacuation of Dunkirk was planned from underground tunnels in the White Cliffs of Dover. Atop the cliffs there were special sonar stations that were used to watch for German aircraft. 

This was a bit of a rough year for the show, though it was in no way the owner’s fault. The 25th of July was one of the hottest days in English history, and it rained for the majority of the show. Still, many people battled the heat and rain to come and do business with old friends and other vendors. War and Peace is still a great show, where you can find almost anything you want. It is worth a trip to England in the heat of July.

(The author has been traveling to The War and Peace Show/Revival almost every year since 1995.) 

WAR AND PEACE 2020: Show Master Info

Location
The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent, UK. (This is in the South, located southeast of London and about evenly in between Maidstone and Tunbridge-Wells.)
Show Website
warandpeacerevival.com
Promoter Contact Info
Phone: +44 (0) 1258 857700
Sandpits Farm, Poole Road
Lytchett Matravers, Poole
Dorset, BH16 6AG
Next Show
The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent, UK
July 28 to August 1, 2020 (check website for up-to-date info)
Show Focus
Reenactors of military units from all modern times; emphasis is on the military vehicles and having correct uniforms and kit. Located on 400 acres of displays and live reenactment of many different units from WWII to Vietnam. There is a huge militaria sale area, with thousands of vendors selling everything from deactivated firearms to vehicle kits and period dress.
Dress
This show is outdoors, with a lot of walking and potential rain and mud. Be prepared to supply your own seating arrangements anywhere you go, including to watch the military vehicle demonstrations. 
Hotel Hints
Holiday Inn Express is everywhere; most hotels in the Paddock Wood area are booked way in advance, so you will probably have to book outside the area if you haven’t done so already.
Power & Plug Types
220 volt 50 cycle, UK three-prong type plugs. It’s unlikely to find U.S. or Euro plugs in most hotels.
Country Warnings
Like any country, there are areas that are not safe to travel in. A good rule of thumb is to stay out of city areas at night. Ask the locals for advice on dangerous areas.
Cultural Hints
The British love pubs, pub quiz nights and Karaoke, as well as football (soccer to American speakers), cricket, rugby and jokes told in a wry manner. They utilize 300% more of the English language than Americans and are generally very precise speakers. The Brits have a long military tradition, which is evident in their culture and museums. Ordering food in pubs is generally done at the bar with payment in full; then it is brought to you. 
Tipping
Ten percent is generally fine in restaurants; give less to a taxi. In many pubs, tipping is not considered correct but offer to buy the barkeep a drink for later.
Currency
England uses the GBP (Great Britain Pound). For up-to-date conversion, use xe.com. Slang expressions for currency include “Quid,” which is one GBP.
Getting Around
Rental cars will have UK-style, right-handed steering, and driving is on the left side of the road. Unless you know how to drive with a left-hand shift—the pattern is the same—order an automatic. We advise finding the first parking lot in sight after getting your rental car and learning the reverse geometry if you are a European or U.S. driver. The trains are quite reliable, as are buses. For directions to the Hop Farm, please go to thehopfarm.co.uk.
Military Museums
In London, Tower of London’s weapons display and the Imperial War Museum are of note, and there are many others including, Portsmouth-Fort Nelson cannon museum and Royal Armouries in Leeds in the North. The UK has a well-developed museum community, check the Royal Armouries website at armouries.org and search “English Heritage” for other sites. For tank aficionados, visit tankmuseum.org.
Tourism
Two excellent resources online are visitbritain.com and visitlondon.com. If you are in the area for The War and Peace Revival, look for a visit to Leeds Castle (not in the city of Leeds up North, it’s just north of the show site) built in 1119; it is an amazing family visit. For events in Kent, try kentmessenger.co.uk. 
NOTE: All information subject to change. Go to warandpeacerevival.com for up-to-date information

SHOT Show 2020 has come, has excited and now is over. This year was similar to previous years and, if anything, might have seen an increase in participating vendors, necessitating a mid-week Pop-Up booth section on the 5th floor of the Sands Expo and Convention Center for the second year in a row. Despite the enormous diversity within the firearms industry, there were some trends that became clearly relevant to those who wandered the booths throughout the week. Possibly the biggest in terms of the defensive handgun market was the mass adoption of handguns with red dot optics mounts, or at least having an optics-capable plate on handgun slides. Last year, some of the larger companies were trickling in with limited optics capability, but this year it certainly took the industry by storm with a significant percentage of every handgun manufacturer, importer or distributor offering a wide breadth of optics, optics plates or optics-ready slides in everything from their standard offerings to their custom shop product lines, standard duty packages and subcompact defensive setups. Also of note, in terms of product trends, was the continued march of the pistol brace, starting with SB Tactical, Gear Head Works and now Magpul; industry partners across the board were sprouting up with improved designs of their own or supplying products with some of the aforementioned companies. 

This has also been a significant year of military acceptance trials, with SIG SAUER taking home the SOCOM .338 Norma Magnum acceptance and Barrett Firearms being awarded the Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR) contract also by SOCOM. Development continues on polymer-cased ammunition in the form of True Velocity’s selection to supply significantly lighter and reportedly more reliable rounds to the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program, which is still ongoing. Meanwhile, Dillon Aero has upped the game with both .50 BMG and .338 Norma Magnum redesigns of its M134D Minigun.

Otis Technology Purchases DRD Tactical

DRD Tactical recently fell under the Otis wing in October last year and demonstrated its APTUS® rifle at the show this year. This rifle recently won a contract with a close U.S. ally in Asia in August 2019.

Magpul Pistol Brace

The polymer magazine company is diving deep into the accessories field this year with several new products. Of particular note is the new Magpul AR-15 pistol brace, of which there are two variants, the BTR and the BSL. Also added to the product line are a number of drum magazines for the CZ EVO, dedicated GLOCK interface drums for pistol caliber carbines and polymer stocks for the Savage 110 and Ruger PC-9. 

Trijicon Ventus Rangefinder

Alongside new optics and magnifiers was the Trijicon Ventus™ Rangefinder. The device is touted to be able to read six different wind values up to ranges of 500 yards and then able to lase as a rangefinder out to 5,000 yards. The ability to mechanically make wind calls is a very rare capability in the industry despite a pressing need for accurate wind call measurements in the precision rifle community. 

CZ-USA Bren 2 MS Carbine

CZ is bringing a 16.5-inch barrel rifle variant of their Bren pistol line which has been on the U.S. civilian market for over a year now. The rifle is a semiautomatic civilian variant of the select fire Bren rifle which has seen limited adoption by the Czech Armed Forces. Handguards are M-LOK-compatible with built-in rail sections along the sides and bottom while a full-length optics rail runs the length of the rifle. CZ officials have hinted at a possible .308 Win release for the U.S. market as well.

Patriot Ordnance Factories Handguns and AR-15 Pistols

POF-USA made some news earlier last year when the company introduced a .22 LR AR-15 pistol with brace that was compatible with Ruger 10/22 magazines called the Rebel .22LR. This was certainly an attraction at the show, but what also got attendees’ attention was the P19 handgun which is a 9x19mm semiautomatic patterned after a GLOCK 19 Gen4 frame while using some of the aftermarket parts that POF already makes for the GLOCK market.

Century Arms AK-74 Rifles

The military surplus and budget rifle manufacturer Century Arms is introducing 5.45x39mm AK-74-patterned rifles to the U.S. civilian market amid a large marketing campaign aiming at getting more 5.45mm rifles into the hands of U.S. shooters.

Christensen Arms .22 LR Precision Rifle, 5.56mm and 9mm AR Rifles

New this year is the Ranger 22, a 5.1-pound precision bolt-action rifle that is compatible with Ruger 10/22 magazines. Also new this year are lightweight competition AR-15-patterned 5.56x45mm and 9x19mm rifles and carbines.

Heckler & Koch VP9-Optics Capable

While not coming with a particular optic, HK is bringing their VP9 handgun to market with five mounting plate options that customers can specify on their orders. These plates are drilled and threaded to accommodate miniature reflex sights from Trijicon, Leupold, C-More Systems, Holosun, Burris and Vortex, among others.

FN America 6.5mm Creedmoor SOCOM Request

New at the FN America booth was FN America’s answer to a request from SOCOM for a 6.5mm Creedmoor variant of the MK 48 light machine gun. Essentially identical to the MK 48 except for caliber and internal components, the version on display was equipped with a suppressor as well.

GEMTECH Lunar 9

Gemini Technologies was present at the show with a new modular suppressor called the Lunar 9. Benefits of the Lunar 9 are that it can be converted from a 7-inch model to a 4.7-inch model in order to shorten the length when desired but still remains hearing safe. Decibel metering ranges from 129 Db in the 7-inch configuration while rising to a 135 Db in the 4-inch version.

Smith & Wesson 9x19mm “EZ”

The Military & Police line of handguns is getting an upgrade in the form of a 9x19mm Shield EZ M2.0 carry handgun. Previously, the grip-safety-equipped handgun was only available in .380 ACP. 

SureFire Suppressors

As SureFire digs deeper into the suppressor market every year, the company is expanding the product lineup. Of particular importance here is SureFire’s SPS 50, designed for use on .50 BMG precision rifles. The suppressor uses a proprietary mount that has to be installed before use and has an added blast mitigation bracket at the muzzle, reportedly helping significantly with felt recoil.

Remington 700 Upgrades

Pistol braces are coming to Remington in the form of the Model 700-CP Armbrace equipped with a short barrel and SB Tactical arm brace along with a sub-16-inch barrel. The pistol configuration Remington 700 is intended for backcountry hiking as a short package that can still make precision shots out to several hundred meters.

Aimpoint CompM5b

The CompM5b is the latest in the optic line at Aimpoint, decreasing the previous M68/CCO-sized optic to something much more manageable on a shorter carbine. One of the important design features are the adjustment turrets which use an external tab to lock in place, not requiring a special tool or cap to make those fine adjustments.

Maxim Defense SBRs

Maxim had two new offerings for SHOT 2020. Both are pistol-brace- or SBR-configurable AR-15s that are coming in 7.62x39mm, 5.56x45mm and .300 BLK. The MDX 508 has an 8.5-inch barrel, while the MDX 510 has a 10.3-inch barrel. Designations are as follows: SCW Pistol, SCW SBR, CQB Pistol and the CQB SBR.

Condor Recon Chest Rig

Condor brought the latest version of a chest rig that the company is experimenting with, a minimalist design that allows for central magazine pouches with an admin pouch on top that has internal pockets, PALS laser cut webbing on the outside and a waist-level utility pouch as well. 

SHOT SHOW 2021: Show Master Info

Location
The Sands Expo Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. is situated on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip just off the I-15 interstate and easily accessible from McCarran International Airport. The convention center is within walking distance of hotels such as Caesars Palace and The Mirage.
Contact
Registration
Customer Service
regmgr@shotshow.org
(855) 355-7468
Exhibitor 
regmgr@shotshow.org
(855) 355-7468
Exhibit Space
Chris Tatulli
ctatulli@nssf.org
(203) 426-1320, ext. 214
Next Show
SHOT Show 2021, January 19-22, 2021, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Focus of Show
This show has an astoundingly broad spectrum of exhibitors, from firearms to accessories (e.g., scopes, flashlights), from soft-gear equipment to ammunition. Aside from the floor where exhibitors can display their products and interact with buyers, NSSF also hosts a number of educational programs. The Law Enforcement Educational Program (LEEP) addresses current police topics such as active shooter. Retailers can attend sessions from SHOT Show University discussing human resources topics, ATF compliance and many more. 
An industry day at the range is held on the Monday prior to the show so vendors can provide a live-fire demonstration, with the morning being dedicated to media and the afternoon being reserved for buyers. 
Statistics
Thousands of exhibitors and attendees from across the globe attended the show. Along with IWA, SHOT ranks as one of the largest firearm trade shows on the globe. 
Dress
While there is no dress code per say, business attire is a sensible choice.
Hotel Hints
The show is located near hotels on the Las Vegas Strip and has partnered with a number of hotels to offer discounted rates. Details are published on the show website (shotshow.org). Henderson, Boulder City and Sloan offer lodging alternatives within reasonable driving distance.
Power & Plug Types
120V, 60Hz, grounded wall outlet. It is always advisable to protect sensitive electronics with an uninterruptable power supply. 
Country Warnings
Consult Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for any local advisories and the U.S. Department of State—Bureau of Consular Affairs for U.S. travel warnings (Travel.State.Gov). 
Cultural Hints
Americans and Las Vegans are used to receiving overseas visitors. English is the spoken language. 
Tipping
It is common practice to tip 10% to 15% for lunch and 15% to 20% for dinner. Tip 10% to 15% for taxi drivers who offer courteous service and about 15% for limo drivers.
Getting Around
Rental cars are available at McCarran International Airport, with left-hand drive and automatic gearboxes. Parking structures are readily available along the Las Vegas Strip; although some charge a fee. The airport is very close to the Strip and hotels. It is conceivable to attend SHOT Show without hiring a cab at all; however, there are many cab companies, Uber and Lyft.
Firearms-Related Points of Interest
Battlefield Las Vegas offers machine gun rentals where one can shoot a number of automatic firearms. There are 12 MG rental groups in the area as well as several shooting ranges. Concurrent with the SHOT industry day, ATAC Global holds a law enforcement / military demonstration event. Pre-registration is required.
Tourism
Immediately near Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Valley of Fire State Park offer beautiful vistas and hiking experiences. Mt. Charleston to the Northwest has skiing and hiking. To the east, there is Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead forms one end of the Grand Canyon while the National Park is about 300 miles away by car. Of course, the Las Vegas Strip itself offers entertainment in the form of casinos and numerous shows. 
NOTE: All information subject to change. Go to www.shotshow.org for up-to-date information.

?eská zbrojovka Shows Off Their Latest & Greatest in Las Vegas

CZ in the U.S.

2018 is a year of anniversaries at CZ-USA; 20 years ago ?eská zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod (CZUB) established a foothold in Kansas City, setting up CZ-USA to handle importation and everything else that’s involved in getting CZs to U.S. shores. In the beginning they were selling very European guns to a very American audience; outside of a few niche groups, they were relatively unknown. As CZ-USA grew, the company filled their ranks with employees who shoot and hunt as a way of life, and over the years the company has been able to evolve their line to better meet the tastes and shooting styles of U.S. consumers. The combination of Czech craftsmanship and American firearms culture has resulted in products CZ-USA is proud of. CZ products are imported exclusively by CZ-USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the parent company, ?eská zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod of the Czech Republic. In 1997, CZUB recognized the need to control its own destiny in a market as big as the U.S. Initially based in Oakhurst, California, the CZ-USA headquarters and warehouse facility was moved to Kansas City in January 1998. All distribution, warranty work and repair work is located in the Kansas City location, as is their well-stocked parts department.

CZ-USA at SHOT Show 2018, Las Vegas, Jan. 23–26

It was so crowded by eager persons who wanted to know about ?eská zbrojovka’s guns at CZ-USA’s booth, that this author hardly could get an opportunity to talk to an employee of CZ-USA. Back at SHOT Show 2017, CZ-USA presented their new striker-fired pistol CZ P-10 C. At SHOT Show 2018, CZ had added two new variants to the P-10 C line of polymer framed pistols. Joining the Urban Grey series of pistols, one new variant wears a mix of flat dark earth and light gray colors. It also has suppressor-ready barrel threaded 1/2×28, and an extended base pad that boost capacity to 17+1. The other variant is the CZ P-10 FDE White Nitride 9mm pistol. The white nitride used on this slide offers the same hardy surface protection as the standard black nitride. Now available with an OD green frame and a set of metal night sights, the new CZ P-09 full-size and compact variants carry all the features that make P-09/P-07 pistols desirable. For those wanting a braced pistol package out of the box, CZ-USA has added the SB Tactical folding arm brace to the Scorpion pistol. This pistol is ideal for those who already own a 9mm suppressor because most 9mm cans fit on the inside.

CZ S2 TI REFLEX

With increasing use of Scorpions by Law Enforcement, ?eská zbrojovka made a suppressed variant to meet the demands of some of the special units the company works with. Not only that, a suppressor was needed that could maximize the available real estate of the Scorpion package while keeping the overall length as short as possible. The resulting gun is the Scorpion EVO III S2 Micro in a pistol form. That’s something one cannot find in the market place, and it required ?eská zbrojovka to make it themselves. Teaming up with the airflow specialists at Aerocharger, they were able to achieve the suppression of large calibers but in a much more compact package. Comparing it directly to a standard Scorpion with one of the most popular micro 9mm cans on the market, the combination of the Scorpion Micro and the S2 Reflex are nearly 3 inches shorter, while further dampening by almost 10 dB. A fully welded titanium can, the S2 Ti Reflex is designed to fit under an HB Industries handguard. Allowing it to have a 2-inch reflex blast chamber and giving it the volume of much larger cans while only protruding from the muzzle 5.83 inches (14.8cm). This full titanium can weighs in at just 9.6 ounces (0.27kg) and spits out 147-grain defensive loads less than 130 dB. Also showcased were the Scorpion EVO 3 S1 Carbine and the CZ Bren 2.

CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 Carbine

The Scorpion Carbine is a whole new gun. Building on the submachine gun platform that first hit the U.S. civilian market in pistol form in 2016, the Carbine has a 16.5-inch barrel fitted with either a compensating muzzle brake or a faux suppressor built specifically for CZ-USA by SilencerCo. Fit with the factory’s adjustable stock, the carbine features a number of U.S.-made parts to make it fully 922(r) compliant. One of the nicest features of the weapon is the carbine-length forend, which is covered in M-LOK attachment points to keep the profile slim while still being big enough to swallow most pistol-caliber suppressors if one decides to convert it to an SBR for use with a suppressor.

CZ Bren 2

The Bren 2 was built to a specific set of predetermined requirements, over a period of two years of input and data from use in the worldwide war on terror, and CZ put it all together in a smaller and lighter Bren platform. A shorter gas system allows for barrel lengths down to 8 inches, while giving settings for normal use or in adverse conditions. Compared to the CZ 805 Bren A1, the aluminum receiver is shorter and thinner, shaving weight from the rifle. Modular and built to fit between chambering and barrel, the Bren 2 is available in three barrel lengths in .223/5.56X45mm and one in 7.62x39mm. Gone is the reciprocating charging handle; in its place is one that remains forward while the action cycles but can be used to charge the rifle via a ratcheting mechanism that allows it to be used as a forward assist if needed. All controls are ambidextrous, including a bolt release located inside the trigger guard. For those who are familiar with the M16/AR-15 platform, a paddle-style bolt catch/release is located on the left side of the weapon. The Bren 2 is select-fire, currently only available for military/LE special order.