The primary designer was Jaroslav Holeček (15 September, 1923–12 October 1997), chief engineer of the Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod arms factory.

The Sa 23 series utilize a straightforward blowback action, with no locked breech, and fire from the open bolt position.

Handling was further improved by using a single vertical handgrip housing the magazine and trigger mechanism, roughly centered along the gun's length.

A somewhat-modified copy of the 9×19mm Parabellum model was produced in Rhodesia in the early 1970s as the LDP and given the nickname "Rhogun".

After the Velvet Revolution, many of these guns were still in the inventories of the Czech Military, and were sold off as surplus, many ending up on the Black Market.