Bayonet for Czech VZ 24
A ZH29 sold at auction for $10,925. Sold to the Chinese in the 1920s and captured by the Japanese during its invasion of that country. Condition is 90 percent original blue. Rock Island Auction Company, December 2004
Courtesy Thomas Nelson, The World’s Submachine Guns, Vol. 1
Model ZK420S
Chambered for the 7.92x57mm cartridge this rifle was first introduced in 1942 but did not appear in its final form until 1946. It was also offered in 7mm, .30-06, and 7.5mm Swiss. This was a gas operated semi-automatic rifle with 21" barrel and upper handguard. The detachable magazine has a 10-round capacity. Front sight is hooded. Rear sight is notched tangent with ramp. Weight is about 10 lbs. Not adopted by Czech military but tested by many countries. Built by CZ Brno in limited numbers. Very rare.
Model 52
Chambered for 7.62x45 caliber, this gas operated semi-automatic rifle is fitted with a 20.5" barrel. This model has a full stock with pistol grip. Folding non-detachable bayonet. Hooded front sight and notched tangent rear sight with ramp. Detachable box magazine with 10-round capacity. Weight is about 9.7 lbs. First produced in 1952.
Model 52/57
Similar to the Model 52 except chambered for the 7.62x39 cartridge.
Courtesy Richard M. Kumor Sr.
Model 1957 Sniper Rifle
This rifle, introduced in 1954, is built on a Mosin Nagant 1891/30 action and fitted with a 28.7" barrel chambered for the 7.62x54mmR cartridge. Magazine capacity is 5 rounds. Half stock with pistol grip and handguard. Rifle is supplied with a 2.5x telescope. Weight is approximately 9.5 lbs. Built by CZ in Brno. Production ended in 1957. Deduct 50 percent if there is no scope.
VZ58
First produced in 1959, this select fire assault rifle is chambered for the 7.62x39mm Soviet cartridge. Its appearance is similar to an AK-47 but it is an entirely different design. It is gas operated but the bolt is locked to the receiver by a vertically moving block similar to the Walther P-38 pistol. Early rifles were fitted with a plastic fixed stock while later rifles used a folding metal stock. Barrel length is 16". Rate of fire is about 800 rounds per minute. Weight is approximately 7 lbs. Production ceased in 1980. Made at CZ Brno and Povaske Strojarne. The two versions of this gun are designated the VZ58P with fixed stock and the VZ58V for metal folding stock.
Pre-1968
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 18000 | 15000 | 12000 |
VZ57 Sniper • Private collection, Paul Goodwin photo
VZ58 • Courtesy West Point Museum, Paul Goodwin photo
VZ 58 semi-automatic (new production)
Limited production by Ohio Ordnance Works. Built from original parts on a U.S.-made semi-automatic receiver.
| Exc. | V.G. | Good |
| 1500 | 1250 | N/A |
MACHINE GUNS
The Czechs used the Steyr-built Schwarzlose Model 7/24 adopted to 7.92mm immediately after World War I. Czechoslovakia has also used the Soviet SG43 and the Soviet DT. Today the Czech army uses the ZB 59 as its primary machine gun. The ZB 59 is called a universal machine gun when mounted on a bipod. It is also used by the Czech military with a light barrel.
ZB VZ26
Manufactured by CZ Brno, this weapon is a light air-cooled gas-operated select-fire machine gun chambered for the 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge. Fitted with a 23.7" finned barrel, it has a rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute. It is fed by a 20- or 30-round box magazine. Bipod and carry handle standard. Wooden butt with pistol grip. Quick change barrel. It was adopted by over two dozen countries around the world. It was the forerunner of the famous British Bren gun (model designation ZGB33). Produced from 1925 to 1945. On left side of receiver marked “BRNO,” and on right side marked “LEHKY KULOMET ZB VZ26.” Weight is about 21 lbs. This gun was, and still is, used in large numbers throughout the world.
ZB made small improvements to the VZ26 along with the date of the improvements. These guns are essentially the same as the ZB 26, but are known as the ZB VZ27 and VZ28.
Pre-1968
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 35000 | 32500 | 30000 |
Pre-1986 manufacture with new receiver or re-weld
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 25000 | 23000 | 20000 |
ZB VZ30
This weapon has an outward appearance almost identical to that of the VZ26 but with the exception of a new bolt movement design different from the VZ26. It has a 26.5" finned barrel and uses a 30-round top mounted straight box magazine. The rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute. Weight of the gun is approximately 21 lbs. This model was adopted by China, Spain, and Iran. Between 1939 and 1945 it was also used by the German army. A variation of