Cz-38 / 39 Pictures

[Clotho]

I acquired this recently and I haven't seen many of them before so I thought I would share.

My understanding is that these were in production for the Czech military when Germany invaded. The Nazis decided to continue producing the pistol and issued it to their troops. It is unique and has some unusual features. Most were DAO although a few were made that were DA/SA. This one is DAO. They are extremely easy to disassemble. This is also one of their flaws apparently. The release on the left side is moved toward the muzzle to release the slide and open the pistol for cleaning. As simple as it gets. Unfortunately there were reports of soldiers pulling the pistol from the holster and catching on the release. Basically they drew the gun and it fell apart!

I can't believe the condition of this one. The pictures are lacking and don't show the rich deep bluing or the contrasting brown of the bakelite grips. I'm sure it has been fired but if it has had 100 rounds through it I would be surprised. Even the bottom of the magazine is blued. The oversized trigger guard was designed so that it could be used with gloves.

Queue the James Bond music. This picture is deceiving. The pistol isn't touching the slide.

 

[joe n]

Thanks for posting pics, I've owned a couple over the years, nice pieces for sure. Many in Canada seem to be SA marked. If anyone ever comes across a period pic of these being used please post! I think they were issued quite a bit to police and security forces.

 

[fugawi]

ČESKÁ ZBROJOVKA vz.39?

Matching serial numbers are stamped on the left front part of the slide and just below on the receiver with ČESKÁ ZBROJOVKA AKC. SPOL. V PRAZE on the left slide.

The safety lever has position with letters of 'O' and 'Z'. O means ODJISTENO - Armed, Fire position. Z means ZAJISTENO - Disarmed, Safe.

There is very little known about these pistols - one site labels the version with the manual safety a EZ vzor 37: http://www.panchogun.com/FVWebPhotos...ry-5x100px.jpg

Another site to check out is: http://www.freeexistence.org/vz38.html This site states that there are two trigger types on these pistols: DAO and SA/DAO. It says states "These specimens are very easily distinguished because the surface of the hammer is serrated."

Ceska Zbrojovka apparently sold some to the Bulgarian police in Sofia but those are reported stamped with a 'B' prefix before the serial number with a serial range B 291000 - B 291999, as well as being commercially proofed. Mine has matching serial numbers but no 'B' prefix, is 241###, no proofs but has the serrated hammer.

 

[Clotho]

Thanks for posting pics, I've owned a couple over the years, nice pieces for sure. Many in Canada seem to be SA marked. If anyone ever comes across a period pic of these being used please post! I think they were issued quite a bit to police and security forces.

From the article that fugawi linked to: The fate of some Czechoslovakian vz. 38 pistols manufactured during the occupation is known, more specifically 1,731 pistols which were sent to Finland, proofed by the Finnish army, and are thus marked "SA" (Suomen Armeija - Finnish Army)

Matching serial numbers are stamped on the left front part of the slide and just below on the receiver with ČESKÁ ZBROJOVKA AKC. SPOL. V PRAZE on the left slide.

The safety lever has position with letters of 'O' and 'Z'. O means ODJISTENO - Armed, Fire position. Z means ZAJISTENO - Disarmed, Safe.

There is very little known about these pistols - one site labels the version with the manual safety a EZ vzor 37: http://www.panchogun.com/FVWebPhotos...ry-5x100px.jpg

Another site to check out is: http://www.freeexistence.org/vz38.html This site states that there are two trigger types on these pistols: DAO and SA/DAO. It says states "These specimens are very easily distinguished because the surface of the hammer is serrated."

Ceska Zbrojovka apparently sold some to the Bulgarian police in Sofia but those are reported stamped with a 'B' prefix before the serial number with a serial range B 291000 - B 291999, as well as being commercially proofed. Mine has matching serial numbers but no 'B' prefix, is 241###, no proofs but has the serrated hammer.

Thank you for the pics and the links! The first link doesn't work but I was able to find them in this list: http://www.panchogun.com/IndexAllGuns.html

I take it that yours is DA/SA? You mention the serrated hammer. Single action would be very nice.

 

[gaff]

very nice .