SKS on Parade
- Thread starter Ganderite
- Start date
leebuilder
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Vz 52 or Vz52/57
Be well
Be well
When I was there a couple of years ago all the honor guard types (Palace Guard, City Guard, couple others with different uniforms I couldn't figure out what they were attached to... they seemed to be really into honor guards as a tourist attraction)... Were all carrying VZ 52 rifles of some flavour.
When I get home tonight I'll see if I can dig up a pic.
Fun fact: the Czech Government hired the costume designer from the film "Amadeus" to design the uniforms for the "Palace Guard" - which hadn't existed in almost a century - as part of their conscious efforts to draw western tourists (and their cash) as part of thrir economic revitalization after the fall of the East Bloc.
Most of the various honor guards you spot in different parts of Prague stem from that time.
When I get home tonight I'll see if I can dig up a pic.
Fun fact: the Czech Government hired the costume designer from the film "Amadeus" to design the uniforms for the "Palace Guard" - which hadn't existed in almost a century - as part of their conscious efforts to draw western tourists (and their cash) as part of thrir economic revitalization after the fall of the East Bloc.
Most of the various honor guards you spot in different parts of Prague stem from that time.
BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
Winner.
Here we go...
These young gents were getting ready to assemble for a ceremony/parade to mark the 61st anniversary of the May 5 Prague Uprising against German occupation. Nice fellows, chatted with them a bit, although I can't remember what unit they were attached to, I do remember asking, and having verified, that they were carrying VZ 52-57 rifles (with polished, though not chromed, bayonets, trigger guard, and butt-stock metal). They were one of several honor guard units in and around the city at the time, and they all carried 52-57 rifles, partly as a snub to the Soviets/Russians (same thing in the minds of the Czechs):
The Czechs, very proudly, and somewhat obstinately, never adopted Soviet/Russian rifles and handguns as their primary infantry arms.
These young gents were getting ready to assemble for a ceremony/parade to mark the 61st anniversary of the May 5 Prague Uprising against German occupation. Nice fellows, chatted with them a bit, although I can't remember what unit they were attached to, I do remember asking, and having verified, that they were carrying VZ 52-57 rifles (with polished, though not chromed, bayonets, trigger guard, and butt-stock metal). They were one of several honor guard units in and around the city at the time, and they all carried 52-57 rifles, partly as a snub to the Soviets/Russians (same thing in the minds of the Czechs):
The Czechs, very proudly, and somewhat obstinately, never adopted Soviet/Russian rifles and handguns as their primary infantry arms.
