There were a few threads here about them. These are Russian-captures from the eastern front that (supposedly) were surplused from Romania in around 2007. The rebuild quality is generally superior to RC 98's, and bore condition ranges from excellent to fair/good. I wouldn't personally buy one sight-unseen unless from a dealer known to accurately describe bore condition and provide good pics (like P and S).
The big VZ24 picture thread
- Thread starter Claven2
- Start date
Interesting. Accordng to this source:
http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww2/vz24-to-g24(t).pdf
when the SS entered France in 1940, they carried mainly lion-crested Czech-made VZ24 rifles as Heer K98k production had not ramped up to the point that the Army could spare rifles to the (rival) Waffen SS.
Later on in the war, most of those rifles would have been given over Czech and Romanian Legions on the Eastern Front as they became the primary users of the VZ24 (and G24(t)) rifles by war's end.
So it's possible that the RC Czech rifles you buy today paraded through Paris with the Waffen SS. Kinda a neat thought.
http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww2/vz24-to-g24(t).pdf
when the SS entered France in 1940, they carried mainly lion-crested Czech-made VZ24 rifles as Heer K98k production had not ramped up to the point that the Army could spare rifles to the (rival) Waffen SS.
Later on in the war, most of those rifles would have been given over Czech and Romanian Legions on the Eastern Front as they became the primary users of the VZ24 (and G24(t)) rifles by war's end.
So it's possible that the RC Czech rifles you buy today paraded through Paris with the Waffen SS. Kinda a neat thought.
If you do find a current Ep'd bolt, it's easy to polish the EP number off and just have it be an un-serialized bolt. Also, non-refurb VZ24 rifles had bolts in the white, so if you do get a blued bolt, dunk it in muriatic acid for 5 seconds, rinse and oil it. It will be in the white again and look the part
In other news, I just read one of the clues that these refurbs came from Romania is that the ammo pouches that come with them are post-war Romanian. Romania was under the control of the Soviet Union from the Abdication of King Michael I in 1947 to the late 1950's and was occupied by the Soviets under the Monarchy from 1944 to 1947, so ample opportunity for Russian to hand over captured VZ24 rifles to arm the Communist Romanian forces.
Good eye Mr. Claven !!!
I have asked the same question over the years. Some have claimed that it was used as a forward sling mount with a piece of rope through the hole ! Seeing as a VZ24 alread has 4 sling swivels this is highly unlikely.
The only credible info was from John Wall (and if you know who John Wall is, you can be sure his thoughts on mausers are credible) who stated that it was a Chinese military practice to use shooting sticks and/or a monopod arrangement anchored with the hole. Sadly no further evidence or better yet a pic has surfaced.
The hole is approx 1/4 inch and there is a wear pattern on the wood around it that indicates something was attached or rubbing there.
Very interesting.
If you're looking for one that's still decent, try contacting Jean at P&S since at least he will send you photos of the rifle you would get and you can make a judgement call. He has a few left, the Czech ones he has are in better nick than the last couple Romanians he has (both of those are partial scrubs).
Pullens in Victoria, BC had a bunch on the rack when I was there last month, but to be honest, I was there to buy a different gun and didn't look too closely at theirs. They didn't look as picked-over as the Tradex remains though.
By way of example, here are the pics of the one I have coming form P&S as provided by that vendor. I love how P&S sends you photos of the actual rifle you are buying. Apart from one repair to the handguard (typical of these refurbs for some reason?), it's looks pretty nice IMHO. Bore described as VG with a little minor frosting in the grooves. We'll see how it comes out after foaming bore cleaner.
Note that the notes in the photos are from P&S - I didn't add them. did I mention how great it is to buy rifles from P&S? Jean and I did a talley the other day and I've gotten almost 30 firearms from him now over the last 10 years (!).
That is going to be a nice looking refurb once it's cleaned up! I'd be interested in seeing some pics of the stock once you clean it to compare the finish to mine. It is really hard to tell because of the cosmoline everywhere.
I'm looking forward to detail stripping it to see what parts it's comprised of. Right away I can see it is wearing a "humped-style" bolt stop more commonly seen on late production G24(t) or post-1943 K98k rifles. Undoubtedly some German K98k parts have found their way onto they refurbs, which I personally believe were done in Romania between 1947 and 1960 from rifles either in Romanian service at war's end, or from captured rifles given to Romania by the Soviets.
