CZ-TT

CZ-TT pistol, left side view

CZ-TT pistol, right side view

Type: Double Action
Calibers: 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum; .40S&W; .45ACP
Weight unloaded: 798 g (26.1 oz)
Length: 194 mm (7.63")
Barrel length: 96 mm (3.77")
Capacity: 15 rounds (9mm); 12 rounds (.40) or 10 rounds (.45)

The CZ-TT pistol is made in Czech republic by CZ Strojirna s.r.o. company, located in the city of Strakonice. This recently introduced pistol follows the pattern of the another famous Czech pistol, the CZ-75, but with the polymer frame instead of the original steel frame of CZ-75, and with modified locking system. CZ-TT also has a shorter barrel combined with full-size grip, which accommodates high capacity magazines. The CZ-TT is comfortable to carry and hold, with well-placed controls, and dimensionally suitable for both duty carry and concealed self-defense carry. Current pistols have relatively large slide serrations, suitable mostly for gloved hands, but I was told that the new production pistols will have more comfortable slide serrations. 

The CZ-TT is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. The barrel is operated using a Browning cam system, and is locked to slide by single lug via large ejection port. Frame is made from high impact-resistant polymer. Double Action trigger system with exposed hammer has internal firing pin safety, as well as manual safety, mounted on the left side of the frame. Manual safety can lock the hammer either in cocked or uncocked position. A CZ-TTL version is similar to basic CZ-TT but features an integral accessory rail on the frame, under the barrel. Standard sight are fixed, with front sight being integral to the slide, and rear sight being dovetailed into the slide.

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Arms Moravia CZ-G 2000

CZ-G 2000 pistol

CZ-G 2000 pistol, partially disassembled

Type: Double Action
Chamber: 9x19mm Luger, .40SW
Weight unloaded: 780 g
Length: 185 mm
Barrel length: 102 mm
Capacity: 15 or 19 rounds (9mm), 12 or 15 rounds (.40)

This semiautomatic pistol has been developed in around 1999 by small Czech arms factory CZ-Guns Trade (not to be confused with famous CZ-UB factory located in the city of Uhersky Brod). Apparently, this pistol has been designed for Czech police pistol trials, that were won by CZ-75 P01. Initially offered for export by another Czech company, Arms Moravia, this pistol was sold for a short time on European commercial markets, but soon disappeared without a trace, until 2005, when its design surfaced a half-world away from its home, in Venezuela, where it is made under license by CAVIM as 9mm Zamorana pistol.

CZ-G 2000 pistol uses traditional short recoil, locked breech, tilting barrel action. Barrel locks into slide with single large lug that enters ejection window; unlocking is controlled by the cam-shaped lug below the barrel which interacts with the cross-pin, set into frame. Pistol frame is made from impact-resistant polymer, with removable steel insert that hosts slide rails. Trigger is of double action type, with exposed hammer, automated firing pin block and slide-mounted decocker lever (left side only). Magazines are double stack, magazine release is located at the base of the enlarged trigger guard. Sights are fixed, both front and rear being dovetailed into the slide.

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CZ 110

 

Type: Double Action
Chamber: 9 mm Luger; 9x21mm IMI; .40S&W
Weight unloaded: 670 g
Length: 180 mm
Barrel length: 98 mm
Capacity: 13 (9mm) or 10 (.40) rounds

The CZ 110 is a further development of the CZ 100 pistol, differing from it mostly in trigger design - while CZ100 is a DAO design, the CZ 110 is a conventional DA pistol, capable of firing either in double or single action modes.

CZ 110 is a recoil operated, locked breech pistol that featured short recoiling barrel that locks to the slide by single massive lug, that engaged the ejection port when locked. To unlock, barrel is cammed down by the interaction of the shaped cam on the barrel and the frame parts. The frame is made from strong black polymer, the slide is made from steel. The CZ 110 is a striker-fired pistol. Firing pin (striker) can be fully cocked by the slide retraction cycle and then, if immediate fire is not required, can be brought down to res by the decocking lever. The only other safeties are an automated firing pin block and loading chamber indicator. The CZ 110 obviously designed to be cariied with loaded chamber and firing pin at the rest, and to be fired Double Action. But< if one is required to fire first shot more acurately (in single action mode) it is possible to cock the striker by partial slide retraction (of about 10 mm or 3/8 inch).

The rear sight is dovetailed into the slide, and gun featured an "single hand charging device" on the top of the slide, behind the ejection port, which is used to be engaged anainst belt or any other object to hold the slide while shopter pushed the gun forward to cycle the action.

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CZ 100

CZ-100 pistol

CZ 100 fieldstripped

Type Double Action Only
Caliber 9x19 mm Luger/Parabellum, .40SW
Overall length 177 mm
Weight loaded 680 g
Barrel length 96 mm
Magazine capacity 13 rounds(9mm) or 10 rounds (.40)

CZ 100 is an entrance into "polymer world" by CZ-UB.
Tecnically, CZ 100 is a recoil operated, locked breech firearm, that uses modified Browning linkless barrel to slide locking via ejection port. Gun is striker-fired, with DAO trigger and automated firing pin block safety. Gun had no manual safeties, and has frame-mounted slide stop.
CZ 100 has ajustable 3-dot sights, and, like all other CZ guns, very reliable and accurate.

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CZ 97B

CZ97B pistol

CZ97B parts diagram

 

Type: Double Action
Chamber: .45ACP
Weight with empty magazine: 1150 g
Length: 212 mm
Barrel length: 123 mm
Capacity: 10 rounds

The CZ-97B is a further development of the famous CZ-75 pistol. CZ-97B had been developed by Ceska Zbrojovka - Uhersky Brod (CZ-UB) arms factory late in the 1990s especially for American market, where .45ACP is very popular. CZ-97B is mechanically identical to the CZ-75B, but has enlarged and slightly reshaped frame to accomodate thicker magazine and bigger cartridge.

CZ-97B is a recoil operated, locked breech pistol, with Browning-style, linkless locking and internal slide rails. It is double action, hammer fired pistol with frame mounted manual safety, automatic firing pin safety and hammer half-cock safety. It also featured loaded chamber indicator. Both frame and slide are made from steel.

CZ-97B is a high quality, accurate and reliable pistol, suitable for self-defence, police duty or practical sport shooting.

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CZ 85

CZ-85B, the ambidextrous version of the CZ-75

 

CZ-85B Combat, same as CZ-85B but with adjustable rear sight

Type: Double Action
Caliber 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum
Overall length 206 mm
Weight loaded 1000 g
Barrel length 120 mm
Magazine capacity: 16 rounds

The CZ-85 pistol is similar in design, general outline and operations to the famous CZ-75 pistol. The only differences are the completely ambidextrous safety catch and slide stop levers, and a reversible magazine release button. The CZ-85 appeared on the scene in the mid-1980s; production began circa 1986. Original CZ-85 design latter was upgraded with integral firing pin block, along with the CZ-75B.

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CZ 75

Original version of the CZ 75 pistol, easily distinguishable by the curved triggerguard and spurred hammer

 

CZ 75B pistol, with reshaped triggerguard, hammer with circular head, and internal firing pin safety

CZ 75BD pistol, with decocker lever instead of the safety

CZ 75DAO, with double action only trigger

CZ 75 Automatic, a selective fire version of the CZ 75B; note the spare magazine, attached as a front grip, and a lengthened barrel with muzzle compensator, which indicates the early model

CZ 75B Compact, with shortened barrel, slide and grip

CZ 75 P-01, one of the most recent versions of the CZ 75, adopted by the Czech Police. Note the accessory rail under the barrel, compact frame, and a decoking lever instead of the safety.

CZ-75B diagram

Type: Double Action (75B) or Double Action Only (75DAO)
Chamber: 9x19 Luger/Para, 9x21mm IMI, .40SW
Weight with empty magazine: 1000 g
Length: 206 mm
Barrel length: 120 mm
Capacity: 16 (9mm) or 12 (.40SW) rounds

The CZ-75 pistol was developed by the Koucky brothers, who worked at the state-owned arms factory Ceska Zbrojovka in the city of Uhersky Brod (Czechoslovakia, now Czech republic). This full-size semiautomatic pistol first appeared in the 1975, and the production began circa 1976. CZ-75 was obviously intended for the export market. The CZ-75 accumulated best features from many preceding designs. Resulting pistol was aesthetically attractive, comfortable to handle and shoot, quite accurate and reliable in operation. Made by CZ in various versions and modifications, CZ-75 was also widely copied and cloned. Most popular of CZ-75 copies are (or were) made by: IMI (Jericho-941, Israel), Tanfoglio (TZ-75, TZ-90, T-95, Italy), Sarsilmaz (M2000, Turkey), ITM (AT-88, Swiss), Sphinx (mod.2000, Swiss), Norinco (NZ-75, China), Springfield (P9, USA).

CZ-75 is now in service with Czech police (in the form of compact CZ-75 P-01). It is also used by Turkish police, and by several police departments in USA. By opinions of most experts, CZ-75 is one of the best combat pistols in its class.

CZ-75 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses a fairy standard Browning locking system, with cam-shaped cut below the barrel, which lowers the barrel on recoil stroke. Barrel locks into slide with two locking lugs, located just ahead of the ejection port. The slide rides on the internal rails, machined on inside of the frame. This system, originated by the Swiss SIG P210 pistol, provides more smooth cycle and better tolerances, resulting in greater accuracy. In basic models, the double action trigger system with exposed hammer has a frame mounted manual safety, which allows for "cocked and locked" carry. Since the late 1980s, all CZ-75 type pistols are fitted with internal firing pin safety. Models with firing pin safety are indicated with "B" index, for example CZ-75B, CZ-75BD. All full-size CZ-75 have all-steel construction; several compact models, including CZ-75 P-01, have aluminum frames with steel slides.

There are several variations of the trigger system, available in various models. First is decock-only system (frame-mounted decocker lever, with no manual safety, in models CZ-75BD, CZ-75 BD Compact, CZ-75 P-01). Second is the Double action only system, with no manual safety and spur-less hammer (models CZ-75DAO). Third is the Single action system, with manual frame mounted safety, intended mostly for sport shooting under IPSC rules (CZ-75SA). In all versions, manual safety or decocking lever is located only at the left side of the frame, as well as the slide stop. The completely ambidextrous version of the CZ-75 is the CZ-85, described in the separate article. 

Standard models of CZ-75 are fitted with fixed sights, with the rear sight being dovetailed into the slide. "Combat" and IPSC models are fitted with adjustable rear sights.

The Semi-compact models of CZ-75 have the same frame as basic guns, but have slide and barrel shortened by 20mm (.78 inch); Compact models also have shorter grip frame, which holds only 13 rounds of ammunition (standard magazines will also fit, but will protrude from the bottom of the grip).

The CZ-75 P-01, which is a standard gun for Czech police since 2001, is based on the Cz-75BD Compact, but also featured an accessory rail under the barrel, which is usually fitted with tactical flashlight.

Probably most rare version of the CZ-75 is the CZ-75 Automatic, a selective-fire version of the basic pistol, which can fire either in semi-auto or in full auto, with rate of fire about 1,000 rounds per minute. The CZ-75 Automatic first appeared circa 1992, and is intended for special police and military forces. To help control the gun, a spare magazine can be fitted upside down into special holder under the barrel; it then serve as a front grip. Early models of CZ-75 Automatic were fitted with longer barrels with integral compensators; latest models have standard barrels.

Early models of CZ-75 were offered with 15-round double stack magazines; present models are offered with 16-rounds magazines (9 mm full-size models), 12-rounds magazines (.40SW models) or with 13-rounds magazines (9mm Compact models). For US market, those guns are offered with 10-round magazines.

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Vz.82 / CZ-83

CZ 83 - commercial version of the CZ 82 in 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)

 

Another variation of CZ-83, with reshaped trigger guard

 

Cz-83 diagram

Type: Double Action
Caliber 9x18 mm Makarov, 9x17 mm (.380ACP), 7.65x17 mm (.32ACP)
Overall length 172 mm
Weight 920 g loaded
Barrel length 96 mm
Magazine capacity 12 rounds (9mm), 15 rounds (7.65mm)

The Vz.82 pistol is a standard sidearm of the Czech army since 1982. Vz.82 was manufactured from 1983 to 1992, when it was merged with similar commercial design CZ-83 (originally offered in 7.65 Browning and 9mm Browning Short). Since 1992 and until now, only CZ-83 is manufactured in all three chamberings, to save the costs. Vz.82 was developed to replace the obsolete 7.62mm Vz.52 pistols then in service with Czechoslovak army. During early 1980s Czechoslovak army, under pressure from USSR, replaced the older 7.62x25mm ammunition with Soviet 9x18mm Makarov ammunition, which also required a new pistol. Instead of simply taking the Soviet design (Makarov PM) along with its cartridge, Czechs developed their own pistol, which, in some respects, is superior to the "gun of the big brother" (Makarov PM). They also produced their own 9x18 ammunition as "pistolovy naboj Vz.82", which they claimed to be 20% more powerful than standard Soviet 9x18 PM ammunition. The Vz.82 pistol, developed at the CZ factory in Uhersky Brod, has greater magazine capacity (12 rounds vs. 8), better fit and finish, and much better ergonomics. On the other hands, Vz.82 is more complicated and, thus, is more expensive to make. Still, it is an excellent and reliable pistol, one of the best defensive pistols on the market today. It is somewhat heavy by modern standards, but the all-steel construction makes it almost indestructible, and additional weigh helps to control pistol in rapid fire.

Seeing the commercial potential of this pistol, Czechs brought it to the international market under the designation of CZ-83. It is now available in its original chambering, 9x18mm Makarov, as well as in 9x17mm Browning Short (.380ACP) and 7.65x17mm Browning (.32ACP).

The CZ-83 is a blowback-operated pistol with fixed barrel. Return spring is located around the barrel. Double action trigger with exposed hammer has a very smooth pull in both SA and DA modes. Ambidextrous frame-mounted safety locks the slide and sear when engaged, allowing for "cocked and locked" carry. Frame and slide are made of high grade steel. Magazine capacity is 12 rounds, sights are of fixed type and dovetailed into the slide.

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CZ-52 / vz.52

Cz-52 pistol

CZ-52 pistol, partially disassembled. Note locking rollers visible at the sides of the barrel.

Type: Single Action
Chamber: 7.62x25mm TT
Weight: 950 g
Length: 209mm
Barrel length: 120 mm
Capacity: 8 rounds

CZ-52 pistol (known in Czechoslovak service as 7,62mm Pistol vzor 52, or Vz.52 in short) was born from Czechoslovak army trials for a new military pistol, conducted between 1947 and 1951. Early trials requested pistol to be made in 9x19mm Luger / Parabellum. The basic design of the CZ-52 is attributed to Jan Kratochvil, who worked at CZ-Strakonice arms factory. This was a double-action, locked-breech pistol with an unusual roller-locking system, borrowed from the German MG-42 machine gun. Under pressure from the USSR Czechoslovakia standardized the 7.65x25 round of Soviet origin as its pistol and sub-machine gun ammunition, and the new pistol was redesigned for the “new” cartridge by Jiri Cermák, who worked at CZ-Uhersky Brod (CZ-UB) arms factory. During the redesign this pistol also lost its double-action capability (but retained decocking feature of its safety).
Introduced into Czechoslovak army service in 1952, this pistol was declared obsolete in 1982 with adoption of the 9mm vz.82 pistol, and most retired pistols were sold as surplus after 1987. The Vz.52 was not a popular weapon among its users, but mostly because of over-powered standard issue ammunition intended for sub-machine guns and loaded to higher pressures. With the standard, “pistol grade” 7.62x25 or 9mm ammunition it more manageable and may show good accuracy and an adequate life cycle.

The Vz.52 pistol is a short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol of somewhat unusual construction. The barrel recoils linearly, without any tilting, which increases the accuracy potential (at least, in theory). Two rollers, located below the breech part of the barrel, are used to interlock the slide and barrel in the early stages of recoil. The rollers allowed to move laterally toward the axis of the gun, and this movement is controlled by cam-shaped cuts in the frame. When the barrel and slide are in battery, the rollers are extended from the barrel sideways and engaged in the respective cuts in the slide. Upon recoil, the rollers are withdrawn from the slide cuts following the cam-shaped tracks in the frame, thus unlocking the side from the barrel and allowing it to resume the reloading cycle. Another unusual feature is that return spring is located around the barrel, and its rear end is resting against special part, which is integral to the barrel unit but does not move upon recoil, being locked to the frame. The trigger is of the single action type, with an external hammer and a frame mounted, decocking safety. Yet another unusual feature (at least for a full-size service gun) is that while it has a slide stop, which holds the slide open when the last cartridge has been fired, the slide stop does not have a manual release lever. The only sure way to release the slide from being held open is to remove the empty magazine, pull the slide all the way back, then release it and let it slam home. One could try to push the slide stop lever (located above the trigger guard at the left side of the frame) with a finger, but this may or may not work, especially with wet or oiled hands. The grip panels are made from bakelite or plastic and held in place by a U-shaped spring clip. The sights are fixed, with the rear being dovetailed to the slide. Magazines are of single stack type, and the magazine release is located at the heel of the grip.
Manual safety: Lever at left side of the frame, behind grip panel. To set on safe: push the lever up; to disengage safety: pull the lever down; a red dot will appear on the frame. The safety blocks the action regardless of the hammer position, cocked or not. To decock the hammer: push the safety lever up from "safe" position, and hammer will fall. NOTE: do it with an empty chamber to avoid accidental discharges if parts in the safety mechanism are worn.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Cz-52 pistol 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) push the safety lever up to decock the hammer; 4) pull down the serrated take-down knobs (located at the top of the frame, above the front parts of trigger-guard); 5) holding the knobs down, push the slide slightly forward and remove up and out of the frame; 6) while holding the slide upside down, use the front tip of magazine bottom plate (or a flat screwdriver) to move the roller cam (located below the barrel breech) forward, so the rollers will be retracted from the slide; 7) tilt the rear part of the barrel slightly up and pull it out of the slide; 8) remove the return spring from the barrel.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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Cz-50 / vz.50 and Cz-70 / vz.70

Pistol Vzor 50, also known as vz.50 or Cz-50

Another view on Vz.50 / cz-50 pistol

Vzor 70 (Vz.70) pistol, also known as Cz-70

Type	Double Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	7.65x17mmSR (.32ACP)
Weight unloaded	710 g
Length	167 mm
Barrel length	96 mm
Magazine capacity	8 rounds

The small, pocket-sized Vz.50 was developed during late 1940s for police use and it was chambered for the marginally powerful 7.65x17 Browning ammunition. Apparently influenced by the Walther PP in design, the Vz.50 had several differences in safety and disassembly. In the early 1970s the basic design went through minor face-lift, and the “new” design received the designation of Vz.70. Many Vz.50 pistols were refurbished to Vz.70 standard, with different finish, grip panels and a slightly different safety lever. New Vz.70 pistols were also manufactured between 1970 and 1983. After the replacement in service of the older Vz.50 and Vz.70 by more modern 9mm Vz.82 pistol, most were sold as surplus, as Cz-50 and Cz-70, respectively.

The Vz.50 (commercially sold as Cz-50) is a compact pistol of all-steel construction, firing the relatively weak 7.65mm ammunition. It has a simple blowback action with a fixed barrel. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and a frame-mounted decocking safety lever. The sights are fixed. Magazines are single stack. The magazine release button is located relatively high on the left side of the frame, behind the trigger. Vz.70 (Cz-70) pistols are similar, with minor differences in the finish, shape of the safety lever and grips. Manual safety is a lever at left side of the frame, behind the trigger guard. To set on safe: pull the lever down; if the hammer was cocked, it will be automatically brought down to rest. To disengage safety: push the lever up; a red dot will appear on the frame.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Cz-50 and Cz-70 pistol: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) push the disassembly button, located at the right side of the frame, above the front of the trigger-guard; 4) while holding the disassembly button, retract the slide all the way back, raise the rear part of the slide off the rails, then slowly release it forward and off the barrel; 5) remove the return spring from the barrel
Reassemble in reverse order

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CZ Vz.38

CZ Vz.38 pistol, left side

CZ Vz.38 pistol, right side

CZ Vz.38 pistol, partially disassembled

Type	Double Action Only semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	9x17 Browning Short
Weight unloaded	980 g
Length	190 mm
Barrel length	118 mm
Magazine capacity	9 rounds

The CZ Vz.38 pistol, also sometimes referred to simply as CZ-38, was developed in 1937 in an attempt to fullfil requirements, issued by Czechoslovak army, for a sidearm which would be more safe and simple  to handle than previously used CZ Vz.24. New gun was designed by Frantisek Myska, and submitted to military trials early in 1938. After trials, which were consdered sucessful, Czechoslovak army ordered significant numbers of these pistols, but Germans took over the Czechoslovakia before any guns could be delivered. A few guns were delivered to Bulgaria in 1939, but  the rest of the production (about 10 000 guns) was consumed by German police and security forces. Production of this gun has ceased by the end of WW2, and was never resumed later. This is not surprising, as the gun was overly big and heavy for the cartridge it used (9mm Browning Short, also known as 9mm Kurz or .380 ACP). Also, the double action only trigger was too heavy, severely impairing accuracy of fire.

The CZ Vz.38 pistol is a simple blowback operated weapon. It is unusual as its barrel at the muzzle is mounted in the special bushing, which in turn is hinged to the frame. Upon the disassembly, operator pulls back the dismounting slide, located on the left side of the frame, then pulls the rear of the slide up. This causes the barrel and slide to rotate up around the axis, located below the muzzle, and also disengages the slide from return spring, which is located in the frame below the barrel. Once the rear part of the slide is clear off the frame, slide can be bulled back and slid off the barrel. This allows for easy diassembly, cleaning and examination of the barrel bore. The trigger is of double action only type, with external hammer. No manual safeties are provided by default (export Bulgarian version had additional manual safety on the left side of the frame). Magazine is of single stack type, magazine release catch is located at the base of the grip.

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CZ 27 / P.27(t) pistol

CZ 27 pistol made under German occupation, bearing typical German designations

 

Type	Single Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	7.65x17 SR Browning
Weight unloaded	655 g
Length	158 mm
Barrel length	91 mm
Magazine capacity	8 or 9 rounds

The CZ-27 pistol was developed in around 1926 by Czech arms designer Frantisek Myska in an attempt to produce simplified version of the CZ Vz.24 pistol, chambered for less powerful 7.65x17 SR Browning ammunition (also known as .32 ACP) and suited for police and security use. It was put into production in 1927, at arms factory in Praha. Until the appearance of the famous CZ-75 pistol, the CZ-27 was one of the most sucessfult handguns produced in Czechoslovakia, with well over 500 000 guns of this type produced between 1927 and 1951. During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia it was manufactured for German armed forces and police as Pistole modell 27, or P.27(t) in short. It was extensively used by Czechoslovak police and security forces, and widely exported to many parts of the world.

The CZ-27 pistol is a simple blowback weapon. The barrel remains stationary when gun is fired, but can be easily detached from the frame during disassembly. To unlock the barrel, one has to pull the slide back and then rotate the barrel until it is free to move forward. The return spring is located below the barrel, around its own full-length guide rod. The firing mechanism utilizes an exposed hammer and a single action trigger. Manual safety is located on the left side of the grip frame, behind the trigger. To engage the safety (turn it On, set gun on safe) operator has to push the lever down until it locks there, blocking the trigger and the sear linkage. To disengage the safety (turn it Off, make gun ready to fire) operator has to push the small button, which is located just below the lever.Feed is from detachable box magazines, holding 8 or 9 (depending on the period of manufacture) rounds of ammunition in a single stack.

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CZ Vz.22 and Vz.24 Nickl self-loading

CZ Vz.22 system Nickl self-loading pistol

CZ Vz.24 self-loading pistol

CZ Vz.24 self-loading pistol

CZ Vz.24 self-loading pistol

	CZ vz.22	CZ vz.24
Type	Single Action semiautomatic	Single Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	9x17 Browning Short	9x17 Browning Short
Weight unloaded	640 g	680 g
Length	155 mm	160 mm
Barrel length	87 mm	90 mm
Magazine capacity	8 rounds	8 rounds

The Armádni pistole Vz.22, or Army pistol model 22 was produced in Czechoslovakia between 1922 and 1924, based on patents and experimental 9mm pistols developed in Germany by arms designer Nickl. His early guns were developed at famous Mauser factory, but in early 1920s Czechoslovakia bought his patents and Nickl scaled his gun slightly down from 9x19 Luger to 9x17 Browning Short (also known as 9mm Kurz or .380ACP) ammunition. After few years of production and use, the basic design was noticeably improved by Czech arms designer Frantisek Myska. In this improved form the new pistol was adopted by Czechoslovak army as Armádni pistole Vz.24, or Army pistol model 24. It was produced in significant numbers between 1925 and 1944. Deliveries were made to Czechoslovak government, to German government (during occupation of Czechoslovakia by Hitler's Germany), and also to a number of other European and South American countries.
It must be noted that both Vz.22 and Vz.24 pistols were too complicated and somehow insufficiently reliable, due to the fact that rotary barrel locking system, which was originally devised to fire 9x19 Luger ammunition, was not really necessary to fire noticeably less powerful 9x17 Browning Short ammunition, which at the time was standard for Czechoslovak army.

The Vz.22 and Vz.24 pistols both based on the same operating principles, using same short recoil operated, rotary barrel action locking. Barrel of the gun has two sets of lugs. Two lugs on its opposite sides are used to lock into the cuts made on the inner walls of the slide. The bottom lugs are used to rotate the barrel upon recoil (when following diagonal cut in the frame insert, attached to the return spring guide) and to limit the length of the recoil.  The firing mechanism utilizes an exposed hammer and a single action trigger. Manual safety is located on the left side of the grip frame, behind the trigger, and consists of a lever and a button. To engage the safety (turn it On, set gun on safe) operator has to push the lever down until it locks there, blocking the trigger and the sear linkage. To disengage the safety (turn it Off, make gun ready to fire) operator has to push the small button, which is located just below the lever. Feed is from detachable box magazines, holding 8 rounds of ammunition in a single stack.

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PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) anti-tank rifle

PzB M.SS.41 anti-tank rifle.

 

PzB M.SS.41 anti-tank rifle.

Type / action	manually operated bolt action
Caliber	7.92x94 Patr.318
Weight unloaded	13 kg
Length	1360 mm
Barrel length	1100 mm
Magazine capacity	5 or 10 rounds
Armor penetration (Range / Angle / Penetration)	100 m / 90o / 30 mm; 300 m / 90o / 20 mm

 The antitank rifle, generally known as PzB M.SS.41, was developed in Czechoslovakia, at CZ factory in Brno. During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia small numbers of these antitank rifles were manufactured for Waffen SS. This rare weapon bears the distinction of being the first small arm of bullpup (bull-pup) layout ever to be used by any military force (rifles of bullpup layout were experimentally built even before the WW1, but none reached service before M.SS.41). In terms of combat effectiveness this rifle was similar to German PzB-38 and PzB-39 antitank rifles, although it was more compact and had faster rate of fire due to magazine feed. Like mentioned weapons, PzB M.SS.41 antitank rifle became obsolete by 1942.

The PzB M.SS.41 antitank rifle is a manually operated, bolt action weapon. Unlike most other rifles, it has a stationary breech and sliding barrel, which is allowed to rotate and move forward and backward inside the stock / cradle. To open the breech, shooter first has to unlock the barrel from the breech by rotating barrel counter-clockwise; this is done by turning the pistol grip, which is attached to the barrel, right and up. Once barrel is unlocked from stationary breech, it can be pulled forward by pushing the pistol grip to the front. If the spent case is present in the gun, it remains stationary against the breech, held by extractor. Once the barrel is fully forward, the spent case is free to fall out of the gun. Barrel then is pulled rearward, and upon this movement it picks up the fresh cartridge from the box magazine, which is attached to the stationary stock / cradle at the angle. Once the barrel is in its rearmost position, enclosing the fresh round in the chamber, it can be locked to the breech by turning the pistol grip down. Now the rifle is ready to be fired. This unusual construction allows for extremely compact action, making the rifle very short, compared to other weapons of similar characteristics, but of conventional design. The PzB M.SS.41 antitank rifle was equipped with non-adjustable iron sights, mounted on folding bases and zeroed for 500 meters. To reduce the felt recoil, a muzzle brake was installed on the barrel and a soft shoulder pad was attached to the shoulder stock. Rifle was normally fired from integral folding bipod.

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