This
is a very scarce and very fine condition, all matching, WWII CZ Model vz.38,
which was called the Model 39(t) by the Germans, which was manufactured in
1939, and which was used by the German armed forces during WWII.
The
VZ.38 Pistol was developed by Ceska Zerojovka, in Strakonice, known simply as
CZ in Czechoslovakia, as a replacement for the vz.24 pistol. The pistol was designed by Frantisek
Myska. After a prototype was produced, CZ
sent the weapon to the Czech Ministry of National Defense’s armament commission
for evaluation. The commission’s
evaluation report, dated April 30, 1938, was very favorable. Shortly thereafter, the decision was made on
June 1, 1938, to adopt the new pistol as the standard side arm for the Czech
Army. The new model was designated the “pistole
vz. 38.” A few weeks later, on June 14,
1938, order number 25 151 V/3. Oddel, was sent to the CZ factory at Strakonice
for the purchase of 41,000 vz.38 Pistols.
The price was set at 270 Czechoslovakian Koruns per pistol, which was
half the cost of the earlier vz.24 pistol.
The
timing of the order was inauspicious. After
the Anschluss of Austria into Nazi Germany in March 1938, the Munich Agreement
was signed in September 1938. This led
immediately to the incorporation of the Czech Sudetenland into German on
October 1, 1938, with the German occupation completed by October 10, 1938. This ultimately led to the creation of the Nazi
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, which was infamously led by SS-Obergruppenfuhrer
Reinhard Heydrich until his assassination in Prague in 1942. The CZ factory at Strakonice was located in
the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, which is located about 50 miles
southwest of Prague.
Production
of the CZ.38 began at serial number 250,000, but the German occupation meant
that none of the new pistols would ever see service with the Czech Army. The Germans, in perpetual need for small
arms, ordered the CZ factory to continue production. By the end of September 1939, under German
occupation, 16,115 pistols were completed.
The Germans designated the pistol the Pistole 39(t). The “t” in the designation identifies the
firearm as manufactured in Czechoslovakia as Czech in German is “Tschechisch.” In October 1939, 8,000 pistols were completed,
and another 8,000 were completed by the end of November 1939. The German occupation authorities accepted
the final 8,885 pistols by the end of December 1939.
The
CZ vz.38 / 39(t) was used during WWII by the German Wehrmach, the Reich Labor
Service (reichsarbeitsdienst), Organization Todt, and the German Luftwaffe. Approximately 1,731 pistols were sent to Finland
and are marked “SA,” which stands for Suomen Areija, or Finnish Army.
All vz.38 / 39(t)
pistols are marked on the left side of the slide with “CESKA
ZEROJOVKA AKC. SPOL. V PRAZE.” The serial
number is stamped on the left, front of the slide, and just below that on the
front, left of the frame, followed by the acceptance marking “E7,” which was
arms technical office number 7, which was located at the Strakonice factory,
followed by the Czech rampant lion symbol, and the last two digits of the year
of acceptance. The rampant lion is also
found on top of the slide.
The
vz.38, which is a simple blowback operation pistol, is unique in that the
barrel is attached to the frame by a hinge.
The pistol was chambered in the .380 ACP round, designated the 9mm x
17mm Browning Short Round in Europe. The
barrel is 4.625” in length with an overall pistol length of 8.125”. The pistol weighs 32 ounces, and it has a
detachable magazine holding 9 rounds. The
function of this pistol is double-action only, which is why there is no manual
safety.
As
noted, this particular pistol is in mint condition throughout. Based on the serial number, it was in the
first block of pistols delivered and was probably manufactured in September or
October 1939. The Frame on this pistol
is in mint condition, retaining 99% of its original, high quality blued finish
throughout with wear noted on the sharp edges.
The barrel pivot pin retains all of its straw finish. The left, front of the frame has the serial
number “255648” stamp. There is a “2”
stamp on the left side of the frame and a “5” assembly stamp on the bottom of
the trigger well. The disassembly lever
retains 99% of its original blued finish and the serrations remain crisp. The Magazine Catch retains 95% of its
original blued finish with wear at the front from contact with the
magazine. The Lanyard Ring retains 90%
plus of its original blued finish with wear on the outer edge and it rotates
correctly. The Main Spring remains correctly
in the white, and the Main Spring Screw retains 100% of its original straw
finish. The Trigger retains 90% plus of
its original straw finish. The hammer
spring remains in the white. The Sear
and disconnector both remain in the white in fine condition. The Hammer retains 90% of its original straw
finish with wear noted on the strike face.
The Recoil Spring Guide retains the majority of its original straw finish,
and the recoil spring remains strong.
The slide catch boss on the recoil spring guide exhibits very minimal
wear. The Ejector retains 98% of its
original plum finish. The right side of
the frame retains the correct “CZ” in a circle stamp, followed by the “E7”
ordnance inspection stamp, the Czech rampant lion stamp, and the “39” year of
production stamp. The original Side
Plate retains 98% of its original high quality blued finish on both sides and
it is serial number matching to the pistol with “55658” stamped on the
interior.
The
Barrel retains 98% of its original blued finish with some light frictional wear
on the barrel and some storage wear at the sharp edges of the muzzle. The front slope of the front sight is
stippled to reduce reflection. The rear third
of the barrel is in the white. The bore
is in mint condition with a mirror finish and strong rifling. The top of the barrel has the correct Czech rampant
lion stamp.
The Slide is in mint condition and retains 98% of its original, high quality
blued finish with wear noted on the sharp edges. The left, front of the slide has the pistol
serial number “255648” stamp, and the “CESKA ZEROJOVKA AKC. SPOL. V PRAZE.” stamp
on the left, middle of the slide. The
machined serrations on the left and right rear of the slide remain crisp. The Rear Sight retains 98% of its original
blued finish, and its witness line aligns perfectly with the corresponding
witness line on the top of the slide.
Just forward of the rear sight is the Czech rampant lion stamp. The Extractor retains considerable original
straw finish and remains strong. The
breech face is very clean. The Firing
Pin Retaining Plate retains 95% of its original straw finish. The Firing Pin remains in the white, and the
firing pin spring retains the majority of its original straw finish.
The original
one-piece, wraparound grip is in mint condition. Made of dark brown Bakelite, both sides have
crisp checkering and the correct “CZ” in a circle stamp below the screw
boss. Both grip screws retain the vast majority
of their original straw finish and have unmarred slots. There are no cracks or chips noted on the
grip.
The original Magazine
is present and is in very fine condition.
The external surface of the magazine body retains 99% of its original
blued finish with minor friction wear.
The Follower remains in the white and is very clean. The original Follower Spring retains the
majority of its original straw finish and remains very strong. The Floor Plate retains 90% of its original
blued finish with wear noted on the sharp edges and at the rear where it rides
over the magazine catch.
This is a very rare,
mint condition, and unique CZ sidearm that had the misfortune to be designed
just before the Germans seized the CZ factory and the rest of the Sudetenland
in 1938. The small production run was
then used by the Germans for military and political use. This particular pistol was undoubtedly used
very little given its very high condition.
Most surviving CZ.38 / vz.39(t) pistols exhibit hard use, so this is a
very scarce example. This pistol still
functions perfectly.