Historical outline of

Czechoslovakian

pistols and armories

copyright 2001 by Kirby Sanders

Many thanks to Jan Balcar of Plzen and Ceska Zbrojovka of Uhersky Brod, Czech Republic, for information and research assistance.
1917 Ceskoslovenska statni zbrojovka Brno (the Czechoslovak State Arms Factory in Brno) aka Zbrojovka Brno established. Additional arms work at former Vienna Armory location in Zabrdovice.
1919 Czech Ministry of Defence decree sets first official duties for Ceskoslovenska statni zbrojovka Brno. First projects include repair of damaged Mannlicher Riles, construction of railroad carriages, production of hand grenades designed by Frantisek Janecek. Jihoceska Zbrojovka (precursor company to Ceska Zbrojovka) established in Plzen at Halbmeyer's Mill with assistance from Skoda Works. Alois Tomiska is General Manager.
1921 Zbrojovka Brno begins production of Gewehr 98 Mauser rifles after Treaty of Versailles bans halt German production. First guns made with parts from Germany. Jihoceska Zbrojovka moves to Strakonice.
1922 Jihoceska Zbrojovka absorbs Hubertus Factory for Vejprty company of Prague and changes company name to Ceska Zbrojovka. Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka Brno begins production of Mauser, the m98/22. Also produces first 9mm pistol, VZ22, in proprietary calibre of same case-size as .380 (9x17mm). Cartridge is also designated "9mm vzor 22". Jihoceska begins production of commercial small-calibre Fox pistol.
1924 Zbrojovka Brno begins production of true Czech "Mauser" with puska (rifle)VZ24. Ceska Zbrojovka produces first true military-pistol, pistole Vzor 24, using 9mm short-dimensioned vz22 cartridge. At this point, Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka Brno produces rifle. Pistols are the separate domain of Ceska Zbrojovka.
1927 Ceska Zbrojovka produces .32acp caliber vzor 27 pistol for Czech Police use.
1936 Ceska Zbrojovka a.s. Uhersky Brod, modern-day CZ, opens as subsidiary factory for CZ-Strakonice. Development of "vestpocket" .25 caliber pistole vzor 36 designed by Frantisek Myska at Strakonice. Actual production begins 1937.
1938 Germans begin moving in on Czechoslovakia. Pistole vzor 38 "Nutcracker" developed using 9mm-short "vzor 22" ammunition.
1939 Czechoslovakia under full Nazi occupation. VZ38 and VZ27 remain in production.
1945 Czechoslovakia liberated from Nazis. Russian administration established according to Yalta Agreement terms. Pistole vzor 36 re-designed by Jaroslav Kratchovil as vzor 45. Government establishes firearms production under central agency which initially requires that "Any firearm exported will bear the BRNO markings." This central agency, under Ceska Zbrojovka name, will eventually become the privatized company now know as "CZ".
1950 Pistol vzor 50 produced at Strakonice in .32acp caliber. Designed by brothers Jan and Jaroslav Kratchovil and used as a police sidearm. Ceska Zbrojovka officially designated as "Nar Podnik" (national enterprise) for firearms production.
1952 Vzor 50 production ceases to concentrate on production of vzor 52 in 7.62x25 caliber for military use. CZ also begins production of puska vzor 52 (rifle)in 7.62x45 configuration.
1954 End of VZ52 pistol production.
1955 All firearm production ceases at Strakonice and is moved to Presne Strojirenstvi factory at Uhersky Brod. Ceske Zavody Motocyklove Narodni Podnik (Czech Motorcycle Works, National Enterprise) established at former CZ plant in Strakonice.
1957 Vzor 50 production renewed at Presne Strojirenstvi factory under CZ-Uhersky Brod auspices. Puska vzor 52 rifle modified as vzor 52/57 rifle to utilize 7.62x39 Warsaw Pact ammunition.
1958 Production of the Samopal vzor 58, fully automatic rifle begins. Vzor 58 is Czech answer to AK47. CZ also producing Vzor 23, 24, 25 and 26 "pompicka" (bicycle pump) submachine guns in .32acp, 9mm short and 7.62x25 configurations utilizing "overhung" bolt developed by Vaclav Holek. Overhung bolt design later incorporated into Israeli UZI, French MAT and machine pistols made by Beretta, Ingram and Walther designs. CZ-UB intergrated into the state-owned October Revolution Works, Vsetín, as Works No. 05 Uherský Brod.
1961 CZ introduces vzor 61 submachinegun in .32acp caliber and various 9mm configurations.
1970 CZ50 pistol redesigned as CZ70
1975 CZ moves to more North American "Browning" type designs with introduction of pistole vzor 75 designed by Frantisek Koutsky.
1981 CZ50/70 line ceased production in 1981 and was replaced for official use by the CZ vzor 82 and 83.
1982 7.62x25 caliber vzor 52 pistols out of use for the military. Czechs move to a 9mm-short cartridge-standard with the CZ vzor 82 semi-automatic pistol. Pistols retain the Koutsky-design concepts more similar to the Browning as opposed to earlier styles resembling Walther and Mauser pistols.
1983 CZ83, essentially a .32 caliber version of the 82 with a 16-shot magazine, is released. Both CZ82 and 83 for official use are generally issued with an oversized "Winter" triggerguard to allow easy use by police officers wearing gloves and are 9mm-short configuration.
1985 Koutsky design mode continues with release of caliber 9x18mm ( 9mm Luger or Parabellum) CZ85 pistol.
1989 Fall of the Iron Curtain. Czechoslovakia begins quick shift in market reforms toward western economic model. CZ established as private limited corporation.
1991 Czech Government decentralizes arms production. Zbrojovka Brno (former Ceskoslovenska) begins limited production of sporting, pellet and small-caliber target-shooting arms as a privatized company. New CZ Brno firearms are unusual in the United States. CZ-UB continues with majority production of commercial, military and target long arms and pistols-- establishes North American marketing arm (CZ-USA).
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