Name : G33/40 (t)
AKA : VZ.33 Modified, VZ.16/33, Alpine Carbine
Caliber : 7.92x57mm Mauser (sometimes called 8mm Mauser)
Capacity : 5 Rounds
Weight : 7.4lbs or 3.35kg
Length : 39in or 1000mm
Action : Bolt Action repeater of Mauser type
Origin : Czechoslovakia
As the Austro-Hungarian Empire was crumbling the independent nation of Czechoslovakia came to be and with it a new national army had to be created. Of course consideration had to be given to what to arm the troops with, the Steyr Mannlicher M1895 was starting to show its age, one only had to look across the border to Germany to see what the future would hold. A new factory was set up in BRNO to make Mauser type rifles for this new army, the result was a high quality rifle, not a specific Mauser model but a new variant known as the VZ.24. A need for a shorter handier rifle emerged and the result was the vz.16/33 more commonly known as the VZ.33. Export versions were also produced carrying the coat of arms of the purchaser. Orders were made by Guatemala, with Iran ordering from BRNO and eventually making the rifle in their own imperial arsenal.
In 1939 Nazi Germany occupied Czechoslovakia and thus the Czech's great industries were folded into the Reich. Priority number one became arming the Wehrmacht, at some point inspections were done at BRNO, and a decision was made to add the VZ.33 with a few modifications and the VZ.24 into the fray of official Wehrmacht rifles as the G33/40 (t) and G24(t) respectively. The rifle was produced at BRNO (BRUNN as it was called during occupation) all rifles made at this factory received the production code of 945 on early models then it was changed to DOT followed by the year of production. The rifles were eventually issued to the German Gebirgsjager (Mountain Troops) and to the Fallschirmjager (Paratroopers).
The G33/40 differs from the standard Mauser K98K from which it is based upon. The bolts are of the same length but are not interchangeable, the standard K98K Bayonet wont fit. The cleaning rods are different due to the difference in barrel length and further down the stock you will see there is a metal shield on the left hand side of the stock . The G33/40 also differs for the fact that it is lighter, this was the key advantage to the G33/40 for Mountain troops, this is due to certain areas of the receiver being slimmed down.
INTERESTING FACT : A prototype folding stock version of the G33/44(t) was made for paratroopers but it never ended up in full scale production
PRO's : Quality construction, Accurate, Collectable
CON's : Not compatible with other Mauser type rifles
COOL FACTOR : 6/10
Name : Ceska Zbrojovka VZ.52
AKA : CZ52 (incorrect name but sometimes referred to as)
Caliber : 7.62x45mm and 7.62x39mm
Capacity : 10 rounds
Weight : 8.25lbs or 3.75kg
Length : 39.1in or 993mm
Action : Forward Tipping Bolt, Gas Operated Semi-Automatic
Origin : Czechoslovakia
The VZ.52 was by all accounts nothing special, even at the time of its introduction to the Czechoslovakian Army in 1952. It was the result of a need to produce a rifle firing an intermediate round, a trend that consumed the firearms world after World War 2, from lessons learnt about the effectiveness of the STG.44 Sturmgewehr. The gas system in this rifle was inspired by the MKb.42 an early experimental version of what would become the STG.44 Sturmgewehr and the trigger system borrowed from the U.S. M1 Garand rifle. Similar in appearance to the German KAR.43 and Russian SKS the VZ.52 is a very well made rifle, though the wooden stocks tend to degrade rather quickly.
The rifle has a detachable box magazine, though when it was issued to troops it only came with two magazines. The idea being that in an emergency the soldier would be able to drop one magazine and insert a fresh one, other than an emergency the idea was to load the rifle via stripper clips inserted into groves on the front of the bolt carrier to charge the magazine attached below.
The VZ.52 was originally chambered in the 7.62x45mm round. This round was developed independently from Russian research into the 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge that would be fielded in the SKS and AK-47 rifles. The Czech 7.62x45mm cartridge was used from 1952 in both the VZ.52 and the ZB.530 machinegun until 1957. In 1956 a standardization program was coming into effect throughout the Warsaw pact countries, this in turn saw the demise of the 7.62x45mm in favor of the Russian 7.62x39mm M43 round. Thus in 1957 the Czech arsenals re-chambered VZ-52's to the Russian round with a new designation mark on the rifles indicating the change "VZ.52/57.
The end of the rifles use as the Czech standard infantry rifle came very soon after the caliber change over, in 1958 a new rifle the VZ.58 was produced similar in appearance to the AK-47 though mechanically very different. When the VZ.52/57 was phased out of Czech service it went on to serve with third world nations throughout the world. It was used by the Egyptians during the Suez Canal conflict.
On a personal note, I have found the VZ.52 a pleasant rifle to shoot as its weight reduces felt recoil allowing fast follow up shots.
INTERESTING FACT : The VZ.52 ejects its spent casings to the left instead of the right.
PRO's : Low Recoil, reliable, nifty folding bayonet, Smooth action.
CON's : Original 7.62x45mm rounds have dried up. Bad Stocks
COOL FACTOR : 5/10
