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LK ZB VZ 26 - Identification

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ricardobh

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello my friends, I'm working for a museum in my country (Brazil), and I'm trying to identify this LMG. It is a LMG Model (VZ) 26. As far as I read, the CZ couldn't produce this gun, so they started it's production at the Zbrojovka Brno. but some sources says that ZB is actually the military designation for Československá zbrojovka v (at) Brně.

So here is my problem, this VZ-26 has marked on one side of the frame: "Lehký Kulomet ZB vz. 26." I translated it on Google and it means: "Light Machinegun ZB vz (which I think it means model - Vzoer) 26. But on the other side of the frame we can read: Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka / AKCIOVÁ SPOLECNOST / BRNO. And again on google translator we can read it as: Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka (CZ) / JOINT-STOCK COMPANY / BRNO.

So here is my 3 questions:

Was this gun produced by CZ at Brno, in later years, or by Zbrojovka Brno companie?

And, due this serial number: #Z9267, what year it can may have been produced?

There are some proof marks on the gun, do you know what it means?

Here follows some pictures of the gun, thank you in advance my friends!
 
#2 ·
Looks to be a standard BRNO factory production military issue ZB26 in 7.92. BRNO was the major Czech production factory for military small arms producing many different types of rifles and machine guns prior to and during WWII.
The shoulder rest on the top of the buttplate is bent upwards and should be straight. The selector has three positions: full auto marked '20'; safe in center and semi-auto '1'. The guns used a twenty round box magazine that are not difficult to find. AA sights could be assembled to the gun. A tripod was produced experimentally, but never put into production.
Barrel removal latch is partly opened and when fully raised the barrel can be removed from the receiver. Sometimes they are difficult to pull from the barrel, but an experienced ZB26 gunner could replace a hot barrel very quickly.
The 'Z' is not part of the serial number in my experience. Internal parts are marked HK in a circle as are the magazines.
The ZB26 is a very high quality, very light, reliable and controllable rifle caliber machine gun.
the example in the pics is in very good condition
If you can make the opportunity to shoot the gun you should certainly do that!
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Hello my friend, thank you for your answer. Can I ask you what makes you think that it was a production of BRNO factory?

I tried to put the buttplate straight, but it was so hard that I gave up. I also tried to close the barrel removal latch, but it just didn't move. I'll try again next time I go there. There is a long time since it've been placed off duty, and since this museum was opened, about 2 years ago, nobody ever touched these guns again.

I don't know if this "Z" it's part of the serial number, it was there, so I just though it was, I hope to get more information about it then.

And I, unfortunatelly, wont be able to fire this gun, the laws in my country would never allow me to fire it :( , and also CBC (AKA Magtech in US) don't sell 8mm Mauser for standard shooters, neither stores sells it, only allowed sportists and hunters can buy some "high" calibers, and they have to buy it straight from the factory, (calibers like: .308 Win., .223 Rem., 9mm Parabellum, .45ACP, and all other "higher" calibers.)

Well, thank you for your answer again my friend, I hope to get more information about this LMG here! :)
 
#4 ·
Picture number 9 shows the ID of the manufacturer which translates as: Checkoslvakia State Armoury
The middle line indicates that it was part of a commercial contract.
The bottom line is Brno, which is the town where the state Armoury was located.
All Czech made ZB26s were made at Brno and the military and commercial models were identical. Over 145,000 LMGs of different types were made at Brno. The serial number of yours is probably from early 1930s.

I can see in the picture that the barrel is partially pulled out of the receiver which is why the latch will not close. Tap the muzzle of the barrel so it will move back fully into the receiver and then the latch will then close down.

It is too bad that you cannot have an opportunity to shoot this gun, but I understand.

All for now,

Bob
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Hello Bob, so, let's just be clear, the Checkoslavakia State Armory was something like a gun factory that belonged to the State, right? If I'm not mistaken CZ created this gun and won the army contract, but they weren't big enough to produce it in large scale, so they made a contract with this factory and they produced the LMG. Am I right?

Yes, you are probably right about the barrel, I didn't try that, and I'm quite sure that it will works!

One day I'll be able to shoot some of these guns, or at least I hope that!

Thank you for your help and patience, I'm not very good with MG's/LMG's, I'm still learning about all of this!
 
#6 ·
The invention and early development of the ZB26 was undertaken with the resources of the Prague state armory in Vrovice, CZ where the guns designer lead designer, Vaclac Holek and associated personnel had prototype examples made for testing and evaluation. Competition was intense from the designs of other countries some of which were accepted on contract for issue. Apparently the development of the ZB26 was fast and efficient since the military and government authorities chose it to be produced for the CZ army and gave the contract to The Brno state armory that had the facilities and reputation for quality work and large scale production. Post-WWI, CZ military arms design, development and production grew expansively for domestic use and international sales. The ZB26 was a remarkable succes story, ,leading to the development and production of the Bren light machinegun, initially an evolution of the VZ26 that was adopted by the Brits under their guidance and input. The Czechs produced their own version of the Bren as well, called the ZB 39.
I am fortunate to own examples of all these LMGs in my MG collection all of which are live and functional examples for shooting.

Bob
 
#7 ·
On the top rear of the receiver many ZB26 guns will tell you the year they were made by a stamping there. The stamp is usually a E&"year". I am not sure if it was on all contracts but it is on many guns. Examples.


The barrels will often have the same type of mark in one of the machined areas where it protrudes into the receiver. Obviously since the barrel is a quick change type its year and serial number will often not match the gun gun's serial number/year. Also you barrel might not want to go all the way into the receiver because your flash hider is not lined up with the sliding bare that keeps it from unscrewing. The flash hider is often not tightened down all the way but to the closest notch to line up on the locking bar on the gas block. If it is not lined up the locking bar can not move up properly whent he barrel is inserted and thus does not allow the barrel to inserted sufficiently for the barrel latch to close.
 
#8 ·
Yes, Mongo63A brings up a good point. To reiterate: the small sliding index finger on the forward face of the gas block at the muzzle end of the barrel indexes the flash-hider. If the barrel is part way out of the receiver, the top end of the index slider will be above the gas port and keep the port from entering the gas tube. When the slider is in the up position the flash-hider can be turned until it is fully screwed onto the muzzle, and then the slider is moved down so the lower tip enters one of the slots in the rim of the flash-hider. When this is done, the top end of the slider is below the outside of the gas port and the port will go into the gas tube fully. The flash-hider does not need to be tight, so the notches on the rim can easily be aligned with the slider finger. It is not difficult…..
 
#9 ·
A bit of clarification:
CZ stands for "Česká zbrojovka" which means "Czech arms factory"
There were several factories (privately owned before WW2) that bore CZ as a part of their name, such as Česká zbrojovka Praha in Prague, Česká zbrojovka Uhersky Brod in Uhersky brod (the one that still exist today as CZ-UB), Česká zbrojovka Brno, Česká zbrojovka Strakonice and maybe some others.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
bmg17a1 said:
The invention and early development of the ZB26 was undertaken with the resources of the Prague state armory in Vrovice, CZ where the guns designer lead designer, Vaclac Holek and associated personnel had prototype examples made for testing and evaluation. Competition was intense from the designs of other countries some of which were accepted on contract for issue. Apparently the development of the ZB26 was fast and efficient since the military and government authorities chose it to be produced for the CZ army and gave the contract to The Brno state armory that had the facilities and reputation for quality work and large scale production. Post-WWI, CZ military arms design, development and production grew expansively for domestic use and international sales. The ZB26 was a remarkable succes story, ,leading to the development and production of the Bren light machinegun, initially an evolution of the VZ26 that was adopted by the Brits under their guidance and input. The Czechs produced their own version of the Bren as well, called the ZB 39.
I am fortunate to own examples of all these LMGs in my MG collection all of which are live and functional examples for shooting.

Bob
Click to expand...

Thank you bmg17a1, now I finally got it. I didn't know that the "CZ" factories were diferent from each other, I though that CZ, was the CZ-UB that we know now a days. Now it's completely clear.

Thank you for your answers and patience!
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
max popenker said:
A bit of clarification:
CZ stands for "Česká zbrojovka" which means "Czech arms factory"
There were several factories (privately owned before WW2) that bore CZ as a part of their name, such as Česká zbrojovka Praha in Prague, Česká zbrojovka Uhersky Brod in Uhersky brod (the one that still exist today as CZ-UB), Česká zbrojovka Brno, Česká zbrojovka Strakonice and maybe some others.
Click to expand...
Thank you Max! Now I finally got it!!!
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Mongo63A said:
On the top rear of the receiver many ZB26 guns will tell you the year they were made by a stamping there. The stamp is usually a E&"year". I am not sure if it was on all contracts but it is on many guns. Examples. View attachment 1520537 View attachment 1520545 View attachment 1520553 View attachment 1520561

The barrels will often have the same type of mark in one of the machined areas where it protrudes into the receiver. Obviously since the barrel is a quick change type its year and serial number will often not match the gun gun's serial number/year. Also you barrel might not want to go all the way into the receiver because your flash hider is not lined up with the sliding bare that keeps it from unscrewing. The flash hider is often not tightened down all the way but to the closest notch to line up on the locking bar on the gas block. If it is not lined up the locking bar can not move up properly whent he barrel is inserted and thus does not allow the barrel to inserted sufficiently for the barrel latch to close.
Click to expand...

Hello Mongo! Unfortunately there is nothing on the top rear of the receiver on this gun, but I didn't look if there is this information on the barrel, I'll look for it, thank you for this tip.

About the flash hider, you aere probably right! Next time I go to the museum I'll remove the barrel to check the year of production information, and then I'll try to line the flash hider with sliding bare, to see if the barrell will go all the way into the receiver to close that latch.

Thank you for all!
 
#14 ·
Bom dia, Ricardo,
The "E"-Czech Lion & two digit date are the Official Czech Gov't Acceptance Marking, showing that the gun is Government Property, and the Year is the year it was taken into Service, not necessarily the Manufacture year (although often they are the same.) Most commonly seen o0n bayonets, Bolt rifles, etc, but also on a lot of "Non" armament articles as well, accepted by the Czech Armed Forces.

Export Models did not have any "E-Lion-date" marks, or if they were Refurbished Ex-Military, had the "E" mark stippled out ( as in Vz24 rifles for Romania, or Vz98/22 Long rifles for Turkey and China).

Doc AV.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
DocAV said:
Bom dia, Ricardo,
The "E"-Czech Lion & two digit date are the Official Czech Gov't Acceptance Marking, showing that the gun is Government Property, and the Year is the year it was taken into Service, not necessarily the Manufacture year (although often they are the same.) Most commonly seen o0n bayonets, Bolt rifles, etc, but also on a lot of "Non" armament articles as well, accepted by the Czech Armed Forces.

Export Models did not have any "E-Lion-date" marks, or if they were Refurbished Ex-Military, had the "E" mark stippled out ( as in Vz24 rifles for Romania, or Vz98/22 Long rifles for Turkey and China).

Doc AV.
Click to expand...
Olá DocAV!

Unfortunately there isn't a Czech Lion on this gun, at least I did not recognized it. bmg17a1 said that it was produced in nearly 30's, but couldn't define the exactly production year, do you think you can do it?

Anyway, Thank you you for your information my friend. It surely has a great value for me!
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Hello guys, just to update you. I had to disassembly the gun to close the latch, it was somehow stucked, so I took off the lower with the bolt carrier, the bolt and the gas tube and closed the latch, someone just took the firepin away from the gun, so it can no longer be fired. :eek:

Thank you for your help!
 
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