[RobCarter3]

Hey guys. I posted this on the K98k board a month or so ago (so sorry if you've already seen it) and I've been meaning to post it here for a while; hoping I can get some information or that someone can point me towards some good reference material. I do know that the rifle is a Vz.23 brought back from WWII by my Great Uncle Dave. Uncle Dave served with the 5th US Army in Italy. He also brought back a Nazi-marked Browning Hi-power. The Vz.23 appears to be all matching and in original Czech configuration. Other than that, I know very little about the rifle. Could anyone point me towards a good reference on the Vz.23 or WWII German use of Czech Mausers? I'm going to bring some of my WWII German firearms for a class presentation soon, and I would love to know a little more about this rifle.

 

[RobCarter3]

 

[AndyB]

Nice matching czechoslovak VZ.23 rifle, it was not reworked by germans, what is on butt disc stamped?best regards,Andy

 

[RobCarter3]

The butt disc is unmarked.

 

[Franchi]

Looks like the Germans had it at one time, the front sight is cut for a hood. Check the stock wrist area for a German HZa marking.
David

 

[haak48]

The VZ23 front sight base was cut for a special sight guard by CZ. The VZ23 guard is rare and I have never even seen a picture of one. JH

 

[Len S]

Beautiful piece , congrats!

 

[gil]

superb example. brief history lesson. Germans begining in `1919 were not allowed to produce military rifles, so czechs and belgians jumped in and filled the void. Czechs made 50K GEw long rifles than in 1923 started on the design of the short rifle using this arch crested reciever that yours has. Made about 150,000 vz-23's and then switched stock hardware on that run of a 1/4 million arch crested recievers, then called the second half vz-24's. After that in 1925 they produced 3 line Brno crested vz-24's for 7 years or so.
gil

 

[rwbradshaw]

I recently picked up a nice bring back vz23, all matching (including stock and handguard), only thing missing is the sight hood. Weapon is Nazi marked on barrel and stock. Butt disc stamped 7p. If any of you are interested I can get some pictures out to you, I'd like to trade or sell it. Thanks, rb

 

[gil]

By all means post pictures. Matching in vz-23's after falling into the hands of the nazi's is a relitve term. If parts didn't match, the Germans would do so.

gil

 

[gil]

The moderators are going to suggest you put up a wtt/wts add and not troll on this , someone elses thread. Photos aren't the best and in my opinion the bolt is not original-----should have a letter code K with the serial # so I would suggest german armoury force match------it is a large font serialization so maybe others will step in. You need photos of the rear sight and are they matching? Rear sights often were replaced with vz-24 sights.
gil

 

[rwbradshaw]

The moderators are going to suggest you put up a wtt/wts add and not troll on this , someone elses thread. Photos aren't the best and in my opinion the bolt is not original-----should have a letter code K with the serial # so I would suggest german armoury force match------it is a large font serialization so maybe others will step in. You need photos of the rear sight and are they matching? Rear sights often were replaced with vz-24 sights.
gil

Gil

Thanks for the information, I'll delete my pictures and create a wtt add. I don't know what troll means? I got pictures of the bolt, with the clear Czech markings and the rear sight with the correct markings. I'll add them to the new wtt add. Thanks for the information, and sorry about a troll. rb