Vz. 33
Encyclopedia
The puška vz. 33 was a Czechoslovak
bolt action rifle
that was based on a Mauser
type action, designed and produced in Československá zbrojovka in Brno
during the 1930s in order to replace the obsolete Mannlicher vz. 1895
carbine
s of the Czechoslovak četnictvo (gendarmerie
). The manufacturer's designation was vz. 16/33 (model 16/33), and although the rifle is often called carbine vz. 33, that was not an official designation of the Czechoslovak armed forces .
The design was partially based on the Mauser Musketon M12, produced prior to World War I
for Brazil
, but the bolt mechanism was a modification of the Mauser 98 design found on the standard Czechoslovak army vz. 24
rifle. The action was a "small ring" design similar to that found on the German Kar 98a issued during World War I. As the name implies, the receiver ring is of slightly smaller diameter than the standard Model 98 action, intended to lighten the weapon at the expense of a slight reduction in action strength. Most small-ring variants are readily distinguishable as there is no step between the ring and the left receiver wall. However, the vz. 33 has a lightened, thinner left receiver wall, so the step is present making it superficially resemble the standard, 'large ring' action. Excess metal is removed from the rear receiver bridge around the stripper clip guide, and there are other lightening cuts. The bolt is the same as that of the standard Model 98, with the exception of the bolt handle which has a different profile and a hollowed-out ball.
Production of a slightly modified version continued during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia
for the German armed forces
. This version was 5 mm longer (due to a different buttplate), a metal plate was attached to the left side of the gunstock
and with a German type sling
and laminated stock fitted this rifle was issued to German mountain troops
as the Gewehr 33/40 (t). Markings are of the German type, with code letters on the receiver ring in place of the Czech rampant lion.
For the Czechoslovak army, gendarmerie and Finanční stráž (literally Finance Guard, which was a custom and border protection armed service under the command of the Czechoslovak Department of Finance) some 25,300 vz. 33 rifles were produced until 1940. From 1940 until 1942 another 131,503 of the Gewehr 33/40 (t) variant were produced for the German army: 29,000 Gewehr 33/40 (t) were produced in 1940, 48,049 Gewehr 33/40 (t) were produced in 1941 and 54,454 Gewehr 33/40 (t) were produced in 1942 (per http://www.fronta.cz/dotaz/g33-40 ). The German armed forces also used the rifles previously issued to the Czechoslovak military.
A few prototypes of G 33/40(t) with wooden folding stock
s were also produced for the German paratroopers
, #'s not shown in above totals, but this variant never went into serial production.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
bolt action rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
that was based on a Mauser
Mauser
Mauser was a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to 1995. Mauser designs were built for the German armed forces...
type action, designed and produced in Československá zbrojovka in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
during the 1930s in order to replace the obsolete Mannlicher vz. 1895
Steyr-Mannlicher M1895
The Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 rifle is a bolt-action rifle, designed by Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher that used a refined version of his revolutionary straight-pull action. It was nicknamed the "Ruck-Zuck" by Landsers...
carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
s of the Czechoslovak četnictvo (gendarmerie
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
). The manufacturer's designation was vz. 16/33 (model 16/33), and although the rifle is often called carbine vz. 33, that was not an official designation of the Czechoslovak armed forces .
The design was partially based on the Mauser Musketon M12, produced prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
for Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, but the bolt mechanism was a modification of the Mauser 98 design found on the standard Czechoslovak army vz. 24
Vz. 24
The vz. 24 rifle is a rifle designed and produced in Czechoslovakia from 1924 to 1942. It was developed from the Mauser Gewehr 98 line, though is not a clone of any specific Mauser model. The fit and finish are of the highest quality....
rifle. The action was a "small ring" design similar to that found on the German Kar 98a issued during World War I. As the name implies, the receiver ring is of slightly smaller diameter than the standard Model 98 action, intended to lighten the weapon at the expense of a slight reduction in action strength. Most small-ring variants are readily distinguishable as there is no step between the ring and the left receiver wall. However, the vz. 33 has a lightened, thinner left receiver wall, so the step is present making it superficially resemble the standard, 'large ring' action. Excess metal is removed from the rear receiver bridge around the stripper clip guide, and there are other lightening cuts. The bolt is the same as that of the standard Model 98, with the exception of the bolt handle which has a different profile and a hollowed-out ball.
Production of a slightly modified version continued during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia began with the Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia's northern and western border regions, known collectively as the Sudetenland, under terms outlined by the Munich Agreement. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's pretext for this effort was the alleged privations suffered by...
for the German armed forces
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. This version was 5 mm longer (due to a different buttplate), a metal plate was attached to the left side of the gunstock
Gunstock
Gunstock may refer to:*Stock , a part of a gun*Gunstock war club, a weapon resembling gunstocksPlace names in the United States:*Gunstock Mountain, a New Hampshire mountain...
and with a German type sling
Sling
The word sling may refer to:* Sling , a device used to hurl projectiles* Sling is an item of climbing equipment consisting of a sewn loop of webbing that can be wrapped around sections of rock or tied to other pieces of equipment.* Sling * Ski jumping sling is an item of sports training...
and laminated stock fitted this rifle was issued to German mountain troops
Gebirgsjäger
Gebirgsjäger, in English Mountain Riflemen, is the German designation for mountain infantry. The word Jäger is the traditional German term for rifleman...
as the Gewehr 33/40 (t). Markings are of the German type, with code letters on the receiver ring in place of the Czech rampant lion.
For the Czechoslovak army, gendarmerie and Finanční stráž (literally Finance Guard, which was a custom and border protection armed service under the command of the Czechoslovak Department of Finance) some 25,300 vz. 33 rifles were produced until 1940. From 1940 until 1942 another 131,503 of the Gewehr 33/40 (t) variant were produced for the German army: 29,000 Gewehr 33/40 (t) were produced in 1940, 48,049 Gewehr 33/40 (t) were produced in 1941 and 54,454 Gewehr 33/40 (t) were produced in 1942 (per http://www.fronta.cz/dotaz/g33-40 ). The German armed forces also used the rifles previously issued to the Czechoslovak military.
A few prototypes of G 33/40(t) with wooden folding stock
Gunstock
Gunstock may refer to:*Stock , a part of a gun*Gunstock war club, a weapon resembling gunstocksPlace names in the United States:*Gunstock Mountain, a New Hampshire mountain...
s were also produced for the German paratroopers
Fallschirmjäger
are German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
, #'s not shown in above totals, but this variant never went into serial production.