I D help on a VZ-24

[masterblaster]

Saturday i bought an original condition VZ 24 at a local gun auction for more than I wanted, $160.00. There is nothing unusual about the markings except where the crest would normally be is the large block numbers 1938. ears ago I read somewhere where this was a Chinese Army contract with BRNO. Any ideas?

[Embalmer]

It's a czeck rifle

[JBinIll]

Chinese contract VZ24 rifles are usually stamped "1937" and the serial number has a "P" prefix.

[Embalmer]

Also the 2 I've seen had chinese stamps on stock

[dave]

This rifle was probably made for export to Romania. Romania was an ally of Germany and the german's allowed these to continue to be made for them. They would be dated 1938 thru 1940, I believe. However some of the early production was diverted to the Czech military. First--is there an R in the serial number along with another letter? That is such a contract rifle. Second--- on left of reciever just above the serial number is there a small stamp such as E3 (standing lion)38. If so this is the Czech military acceptance stamp. Many of the 1937 "export" rifles were also diverted to the Czech military. By the way, the 1937 P prefix rifles were not specifically made for China, they were export rifles, China just happened to buy many of them. Some were purchased by Japan's Navy it is believed.
160 bucks, if in good shape, is a very good price for one of these!