[Guest]

I have recently placed a CZ 24 "on hold" after much searching for an early serial number, all matching numbers and an attractive finish and wooden grips in solid condition. I would appreciate information from Jan "Hoba" Balcar and as many others of you as can help as to front grip strap markings "3D12"; serial number 44119, manufactured 1926. I would especially appreciate information as to where this artillery regiment served and its commander, etc. Any and all info appreciated as I am just now looking at this period and region of world history. Thanks and best regards, Carlton "Skip" Pott

 

[Jan]

Hello Skip! Third Light Artillery Regiment was located in Litomerice, commanding officer Lt.-Col. Frantisek STURM.
Litomerice is very nice old (founded 933!) town. More info about Litomerice on http://www.litomerice.cz/ .
Congratulation!

 

[jacobtowne]

Jan:
Nice photos of a very nice town.
I own a 1928 vz24, with two sets of unit stamps. The first, the 16th Infantry, is crossed out. The second is 4H 434. Do you have any information on this second unit? It's 4th Mountain Infantry Regiment, correct?
JT

 

[Jan]

16th Infantry Regiment was located in Roznava http://www.roznava.sk/ (Slovakia), C.O. Col.Bruno SEITS. 4H means
4th Mountain Infantry Regiment located in Presov http://www2.presov.sk/portal.php (Slovakia), C.O. Lt.-Col. Ladislav FORBELSKY.
Nice!

 

[jacobtowne]

Hi Jan:
Thank you for the information. It's that kind of background that lends historical perspective to a pistol and makes collecting military issue sidearms such an enjoyable hobby.
It's interesting that both of these regiments were located in Slovakia. A hundred years ago, many Slovak immigrants settled in my New England town, and quite a few of the men worked in local textile mills. I remember as a boy hearing Slovak spoken at the local grocery store.
There is still a very active Sokol Society here.
JT
I was also interested to see from your links that the two towns, Roznava and Presov are in the same region.

 

[modar]

Jan,

I have three CZ24 Pistols with front grip markings. The markings are H216, 11P, and 44P912. Could you please let me know what they stand for? Any other info on them would also be appreciated. Thank you very much for your time. Do you know anything about CZ38 Pistols?

Thanks,
Jack

 

[jacobtowne]

Jan can tell you a lot more, but P is infantry, and H is mountain infantry.
Your third marking would be 44th Infantry Regiment, rack number 912.
JT

 

[Jan]

H 216 is unknown to me. No number priorthe H letter?

11P is 11th Infantry Regiment name "Frantisek Palacky", Located in Pisek http://pisek.aktualne.cz/index.htm (Bohemian: near Tyn nad Vltavou), commanding officer Lt.-Col. Jan NOSEK.

44P is 44th Infantry Regiment, Located in Liberec http://www.liberec.cz/pages/omeste/omeste.htm , commanding officer Col. Arnost HRBENSKY.

 

[Jan]

Modar: What about CZ vzor 38 are you looking for?

 

[modar]

Jan,

Thank you again for the info. As for the H216 there is nothing prior to it. It is a low serial number mismatch, frame is 6075 and slide is 5678. My questions on the CZ38 are when did the Waa76 start to show up (is there a serial number range) on them, and do you know what the B prefix stands for?

Thanks,
Jack

 

[Jan]

Modar: The first 200 CZ vzor 38 pistols were praparde to delivery to the Army in February 1939. Delivered and proofed March 6th -11th, 1939.

Vzor 38 Czech Army Contract 1939 - captured by Germans
March - September: 16 115 pistols
October: 8 000 pistols
November: 8 000 pistols
December: 8 885 pistols
Total: 41 000 pistols SN range 250 000 - 290 999
1731 pistols sold to Finland

Vzor 38 Rad (Reichsarbeitsdienst) Contract 1940
July: 300 pistols
December: 700 pistols
Total: 1000 pistols
SN range unknown to me.

Vzor 38 Luftwaffe Contract
3 000 pistols in SN range 240 000 - 242 999??

The German occupation of our country caused that all the pistols were captured and used by German forces. As far as I know they were mostly used by RAD, Todt Organisation and by Luftwaffe.

The another chapter is CZ vzor 37 contract. Vzor 37 is SA/DA pistol fitted with safety lever.

Vzor 37 Bulgarian Police Contract: 1940 - 1941
December 1940: 241 pistols
January 1941: 759 pistols
November 1941: 1400 pistols
Total: 2400 pistols in verisimilar SN range B 291 000 - 293 999

About WaA 76 appearance I have no informations, CZ vzor 37 & 38 pistols are very (VERY) rare.

 

[modar]

Jan,

Thank you very much for the additional info. I really like the CZ38 pistols, they are so ugly they are elegant.

Thanks Again,
Jack

 

[jacobtowne]

Jan:
About the information you posted on the 14th. You say these regiments WERE located in these towns. Was this during WWII?
JT

 

[Jan]

In WW II times was Czechoslovakian Republic divided in two parts: Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren (occupied by Germans) and Slovakian State (Hitler's ally. Slovakian State was in eyes of the law in war with US). Czech Army was dissolved by Germans. Only a minor part of the former personnel goes over to Protectorate Government Army (Vladni vojsko). The number of Army bases was diminished and the structure was changed. All dislocations I mentioned are valid for pre WW II times.

 

[jacobtowne]

Jan:
Thank you sir. I know that Böhmen is Bohemia. What is Mähren?
JT

 

[mauserdad]

Jan,may I impose upon you to please tell me about the markings on my CZ24 pistol?Thank you.Ed

Download Attachment: CZ24-4.jpg
51.46KB

 

[Jan]

To JT:
Mähren is Moravia, eastern part of our conutry.

To Mauserdad:
53D means 53rd Light Artillery Regiment (Delostrelecky pluk) was located in Lipnik (Moravia), C/O col. Jaroslav HRON (1926)
J7 means 7th Cavalry Regiment located inHodonin (Moravia), C/O lt.col. Gustav DOHNAL (1925)

 

[mauserdad]

Jan,excellent information.Thank You Sir and have a great day.Ed

 

[modar]

Jan,

Excuse me for cutting in again, but I have one more question for you on the CZ38. Could you please tell me what kinds of holsters were used with this pistol? I know about the German one made out of the hard shell P38 the P39t holster. Was there a soft shell that the Germans had or one used by the Czechs?

Thanks,
Jack

 

[Jan]

The original Czech holster was made only for trial purposes in unknown number. One is in Army Museum Prague. The shape is similar to CZ 24 holster. The only picture I have has copyright and I must ask the owner for permit.