ZB39's

[Peter Wells]

There have been previous references to 'South Africa' in this ZB39 thread but I seriously doubt that we would have had anything to do with ZB39s. In my opinion We would have gone straight from the ZGB33 to the British produced Bren (BGS mentions the 3,000 Brens ordered by us from BRNO which never happened due to the war).

What is of interest (but unrelated to the ZB39) is the schedule relating to the order dated 3rd July 1934 for the 15 x ZGB33s and spares and accessories:

"Item 1 - Z.G.B - 33 .303" Light Machine Guns, similar to the two guns supplied on Contract G/9760 dated 3.7.33, but embodying improvements to the following details which have been the subject of correspondence with Contractor :-" - it continues to list 13 changes which resulted in the production and supply of the 15 x ZGB33s as we know them.

We have found no records locally relating to those two guns referred to - supplied in 1933.

Any clues?

[Kev]

Peter,agree with what you say regarding ZB39's in SA.
But as a matter of interest I had 4 ZB39's that came out of storage in Zim last year.As some of them had Wa marked barrels I can only guess they were a SA or Zim post war import. (maybe thrown in with a batch of Brens to get rid of them ?)
They were still chambered for the Bulgarian 8 x 56R round and one had been obviously tended too as it had a replacement MKI black plastic pistol grip.

ATB Kevin

[Peter Wells]

Thanks Kev

Apropos ZB39s ex Zim. A little known fact is that during the 'troubles' in Rhodesia and Angola, the USSR supplied quantities of WW2 captured small arms to the 'Freedom Fighters'.

I don't have any details of the stuff sent to Rhodesia but saw and have pics of captured weapons from Ops Protea (Angola - Aug 1981) and they included MP40s, MG34s and at least one ZB39. There were probably also MP44 types as reasonable quantites of 7.92x33 ammo (WW2 and post war 04/East German mnfr) were found.

[Kev]

Peter the pictures you mention of the ZB39 in Angola,is it in a publication or is it possible to post it here ? Very interesting !

A few pics of one of the ZB39's that came out of Zim.(barrel pic was pre deactivation)

Tag on trigger guard -


Top of reciever still bares the Bulgarian royal crests -


Wa marks to barrel breeching threads -


ATB Kevin

[Peter Wells]

Hi Kev

Thanks for pics - nice!

Edited my earlier post to rectify Op - was Protea not Smokeshell.

The pics are a set of 5 official postcards.:
1: Small arms, B10s and 75mm recoilless (all interesting stuff bottom right.
2: Tanks
3) Small arms (note pile of MP40s at 3 o'clock)
4) Sigs eqpt and arty
5) Soft skinned vehicles.

There were also hundreds of K98s - eventually sold to local gunmaker, Musgraves, who produced custom hunting rifles with them.

Unfortunately my scanner is fubar but let me have your snail mail addy and I will get copies off to you.

[Kev]

Cheers Peter

[Kev]

Pics kindly supplied by Peter Wells showing one of the captured ZB39's





Many thanks Peter
ATB Kevin

[bmg17a1]

I own a ZB39 that is not contract marked in any way, as it has all standard Czech ZB39 markings and it is in .303 with a.303 magazine specific to the gun. The mag has a different curvature than the 8X56R mags, and is different than a standard Bren .303 mag.
Herb Woodend thought it was for South Africa when he had a look at the gun years ago when he was travelling in the US.
No way to confirm this, but thought it interesting that it appears to be unidentifiable with any .303 contract guns and it is not a ZGB.
I believe I have sent Kev pics of this gun or posted them here at one time.

BOB NAESS
USA

[Peter Wells]

Hi Bob

Interesting that Herb thought there may be an SA connection to your gun. Did he give any indication why?

Is it also a 2-digit or low 3-digit serial number gun?

I have a guy trying to find a reference in our archives to those two earlier guns. If successful will share with you all.

Cheers