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**Jan Balcar** · 06-21-2005, 09:00 AM

Pictured rifle originated from Chinese contract but never delivered to China. Note the E-Lion-38 Czech Army acceptance marking.

In 1938 Hitler prepared for Czechoslovakia overrun and the you could cut the atmosphere here with a knife. All contract rifles were teken over and accepted by Czech Army.

**Frogprince** · 06-21-2005, 10:45 AM

Jan, It’s not just the Chinese rifles. There was a large Iranian contract. Also a very large Rumanian contract. And some question about the “Chinese” contract a part of which either was sent to China or eventually acquired by the Japanese. I have no doubt that the Czechs were nervous about Germany’s intentions especially after March of 1938 when they marched into Austria. And that they may have quit delivering contract rifles at some point as evidenced by some of the Romanian contract rifles from the same time period.

However, this rifle’s condition is identical to those I saw from China. And not nearly as nice a condition as most of those rifles I have seen as used by the Czechs - which were later taken into German service at some point after they marched into the Sudetenland in October as part of their takeover of Czechoslovakia.

My point being that a dual marked VZ24 as seen in the images IMO could have easily been shipped out earlier in the year - while it was still uncertain how far the Germans would go to accomplish their goals.

BTW: I think I paid $35.00 to ‘cherry pick’ mine which was reasonably intact, and the condition of the barrel was usable, but nothing to write home about. FP

**Frogprince** · 06-23-2005, 12:49 PM

A check of VZ24 rifle production for the Czech Army itself (instead of export orders) shows the following: Large orders in 1935 and 1936. The next large order was not until July of 1938 which probably coincides with the well founded distrust of German intentions. Only about 3/4 of that order was ultimately delivered.

And taking another look at export marked VZ24’s, specifically for Romania, the serial number blocks show 1937 marked receivers with the E4/Lion/38 marking. Which would certainly seem to indicate to me that export orders continued to be manufactured and shipped at least until approximately midyear 1938 - although I am sure that the information could be refined somewhat. FP

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