A ''corporate history'' of Ceska Zbrojovka-- the Czech armory.
by Kyrie Ellis
Kyrie posted this excellent history of the armory that manufactured the CZ weapons on the c-r-ffl board in September of 1998.
A bit of the history of Ceska Zbrojovka and CeskoslovenskaZbrojovka (and Ceska Zavody Motocyklove) for anyone interested :-)
Ceska Zbrojovka
The company we know as Ceska Zbrojovka was founded in 1919 in Pilsin, a the Jihoceska Zbrojovka (South Bohemian Arms Factory). It moved in 1921 to a new factory in Strakonice, and, in 1922, merged with the Hubertus Factory and changed its name to Ceska Zbrojovka (Bohemian Arms Factory). Its trademark is "CZ", where the "Z" is inside the loop of the "C" and the "C"is in a circle.
Ceska Zbrojovka was the sole supplier of handguns to the Czech military from 1926 to 1954 (and possibly beyond). Among the military pistols produced b Ceska Zbrojovka are the Vz-24, V-27, Vz-36/45, Vz-38, Vz-50 &Vz-70, and the Vz-52. (Note: "Vz" is the abbreviation for "Vzor", or "Model").
Ceska Zbrojovka was preparing to move to Uhersky Brod in1939 when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia and seized the factory. During WWII,Ceska Zbrojovka remained in Strakonice and continued to make pistols for theThird Reich. Germany used a number of Czech Vz-24's, Vz-27's (as the"Pistole Modell 27") and Vz-38's (as the model "P.39(t)"). Pistols made during the Occupation can be found marked "Bohmische Waffenfabrik A. G. Prag". CeskaZbrojovka also produced parts for the Walther P.38, and such parts will havethe code "fnh" and the Waffenamt "WaA 76". Ceska Zbrojovka was considered for production of the P.38 during WWII, but whether they actually produced any complete pistols is a matter of dispute. This subject is clouded by the post-war (1946) production of some P.38's by Ceska Zbrojovka using parts andsalvaged pistols.
In 1955 Ceska Zbrojovka finally moved to Uhersky Brod and the Strakonice factory was turned over to the Ceska Zavody Motocyklove Narodni Podnik to produce motorcycles.
Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka
Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka was founded in 1918 in the city ofBrno, acquired Mauser's tooling to produce Model 98 rifles, and began production of M98 Mauser rifles. Its trademark was the letter "Z", inside a rifled bore. This trademark originally belonged to the Praga Zbrojovka whose assets were purchased by Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka in 1926. As Ceska Zbrojovka had the "lock" on Czech military pistol contracts, so Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka was the sole supplier of long arms to the Czech military.
Probably the most well known rifle produced by Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka is the Vz-24. WithGermany in general (and Mauser in particular) banned from producing military arms, Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka moved into the void and became one ofthe major exporters of small arms following World War I and during the inter-War years. Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka was also occupied during WWII, and produced rifles for the Third Reich under the manufacturer's code "dot". Oneoften ignored>fact is that the British BREN light machinegun is a Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka design, and was produced by the Royal Arms factory in England under license from Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka.
Folks frequently confuse the trademarks of these companies - a situation not helped by the fact the country code for Czechoslovakia isalso "CZ". The place-name "Brno" is also frequently misused as a company identifier. Possibly because few non-Czech speakers want to attempt to pronounce "Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka". But be that as it may, the name "Brno" came into such common usage that it was utilized as a product name after the Communist take-over of Czechoslovakia. Speaking of which, with the Communist take-over in the late 1940's both Ceska Zbrojovka and Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka ceased to exist, at least as we thinkof them as separate companies. Rather they became State owned manufacturing facilities ("Narodni Podnik", or "National Enterprise"). At this point it becomes unclear the degree to which commercial firearm markings indicate what factory was involved in the production of the firearm.
At some point the manufacturing facility in Brno was renamed to Zbrojovka Brno (Brno Arms). The manufacturing facility in Uhersky Brod became a member of the Zbrojovka Brno Narodni Podnik in 1965. At this point the firearms produced at Uhersky Brod were also marked (I won't say "used the trademark") "Brno". I think it's important to note here that while these were still physically different manufacturing facilities, both were a part of the same National Enterprise. That's an important distinction since what we, in a capitalistic society, think of as "companies" and "trade marks" either donot exist or have different meanings in a Socialist State.
With the deterioration and eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union, private enterprise again came to Czechoslovakia. The National Enterprise located at Uhersky Brod is once more "Ceska Zbrojovka", and appears to be well on the road to private ownership. It even has a new trademark; theoutline of a pistol in a circle.
Ceska Zbrojovka has an Internet site at http://www.czub.cz, and an office here in the States. The last address I have for their US office is: CZ USA; Building B, Unit 119; 1401 Fairfax Trafficway; Kansas City, KS 66115 (tel) 800/955-4486 or 913/321-1811 (fax) 913/321-2251 E-mail: czusa@gvi.net
As of 18 May, 1995, Zbrojovka Brno/Brno Arms was still in operation and producing fine shotguns, rifles, pistols, and airguns.Individual shareholders held 50.43% of its stock, with the remainder of itscapitalization provided by governmental entities. Reportedly, 40% of its production goes to 52 countries worldwide. To the best of my knowledge, Zbrojovka Brno does nothave either a US office or an Internet site. Zbrojovka Brno still uses theletter "Z" inside a rifled bore as its trademark.