ZK-383
| ZK-383 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin |  Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1938-1970 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Koucký brothers [1] |
| Designed | 1930 [1] |
| Produced | 1938-1966 |
| Number built | Approx 20000 [1] |
| Specifications (ZK-383) | |
| Weight | 4.25 kg |
| Length | 875 mm |
| Barrel length | 325 mm |
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| Cartridge | 9 x 19mm Parabellum |
| Action | gas operated straight blowback |
| Rate of fire | 500-700 rounds/min, variable [2] |
| Muzzle velocity | 1500 f/s |
| Effective range | max 250m |
| Feed system | 30, 40 round detachable box magazine |
The ZK-338 is a submachine gun and was developed by the Koucký brothers who worked at the Zbrojovka Brno arms factory in Strakonice Czechoslovakia. It was produced at a slow rate from 1938 onwards and was exported as far as Latin American to Bolivia and Venezuela.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The ZK-383 was exported to many smaller European countries following its production start date in 1938. The production of the ZK-383 continued at Brno arms factory even during the German occupation during World War II. Most of the guns produced were supplied to the Waffen-SS. It continued to be produced in small numbers in the postwar period; Bulgaria continued importing it right up until 1970, 4 years after production finished. The ZK-383 was slowly phased out by smaller and lighter submachine guns such as the Skorpion vz. 61 and Sa vz. 23.[1]
[edit] Design
The ZK-383 was originally designed to be a squad automatic weapon much like the UK Bren and Russian DP28, despite it shooting a pistol round and not a full sized rifle cartridge. It became an individual submachine gun which resembles the German MP 18. For a submachine gun, the ZK-383 was a heavy and robustly made weapon. Military versions possessed detectable barrels, an integrated bipod, and rifle type sights, components considered unusual in submachineguns of the era.[3] The police variant, designated the ZK-383-P, lacked these features, as did the postwar ZK-383-H.
[edit] Features
The ZK-383 was fitted with a quickly detachable barrel. The lock/release mechanism was located beneath the front sight. It fires from an open bolt and by removing the bolt weight, the shooter could vary the cyclic rate between 500 to 700 rpm. The magazine fed in from the left hand side like the British Sten. The manual safety was located in front of the trigger on the left side of the weapon. The ZK-383 had 2 firing modes, single and full auto. Selection was made via the use of a short or long trigger pull. The stock was made from wood and had a folding bipod. The guns featured a front peep sight and a rear adjustable leaf iron sight.
[edit] Variants
- ZK-383; Standard production model
- ZK-383-P; This was the police version which had no folding bipod or detachable barrel
- ZK-383-H; The post-war production version which also lacked a bipod and detectable barrel. Instead of a left side magazine, this model had a forward-facing underslung magazine.
[edit] Users
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Modern Firearms - ZK383". world.guns.ru. http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg108-e.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
- ^ Smith, W.H.B., Small Arms of the World, Military Service Publishing Company, 1957, p. 354
- ^ Smith, W.H.B., Small Arms of the World, Military Service Publishing Company, 1957, p. 354
[edit] Further reading
[edit] External links
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