CZ CZ38

Seller Description For This Firearm

THIS IS A BROUGHT-BACK WWII CZ38 CESKA ZBROJOVKA AKC SPOL V PRAZE 380ACP PISTOL AND HOLSTER
PLENTY OF PHOTOS AND MORE ON REQUEST BUT PLEASE ASK BEFORE AND NOT AFTER YOU BID.


SHE WAS BROUGHT HOME AFTER WWII BY A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS PART OF D-DAY, SPENT TIME IN FRANCE AND GERMANY. SADLY WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS PICKED UP IN FRANCE OR GERMANY


THIS AMAZING DESIGN WAS ONE OF THE SIMPLEST TAKE-DOWNS I HAVE EVER SEEN AND I'VE DONE THIS FOR 43 YEARS

THE FINISH IS APPROXIMATLY 88%
THE GRIPS ARE INTACT.
ONE 9 ROUND MAGAZINE
THE 4-1/2" BARREL BORE IS BRIGHT, SHINY WITH AT LEAST 95% RIFLINGS
SERIAL NUMBER 259065 PUTS HER AT 1939


HERE IS THE RESEARCH:
Overview
The ?Z vz. 38 (also known as the CZ-38 or vz. 38 pistol) is a semi-automatic handgun developed by the Czechoslovak arms manufacturer ?eská Zbrojovka (CZ) in the late 1930s. Designed as a simple, cost-effective sidearm for military use, it chambered the .380 ACP cartridge (9×17mm Browning Short) and featured a blowback-operated mechanism. Often described as rugged and easy to maintain, it earned the nickname “the Czech Ugly Duckling” due to its utilitarian, somewhat unattractive appearance compared to more refined pistols of the era. Despite its adoption by the Czechoslovak military, the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 prevented widespread delivery to Czech forces, and most production was redirected for German use.
History and Development
In the mid-1930s, the Czechoslovak Army sought a replacement for the complex and unreliable vz. 24 pistol, particularly for the Air Force and Cavalry units, which demanded a cheaper, simpler alternative. Engineer František Myška at ?eská Zbrojovka redesigned the vz. 24 into a blowback pistol, submitting prototypes for testing in January 1938. Despite some ergonomic complaints, it passed trials and was officially adopted on April 30, 1938, under the vz. 38 designation (Czechoslovak patent No. 65558).
An initial order for 41,000 pistols at 270 korunas each was placed in June 1938, but production was halted by the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Only a small pre-occupation batch of about 25 prototypes and test models was completed for the Czechs. The Germans seized the factory and existing stock, completing the order and producing additional units. They designated it the Pistole 39(t) or P.39(t), with the “(t)” suffix indicating “Tschechoslowakei” (Czechoslovakia). Production totaled around 44,000–45,000 pistols by 1940, including:
• 41,000 for the original Czech order (serial numbers 250,000–291,000), accepted by Germans without Waffenamt marks.
• 3,000 for the Luftwaffe (serial numbers 240,000–242,000).
• 1,000 for export, likely to Bulgaria (B-prefix serial numbers 291,000–292,000), featuring an added manual safety.
Some vz. 38s were also supplied to Finland (1,731 units, marked “SA” for Suomen Armeija) and possibly other allies. Production ceased around 1940, and the pistol saw limited but notable service in World War II.
Design and Features
The vz. 38 was engineered for simplicity and field reliability, prioritizing ease of use over finesse:
• Mechanism: Straight blowback operation with a fixed barrel (unusual for the type, as the barrel is hinged at the muzzle via a special bushing for takedown). To disassemble, pull back a slide on the left frame, tilt the barrel upward, and remove it—making field-stripping exceptionally quick.
• Action: Double-action only (DAO) with a self-cocking hammer. Pulling the trigger cocks and releases the hammer simultaneously, which simplified the design but resulted in a long, heavy pull (around 10–12 lbs), reducing accuracy, especially for one-handed shooting.
• Caliber and Capacity: .380 ACP (9×17mm), with a 9-round single-stack magazine.
• Sights: Fixed front blade and rear notch, basic and unadjustable.
• Grips: Checkered black plastic or bakelite, with a lanyard ring on the left side.
• Finishes: Blued steel frame and slide, with rampant lion proof marks on the barrel and slide.
Early prototypes explored a single/double-action variant, and some sources mention a 7.62×25mm Tokarev version for testing, but the standard remained DAO in .380 ACP.


Service and Use
Intended for the Czechoslovak Army, the vz. 38 never reached Czech troops in meaningful numbers due to the occupation. Instead, it served primarily with German police, security forces, and the Luftwaffe during WWII. Its DAO trigger and weight made it suitable for support roles rather than precise combat, but its durability was praised. Post-war, surplus examples appeared in civilian markets, and some were exported or captured by Allied forces. Variants for Bulgaria included a thumb safety lever on the left frame.
Legacy
The vz. 38 influenced later CZ designs, like the simplified vz. 45 (a .25 ACP pocket pistol based on Myška’s work). Today, it’s a collector’s item, valued for its historical ties to pre-WWII Czechoslovakia and Axis use. While not as iconic as the CZ-75, it exemplifies Czech engineering’s focus on practical, no-frills firearms.

UPC	ECOM00539950
Action	SEMI AUTOMATIC
Barrel Length	4.5" BARREL
Caliber	.380 ACP
Capacity	9 ROUNDS
Finish	BLUED