The CZ-ZH-29A Czech rifle invented by Emmanuel Holek, the ZH-29 was an early semi-automatic rifle de
The CZ-ZH-29A Czech rifle invented by Emmanuel Holek, the ZH-29 was an early semi-automatic rifle developed in 1920’s. It used a gas operated design, and unlike most semi-auto rifles made before and during WWII had side swinging bolt, which ejected empty cartridges out of the right hand side of the rifle. Most semi-auto rifles has a bolt that worked straight back, ejecting cartridges vertically. As a result the ZH-29 did not use top fed clips, such as the M1 Garand, but used detachable magazines that came in 5, 10, or 25 round capacities. The receiver also locks the bolt after the last round is fired, alerting the user of a needed reload. Once a new magazine was inserted, the user simply pulled the trigger to release the bolt. The next trigger pull would fire the weapon.The original Czech model was chambered for 8mm Mauser, but .276 and .30-06 prototypes were made for testing by the US military in 1929. Despite its quality, US Ordnance planners rejected the rifle because it was too complicated, expensive, and difficult to mass produce. They adopted the M1 Garand instead.The ZH-29 saw limited use with the Czechoslovakian military, with the Czech Mauser being the workhorse rifle of the army. Unfortunately the complicated and expensive rifle couldn’t be manufactured in enough numbers to equip an army. Some were also sold in limited numbers to China, Thailand, and Ethiopia. Production ended when Germany peacefully annexed Czechoslovakia in 1938. -- source link
#guns#firearms#rifles#rare#antiques#czech