Sa vz. 23

Infobox Weapon
name= CZ Model 25


caption=
origin=flagcountry|Czechoslovakia, later flagcountry|Czech Republic
type= Submachine gun
is_ranged=yes
service=
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weight= 3.27 kg empty (folding stock models Sa.25, Sa.26); 3.5 kg empty (fixed wood stock models Sa.23, Sa.24)
length= 445 mm folding stock model folded (Sa.25, Sa.26); 686 mm fixed stock and unfolded folding stock
part_length= 284 mm
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge= 7.62 x 25 mm 9 x 19 mm
caliber=
action=
rate= 650 rpm
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feed= 24 or 40 round (9 mm Sa.23, Sa.25); 32 round (7.62 mm Sa.24, Sa.26)
sights=

The CZ Model 25 (properly, Sa.25 or Sa-48b or samopal vz.48b (samopal vzor 48 výsadkový ... submachine gun model year 1948 para)) was perhaps the best known of a series of Czechoslovak designed submachine guns introduced in 1948. There were four generally very similar submachine guns in this series: the Sa.23, Sa.24, Sa.25, and Sa.26. The primary designer was Vaclav Holek (Hogg 1979:157).

The Sa.23 series utilize a straightforwards blowback action, with no locked breech, and fire from the open bolt position. They also use a progressive trigger for selecting between semi-automatic fire and fully automatic fire. Lightly pulling on the trigger will fire a single shot. Pulling the trigger further to the rear in a continuous motion will fire fully automatically, until the trigger is released or the magazine is empty.

The Sa.23 series were the first production-model submachine guns with a telescoping bolt, in which the forwards part of the moving bolt extends forwards past the back end of the barrel, wrapping around that barrel. This feature reduces the required length of the submachine gun significantly and allows for better balance and handling. Handling was further improved by using a single vertical handgrip housing the ammunition magazine and trigger mechanism, roughly centered along the gun's length. The gun's receiver was machined from a single circular steel tube.

The design of the Sa.23 series submachine guns is most notable in the west for having heavily inspired the slightly later Uzi submachine gun (Hogg 1979:157).

Variations

*The Sa.23 (vz.48a) was the first variant, using a fixed wood stock and firing standard 9 mm Luger Parabellum (aka 9 mm or 9x19) ammunition. Has a straight vertical pistol grip and ammunition magazine. Magazines were issued with 24 and 40 round capacity.
*The Sa.25 (vz.48b) was the second and perhaps best known variant, using a folding metal stock, still firing 9x19 ammunition. Other than the folding stock, is identical to the Sa 23 and uses the same 24 and 40 round magazines.The Sa.24 and Sa.26 were introduced after Czechoslovakia joined the Warsaw Pact, and were redesigned to fire 7.62x25 mm standard Soviet type pistol ammunition.
*The Sa.24 (vz.48a/52) corresponds to the Sa.23, using a fixed wood stock and firing 7.62x25 ammunition. Can be visually distinguished from Sa.23 as it has a slightly forwards-slanted pistol grip and ammunition magazine, though the main receiver and other components are otherwise visibly identical. It was issued with 32-round magazines.
*The Sa.26 (vz.48b/52) corresponds to the Sa.25, with a folding metal stock but otherwise identical to the Sa.24, using the same 32-round magazines.

Recent history

After the Sa.25 was declared obsolete in 1968, many of the 9 mm weapons were sold around the world. The surplus weapons were exported to other communist countries including North Vietnam. A somewhat-modified copy of the 9x19 model was produced in Rhodesia in the early 1970s as the LDP. Manufacture was later transferred to South Africa where it was briefly marketed as the Sanna 77 in semi-automatic fire only, for sale and use by white farmers as protection during the country's difficulties.

Users

*flag|Cambodia
*flag|Cuba
*flag|Czech Republic
*flag|Czechoslovakia
*flag|Guinea
*flag|Mozambique
*flag|Nicaragua
*flag|Nigeria
*flag|Rhodesia
*flag|Romania
*flag|Slovakia
*flag|Somalia
*flag|South Africa
*flag|Syria
*flag|Tanzania
*flag|Vietnam

References

cite book
last = Hogg
first = Ian V.
authorlink = Ian V. Hogg
title = Guns and How They Work
publisher = Everest House
date = 1979
location = New York
pages = p. 157
id = ISBN 0-89696-023-4

External links

* [http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg46-e.htm Sa.23/24/25/26 at guns.ru reference website]