- ZK-383
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ZK-383 Type Submachine gun Place of origin 
CzechoslovakiaService history In service 1938-1970 Used by See Users Wars World War II Production history Designer Koucky 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 Cartridge 9 x 19mm Parabellum Action gas operated blowback Muzzle velocity 1500 f/s Effective range max effective range is 250m Feed system 30 round detachable box magazine The ZK-338 is a submachine gun and was developed by Koucký brothers who worked at the Zbrojovka Brno arms factory in Czechoslovakia. It was produced at a slow rate from 1938 and was exported as far as Latin American to Bolivia and Venezuela.[1]
Contents
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 handed to the Waffen-SS. It continued to be produced in small numbers to European countries; 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]
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 rifle bullet. 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 which packed a serious punch despite its small round. A long range version was made which contained rifle type sights and an integral folding bipod.[1]
Features
The ZK-383 was fitted with a quickly detachable barrel. This is very unlike many submachine guns. The lock/release mechanism was located beneath the front sight. It fires from an open bolt and by removing/adjusting 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 Canadian and British Sten. The manual safety was in front of the trigger. The ZK-383 had 3 firing modes, single, full auto and safety.[1] The stock was made from wood and had a folding bipod in some variants. The guns featured a front peep sight and a rear tangent iron sight and were adjustable by the shooter to a maximum range of 600 metres.
Variants
- ZK-383; Standard production variant
- ZK-383P; This was the Police version which had no folding bipod
- ZK-383H; The post-war production model which also had no bipod and instead of a left side magazine, had a forward-facing underslung magazine. It still held 30 rounds
Users
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Modern Firearms - ZK383". world.guns.ru. http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg108-e.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
Further reading
- Light Machine Gun
- Browning Automatic Rifle
- PPSh-41
External links
Weapons and military equipment designed in Czechoslovakia 1919-1945Firearms PistolsZK-383Artillery 8 cm minomet vz. 36Tank and Anti-tank gunsField artillery and Mountain gunsHeavy artillery15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 25 · Skoda K-series · Skoda Model 1928 Gun · 21 cm Kanone 39 · 210 mm gun M1939 (Br-17) · 24 cm Haubitze 39 · 305 mm howitzer M1939 (Br-18)7.5 cm kanon PL vz. 37 · 8 cm PL kanon vz. 37 · 8.35 cm PL kanon vz. 22 · 9 cm kanon PL vz. 12/20Armored
Fighting
VehiclesTank destroyers and Assault gunsArmored cars and TankettesCategories:- Weapons of Czechoslovakia
- World War II infantry weapons
- World War II submachine guns
- 9mm Parabellum firearms
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