Vz. 33 Carbine

About the Vz. 33 Carbine

The Vz. 33 is a Czechoslovak bolt-action carbine derived from the Mauser-pattern vz. 24 service rifle and chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser. Manufactured by Zbrojovka Brno from 1934, it was developed as a short, handy weapon for the Czechoslovak gendarmerie and border guards, featuring a 490 mm barrel, a five-round integral box magazine loaded by stripper clip, and a turned-down bolt handle. Following the German occupation, its design was adopted by the Wehrmacht as the Gewehr 33/40 mountain carbine.

The compact vz. 33 directly inspired the Wehrmacht's prized Gewehr 33/40 mountain carbine, which is among the more sought-after collectible German Mausers because of its short, light handling and Czech craftsmanship.

Vz. 33 Carbine specifications

Czechoslovak production totalled roughly 25,300 carbines. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia, German forces had the design produced as the G33/40, of which over 131,000 were built between 1941 and 1942 for Gebirgsjäger mountain troops.