SERVICE – Czechoslovakian military (1951-), supplied to Nigeria, Cuba, Syria as well as sold to South Africa
In the early 1950s, the Soviet Union directed Czechoslovakia to join with the Warsaw Pact to standardize their small arms and ammunition. The Vz series had to be converted over to the 7.62x25mm pistol round rather than the original 9x19mm chambering. The coversion was a fairly minimal redesign, primarily affecting the barrel, bolt, and magazine. The largest visible change is the shortened 32-round magazine and the tilted pistol grip. In order to better feed the tapered 7.62x25mm round, the pistol grip was changed from a 90 degree angle to the receiver to an 82 degree pitch. This tilt of the pistol grip is the only major visible sign from the outside of the weapon as to what model it is. All other aspects of the Vz-24 and Vz 26 weapon are the same as those of the 9mm versions. The 7.62x25mm submachine gun served with the Czech military from the early 1950s well into the 1960s and many specimens were seen in the hands of Soviet client states and revolutionary forces throughout the world.
