For this month’s BackUp Gun Match, I decided to bring out the CZ38 – one of the top contenders for ugliest service pistol ever adopted. It’s a single-stack, double-action-only .380 with a weirdly bulky grip, so it’s not winning any ergonomic awards either…
Prototype
RIA: CZ Model S Prototype (1929)
This CZ Model S rifle is one of many prototypes made between the world wars in Czechoslovakia in an effort to develop a military semiautomatic rifle. Similar efforts were underway in most other countries at […]
Movie review
Movie Review: Anthropoid
The 2016 movie Anthropoid has gotten some negative reviews for failing to be properly cinematic and was a pretty unspectacular performer in box office receipts since its release in August – but I found it to […]
Semiauto pistol
CZ Makes a 45 for the Americans: the CZ-97B
This pistol is up for auction at RIA on June 23. Introduced in 1997, the CZ-97B is a .45ACP caliber addition to CZ’s line of globally popular handguns. However, the 97 has some substantial mechanical […]
“(…)top contenders for ugliest service pistol ever adopted(…)”
Now I am wondering what would be matching long fire-arm for usage in 2gunmatch?
Ugly long arm for usage? How about the Kg M/40?
pretty is as pretty does.
The CZ38 was double-action only, blowback, had an oversized trigger guard so you could use it while wearing heavy winter gloves, and fired what was at the time about the most powerful cartridge you could safely put in a blowback (as 9mm Ultra and 9 x 18 Makarov hadn’t come along yet).
Seen in that light, every “odd” thing about it makes perfect sense.
cheers
eon
“(…)9mm Ultra and 9 x 18 Makarov hadn’t come along yet(…)”
True, but 9×20 already was available in 1938, as it was consumed by Husqvarna m/07.
Also mentioned weapon spawned Prototyp čs. pistole vz. 38 v ráži 9 mm Parabellum
https://www.vhu.cz/exhibit/prototyp-cs-pistole-vz-38-v-razi-9-mm-parabellum/
which suggest that there was some desire to increase muzzle energy, but it was found that Patrone 08 and blow-back operation is poor pairing.