Full Metal Jacket

The VC used ANYTHING they could get, a lot of it of US and other non-Soviet manufacture. They used everything from M1 Garands to WWII German StG44 assault rifles.

The same applies for lots of movies from Hollywood. Either THEY don't know the difference or they figure WE don't.

Good eye, though. Pay close attention and you'll see it more often than you might think.

It's probably what Bob Hills had in his stock at the time he supplied them with the arms for FMJ

One distinction about the arms available must consider two forces in S. Vietnam

(1) VC or Viet Cong who were the guerilla forces, and would use any weapon left over from the French Colonial era and WWII and so forth. Being poor, They weren't generally in a position to go into the world market and purchase arms in the manner like say, an American would do today (or then) unless it was by way of some ordinary barter system or trade.

(2) The NVA, or North Vietnamese Army would likely use only Chinese supplied and Chinese manufactured weapons.

That's my best guess. Is it accurate?

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(2) The NVA, or North Vietnamese Army would likely use only Chinese supplied and Chinese manufactured weapons.

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I'm not sure you have the proportions right. In the '60s, it was all the Chinese could do to equip the PLA. In fact, the Chinese were known to pilfer Soviet weapons shipments passing through China to Vietnam. The NVA got a lot of Chinese gear, but they also got a whole lot of Soviet gear as well.

Maybe old news to most of you - is that at all historically accurate?

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I don't think that movie had any intention, and didn't appear to try, to be historically accurate. There are tons of minor accuracy issues with it. Kubrick probably didn't even try for accuracy, he was more of the "make a statement" type of film guy.

Good catch though, I never noticed that particular mess-up before.

I dunno, I always looked at it as the sort of obscure thing a gun afiocionado would stick in there on purpose, knowing that only a small fraction of people would recognize it for what it is.

I'm not sure you have the proportions right. In the '60s, it was all the Chinese could do to equip the PLA. In fact, the Chinese were known to pilfer Soviet weapons shipments passing through China to Vietnam. The NVA got a lot of Chinese gear, but they also got a whole lot of Soviet gear as well.--Deanimator

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Thank you Deanimator. I knew there was a pretty good chance I would have a boo-boo in there.

I don't think it's a mistake. Like most east bloc-weapons, the Vz.58s were exported around the world including North Vietnam.

It's too bad Vietnam war movies don't throw in more VZs, MATs and DPs. I mean Norinco AKs get old after a while.

There were indeed Czech weapons in Vietnam. The ComBloc countries had their own form of "foreign aid" and provided weapons, etc, to Third World countries.

As noted, the VC used just about anything they could get their hands on. Apparently a lot of weapons captured from the Axis during WWII were later given to aid recipients of the Soviets, including the VC.

Yeah, every SovBloc cou try contributed firearms to the 'effort' in South East Asia (more than just Vietnam).

Aside from this, the Tet Offensive scene in Full Metal jacket was filmed in England. It may simply be that Czech weaponry were easier to source than ChiCom in Europe.

It's too bad Vietnam war movies don't throw in more VZs, MATs and DPs. I mean Norinco AKs get old after a while.

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Or SKSs. You never see them in any movies, really.