Here is a VZ-24 JS lightweight ( thinner tapered barrel) that was ordered by the Brazilian Constitutional rebels in San Paulo back in the late 20s or early 30s. The revolution was crushed before they arrived and the Brazilian Government seized the rifles and re-serial numbered them.
Z 24 (VZ stands for Model) on the left side rail. Contract rifles were also marked on the left rail in this manner with the appropriate crest of the country purchasing on the receiver. Romania had their crest on some, while China had some with a P prefix on the serial number and were dated 1937. These dated rifles were also issued to the Czech Army as some bare the Army acceptance mark which is an E (small Czech lion) and date. There were some other markings on the VZ24s as well, FABRICA CHECOSLOVACA DE ARMAS SA BRNO( on South American arms), ZBROJOVKA BRNO A.S. VZ24. The production on the VZ 24 started in late 1924 or early 25 and lasted until 1942 producing hundreds of thousands of rifles. VZ 24's were made for Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Estonia, Guatemala, Iran (Sun Lion crested), Lativa, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, Siam/Thailnd, Turkey, Uraguay( Known as the M37),Venezuela and Yugoslavia.
