Persian Vz.24...

[Len]

I managed to acquire this rifle recently. It's a Vz.24 made at Brno for Persia in the 1930's. I believe it's the scarcest of the three Brno Persian variants. Condition is pretty good considering it spent years rattling around the Middle East where taking care of guns doesn't seem to be a priority. The bore is in excellent shape. Here are some pics.

Len

[Calfed]

I'm not sure whether the VZ24 is the scarcest of the Persian Mausers, but I've seen multiple examples of the 98/29, M1930 and M1949 and this is the first VZ24 Persian that I've seen.

Great score.

[4F4Nam]

Nice find! Congrats!

Ed

[dave]

I'm not sure whether the VZ24 is the scarcest of the Persian Mausers, but I've seen multiple examples of the 98/29, M1930 and M1949 and this is the first VZ24 Persian that I've seen.

Great score.

There are two versions of the VZ-24 Persian. The early model has all Czech markings, sights in western numbers, etc. The only sign of Persian ownership is a small crown above the top reciever markings (same crown as appears on top of Persian crest, except smaller). Total made, of both full crest and crown only was 30,000. As most people are not even aware of the crown only model I would guess it is the rarest.

[mike webb]

Nice rifle, the quality on these Czech rifles was very high. I like the Farsi script on the action as well. You're right, most rifles that come out of that part of the world are in pretty rough shape. Good catch.

[dave]

An interesting aside to all this, Hunters Lodge had ads for these rifles from at least April of 61 thru Sept. of 62.(A.R.). Many of the later ads advertised a choice of Brno markings or "the rare Persin sun-lion crest". Took awhile to sell 30,000 rifles IF they had them all, which is unlikely. About 35 bucks.
I have found that rifles from the middle east (except Isreal) to be in pretty good condition. Allot of blue wear but little if any rust. Most of them came into the US years ago and the care since has left much to be desired! The one pictured is very nice, except for some pitting on the rear sight. And I would bet that happened in the last 50 years. To those people a rifle was a prize possesion!

[Darreld Walton]

I have one, as well, but it had gone down the road to being a sporter long ago. Done on the west coast by a commercial outfit, with a two groove 03A3 barrel installed, and rechambered to .30-06, it is model marked as an "S98". It came to me sitting in a Browning Safari grade stock, with unmodified bolt handle, not drilled or tapped, and only a front sight band pushed on. The crest has been ground and polished to the point that it almost can't be seen, but the Farsi script still is on the left side of the receiver rail, and on the forward receiver ring, with a new serial number. It now has the rear dovetail on the barrel filled with a useable open sight, and it shoots fairly well, with the limitations of the sighting system. I've been wanting a 7X57, and I think this is about the perfect candidate for that project.