WW2 Era 1937-41 Czech ZB-37 Heavy Machine Gun With Tripod

This model comes with tripod which incorporates a lateral traversing bar and elevating adjuster.

The cover is stamped with coat of arms of Venezuela and reads 'FUERZAS ARMADAS MILITARES VENEZUELA'.

One side of the frame is stamped 'AMETRALLADORA ZB 37' & ZBROJOVKA BRNO CHECOSLOVAQUIA'.

The serial number '0050' is stamped to the frame and underneath the Venezuela coat of arms.

This machine gun comes with its deactivation certificate dated: 12/10/1990.

~ ZB 37 ~

The ZB 37 was manufactured between 1937 & 1941. The ZB-53 was a machine gun used by the Czechoslovak army designated TK vz. 37 and later used by German forces during World War II as the MG 37, often by the SS.

It was a gas-operated, belt-fed, air-cooled weapon that served both the infantry support and vehicle weapons roles. The British adopted a version of the ZB-53 as the Besa machine gun for their armoured forces.

The Chinese Nationalist Army also had 850 ZB-53s and used them to defense the castles along the Yellow River during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

~ Dimensions ~

The total length of the gun is 43.5 inches (110cm) with the barrel measuring 29 inches (74cm). The heigh of the gun (on the tripod) is 24 inches (61cm). The tripod width is 23.5 inches (60cm).

The total weight is approx. 21 kg.

~ Condition ~

The metal work is in an overall good condition, with only some minor surface wear. The tripod is in decent order with some paint chipping and scratches.

ref. GS320A998 / PQABGE