Many books refer to this bayonet as VZ–23 "Long." However, the Czechoslovak designation for this bayonet was VZ–23. As this was the only Czechoslovak bayonet officially designated VZ–23, the "Long" suffix is superfluous.

Much of the history regarding the, production, use, and export of VZ–23 bayonets was clarified by research published in 2016 by Jan Šmíd in his book, Pušky a Bodáky Vz. 24 (Rifles and Bayonets Vz. 24).

Approximately 100,000 VZ–23 bayonets were made for use by the Czechoslovak Army, before production of the VZ–24 bayonet began. The Army continued to issue the VZ–23 bayonets on hand until they were phased out in the mid-1930s.

The receipt of export contracts for Mauser rifles from Persia (Iran), Lithuania, and Ecuador provided an opportunity for the Czechoslovak Army to standardize on the VZ–24 bayonet by passing on the VZ–23 bayonets still in service to export customers. 55,000 VZ–23 bayonets were disposed of in this way from 1935–37, with the Czechoslovak Army receiving a new VZ–24 bayonet for each serviceable VZ–23 bayonet turned in to Zbrojovka, Brno.

Once the supply of serviceable VZ–23 bayonets were exhausted, Zbrojovka Brno produced new-made VZ–23 bayonets to fulfill remaining export orders. Original Czechoslovak Army VZ–23 bayonets exported had an edge-up blade profile and scabbard with the same frog stud as VZ–22 bayonet. New-made Model 98/29 bayonets exported to Persia had blades with a conventional edge-down profile and scabbard with a wire frog loop.

Click on the photo at left to see a new-made Mdel 98/29 bayonet exported to Persia (Iran).

These were used by the Czechoslovak Army and also exported extensively both prior to and following the Second World War. Modified VZ–24 bayonets were used extensively by Germany during the Second World War.

VZ–24 bayonets were made by Československá zbrojovka a.s., Brno. This example is typical of pre-War production.

The VZ–24 rifle and bayonet resulted from input by Czechoslovak cavalry forces, who found that the VZ–23 rifle and bayonet were not well suited for cavalry use. They requested rifle modifications and that the 400 mm. blade of the VZ–23 bayonet be shortened by 100 mm., resulting in the VZ–24 bayonet with its 300 mm. blade becoming the standard bayonet for Czechoslovak forces.

Czechoslovak Army bayonets had the inverted blade profile, while export bayonets can be found with both inverted and conventional blade profiles.

These were the first bayonets produced under German occupation. In 1940, Germany ordered 150,000 VZ–24 rifles and bayonets be produced for Romania, who had joined the Axis Powers in November 1939. They are true VZ–24 bayonets, lacking any German modifications. They were blued, where prior VZ–24 bayonets were in the white.

They bear the German Number Code 945, which was assigned to the former Zbrojovka, Brno Plant, under the Zahlencode System (Number Code System) used by Germany from 1925–1940 to hide the identities of firms manufacturing war materiel. The codes only went up to 999, after which the Zahlencode System was replaced by a Letter Code (Buchstabencode). The Letter Code subsequently assigned to Zbrojovka, Brno, was "dot."

The tang bears the CM mark, representing Comisia Militara (the Romanian arms acceptance commission).

Remaining wartime production was modified to German specifications and designated S 24(t) [Seitengewehr 24 Tschechoslowakei] by Germany. 

Tang (lower): "cm"

Pommel" PR 1701"

Click on the photo at left to see an example of the Romanian-made VZ–24 bayonet and read about their manufacture.

Czechoslovakia produced the Kar 98k rifle and VZ–24 bayonet from 1946–1950 for both domestic use and for export contracts.

This example was produced in 1946, after the German occupation ended and before the communist take-over of Czechoslovakia in February 1948.

The blade and crosspiece have a phosphate finish. The hilt and pommel are in the white. The scabbard is blued.

The CZ commercial trademark is the letter "Z" inside a rifled bore. It was registered in 1928 and remains in use today.

Communist Period VZ–24 bayonets are typically marked "tgf", as the Communist Government adopted a Letter Code system similar to that used by Germany from 1940–45. "tgf" was the Czechoslovak Letter Code for Zbrojovka, Brno.

The scabbard dates from the Post-War pre-Commmunist period.

Pommel (end): "tgf"

Tang: "E3 (Lion) 48"

Scabbard (frog stud): CZ Trademark "E3 (Lion) 46"

The bayonet folds to the right side and stows in a depression in the rifle's forestock.

This example was made in 1956 by Česká Zbrojovka a. s. of Uherský Brod, Czechoslovakia.

The vz. 58 outwardly resembles the AK47 in some respects, but is a unique design internally. Czechoslovakia was the only Warsaw Pact nation that did not use the AK47 or AKM. The vz. 58 was designed at Brno by engineer Jiří Čermák. Production at Česká Zbrojovka a. s. of Uherský Brod ran from 1958–1984. Čermák worked at Brno as a weapons designer from 1954 until his retirement in 1986. Čermák passed away in 2012. The Army of the Czech Republic has begun replacing the vz. 58 with the CZ 805 BREN, however, it still remains in service today.

There is a surprising amount of variation in the construction of these bayonets.

VZ–58 Bayonets Page

Made by Česká Zbrojovka a. s. of Uherský Brod in the Czech Republic.

The tactical block (Průbojný Adaptér) serves to protect the muzzle and slide, enabling the user to break glass or other light materials while keeping the pistol pointed in the direction of a potential adversary. The block also prevents muzzle contact from moving the slide out of battery, which would prevent the pistol from firing. A steel bayonet blade may be attached, if desired.

The tactical block is very well made. The hilt is of aluminum alloy. The crosspiece and blade are steel.