This is an another scarce pre-war semi-automatic prototype rifle as produced at the Czech Armory. This model is very unique and considerably different than the later CZ37 and 38 models. The top of the receiver is marked "AUTOMATICKA PUSKA /Z 36," and the side of the receiver is marked "CESKOSLOVENSKA' ZBROJOVKA,/ AKCIOVA' SPOLECNOST/BRNO." The rifle uses a gas operated system with a gas cylinder mounted on the front end of the barrel with a long, flat operating/driving rod mounted on the right side of the barrel/receiver that extends from the gas cylinder to the front end of the bolt carrier. When the rifle is fired, gas is bled off from the barrel and pushes this driving rod rearward. It is attached to the front of the bolt carrier and starts the cycling action. There is a small recoil spring mounted inside the action on the lower right side behind the bolt carrier which, after firing, drives the bolt and bolt carrier forward. It is feed from a detachable 20 round box magazine and comes with one original magazine. The rifle is fitted with a slightly offset blade front sight with a set of protective ears that sits on top of the gas cylinder and a standard military style tangent rear sight mounted on top of the receiver. The rear sight is graduated 1-14 (100-1400 meters), and it is missing the small flat leaf spring under the rear sight. It has a short buttstock with a set of short walnut handguards with an aluminum cooling block mounted on the barrel between the handguards and the gas cylinder. It is fitted with the typical Czech dual mounted sling swivels, i.e. one set on the underside of the rifle and the other on the left side so that the rifle can be slung from the side or the bottom like a VZ-24 rifle.

Very fine with 90% of the blue finish overall with a slight purplish tint to the receiver with edge and high spot wear. The left side of the receiver has numerous scattered spots of corrosion/fine pin-prick pitting along the upper edges and rear of the receiver. The buttstock and handguard set are both in very good condition showing numerous handling marks, scratches and pressure dents on the sides, and some very heavy pressure dents on the top and right side of the handguard. The rear tangent sight is missing the tension spring. Mechanically excellent. An interesting early Czechoslovakian Model Z 36 semi-automatic rifle.