This is a rare example of an early pre-war VZ.26 manufactured by the BRNO factory in Czechoslovakia. This series of weapons was originally designed by Vaclav Holek in 1924 and was later assigned the model VZ26, for the year of adoption. They were an extremely well designed weapon that proved to be very reliable, so much so it was eventually copied in the .303 caliber by the British and was commonly called the BREN Gun. This weapon had a very long and successful career being eventually produced in over 20 countries around the world to include China. It uses a gas operated, piston/operating rod system firing from an open bolt. It had several very distinguishing features; it had a quick change barrel, the barrel has circular cooling rings on the outside, it uses a detachable box magazine that mounted directly on top of the receiver, and it has off-set sights which are mounted on the left side of the gun, so that you can see around the magazine. The side of the receiver is marked: "CESKOSLOVENSKA ZBROJOVKA A.S./BRNO" with the right side marked: "KULOMET VZ.26". The top of the receiver has the large standing Czech lion followed by the serial number "7786 M". It is equipped with one of the rare early double capacity magazine that holds 40 rounds, which was manufactured by attaching two 20 round magazine together. This weapon has been demilitarized by welding the chamber area of the barrel, and then the barrel was arc-welded to the front edge of the receiver on each side. It is equipped with the folding bipod, flash hider and carrying handle on the barrel.

Very fine as deactivated with 40% of the blue finish overall, mostly on the receiver and barrel, with the balance showing a brown patina mixed with some areas of fine erosion or light pitting. As you can see, the walnut buttstock is broken and is missing the lower half. NOTE: This is a registered DEWAT weapon with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), as a National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon, that is fully transferable. It has been classified as a Curio or Relic as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.