ZH-29
Semi-automatic rifle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The ZH-29 was a semi-automatic rifle developed in Czechoslovakia during the late 1920s, and used by the Chinese National Revolutionary Army.[1]
| ZH-29 | |
|---|---|
 ZH-29 semi-automatic rifle | |
| Type | Semi-automatic rifle |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Second Sino-Japanese War World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Emanuel Holek |
| Designed | 1929 |
| Manufacturer | Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka |
| Variants | ZH-32
Z-37 Type Otsu |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) |
| Length | 1,150 mm (45 in) |
| Barrel length | 545 mm (21.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
| Action | Gas-operated, tilting bolt |
| Muzzle velocity | 808 m/s (2,650 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 350 m (380 yd) |
| Feed system | 5, 10, or 20-round box magazine |
| Sights | iron sights |
Overview
The ZH-29 is a gas-operated semi-automatic service rifle with a tilting-bolt locking system similar to that which would be later used in the Sturmgewehr 44; although while the bolt of the German gun tilts vertically, that of the ZH-29 does so to the left side. Externally the most distinctive feature is that the barrel is offset at a slight angle to the receiver to compensate for this.[2] Also unusually, the rifle uses an aluminium barrel jacket.
An upgraded variant was designated as the ZH-32.[3]
In China, Zhang Zuolin's army received 150 ZH-29 and 100 ZH-32 rifles, and the provincial troops of Guangdong also received 33 ZH-32. A derivative prototype was made before 1932 at the Mukden (Shenyang) Arsenal. It is unlikely that these rifles saw action during the Sino-Japanese War.[3]
A version of the ZH-29 rifle was chambered in .276 Pedersen cartridge and was submitted to US Army trials but was unsuccessful.[4]
During the last stages of the development of the AK-47 assault rifle, the testing grounds committee advised Mikhail Kalashnikov to redesign the trigger group of the AK-46 rifle prototype along the lines of the ZH-29 rifle, which he did. The testing grounds committee also advised every competitor on how to generally improve their firearm designs.[5]
