Czech Flare Pistol

[ron3350]

I would like to know the model of this Czech flare pistol.
I have not seen this cannon-muzzle style before. Any info is welcome.

Czech a.jpeg

[ron3350]

Czech b.jpeg

[ron3350]

Czech c.jpeg

[ron3350]

I just found out that this pistol is made by Brno and is a model Vz 44.
Made from 1952 and is a copy of the Soviet M44 with a few changes.

[signalman]

The barrel was made normally with and without the crown at the muzzle end.

[964AWACS]

That is the second variant (with the reinforcing ring at the muzzle) of the Vz 44. The first variant is very similar but lacks the muzzle ring. It was followed by the Vz 44/67 and the 44/81 with major differences in barrel profile, metal finish and wrap-around bakelite grips. According to James Brown in his book "Cold War Pistols of Czechoslovakia" (which dedicates a chapter to these Czech flare guns) the Czechs produced a total of 32,700 of both variants of the Vz 44, with the muzzle ring being added somewhere between serial numbers 11,000 and 15,000. Years of production for the Vz 44 were 1952 through 1958.

[ron3350]

I thank you both for the extra information on my Czech pistol.

[billybibbet]

That is the second variant (with the reinforcing ring at the muzzle) of the Vz 44. The first variant is very similar but lacks the muzzle ring. It was followed by the Vz 44/67 and the 44/81 with major differences in barrel profile, metal finish and wrap-around bakelite grips. According to James Brown in his book "Cold War Pistols of Czechoslovakia" (which dedicates a chapter to these Czech flare guns) the Czechs produced a total of 32,700 of both variants of the Vz 44, with the muzzle ring being added somewhere between serial numbers 11,000 and 15,000. Years of production for the Vz 44 were 1952 through 1958.

Excellent information, thank you for sharing. I have a total of five different variants with all the different combinations of features, finishes and grips...they seem to all be separated chronologically in the proper serial number ranges to make sense of their order.

[964AWACS]

Thanks billybibbet! I am still looking for a 44/67 with wooden grips. Brown does not mention it - I believe it may be a transition model made in small numbers. You are lucky to have it!

[vlad448]

A small illustration to the above discussion.

SAM_5959.JPG