Sa 23 submachine gun series

File:CzechSA24 SMG.jpg

Czech Sa.25 - 9x19mm; the slide on the front handguard is a speedloader for magazines.

File:CZ Sa. 24 submachine gun.JPG

Czech Sa.24 - 7.62x25mm; note the forward slant of the magazine.

File:Samopal vzor 26.jpg

Czech Sa.26 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm

Kommando-LDP "Rhuzi" - 9x19mm

The SA.23 series began just after World War II, when Czech arms designer Vaclav Holek developed a submachine gun patterned after the various conventional blowback designs of the time (the MP40, Sten, etc.), but with some innovative updates. The resultant weapon was the first submachine gun in full production to have the magazine well in the pistol grip, and a wrap around bolt. The British MCEM 2 ("Machine Carbine Experimental Model") had been the first prototype with these features.

The original guns were chambered in 9mm Parabellum, making it popular for export to western or non-aligned nations, but the Soviet Union pressured Czechoslovakia to adopt an "approved" Warsaw Pact caliber, so the gun was modified to fire the 7.62x25mm Tokarev round. The 7.62x25mm versions are identifiable due to the obvious forward slant of the pistol grip and magazine to accommodate the different shape of the ammunition. The 9mm versions - as well as some of the surplus 7.62x25mm ones - were sold world wide. Most of the 9mm guns ended up in the hands of countries like Chile, Lebanon and South Africa, while the 7.62x25mm versions went to Soviet client states like Cuba, Cambodia, and Libya. The original Czech production ran from 1949 to 1968.

A semi-automatic version of the Sa.25 - the Sanna 77 - was produced in sanctions-embargoed Rhodesia in the 1970s, in line with other forays into local arms, such as the Rhogun, Cobra Carbine, and the Northwood R-76 SMG/R-77 machine carbine. They were mainly marketed as high-capacity "land defence pistols" for use by isolated white farmers against indigenous guerrilas. Some sources claim that the Sanna 77 was nicknamed the "Rhuzi," due to its cosmetic similarity to the Uzi, others claim the same for the Rhogun and the Cobra. Another semi-automatic version - the Kommando LDP - later appeared in South Africa.

Variants

SA.23

In 9mm Parabellum, full-auto, with fixed wooden stock.

SA.25

In 9mm Parabellum, full-auto, with a wire stock that folds along the left side of the gun, so the butt can be used as a fore-grip.

SA.24

In 7.62x25mm Tokarev, full-auto, with fixed wooden stock.

SA.26

In 7.62x25mm Tokarev, full-auto, with side-folding wire stock.

Sanna 77

A 9mm semi-automatic side-folding wire-stocked version, dating from 1977 to 1980. Some sources suggest that some or all Sanna-77s were actually refurbished surplus SA.25s, with "production" starting in Rhodesia, then moving to South Africa.

Kommando LDP

Another 9mm semi-automatic version, produced in South Africa. This differed from most previous variants in having a large grey plastic pistol-grip that extended almost to the muzzle, and a wire stock that folded underneath the weapon, rather than to the side, the butt being inverted so it could still be used as a fore-grip. Some sources claim that "LDP" refers to refers to the names of the manufacturer and designer - Lacoste Engineering and a Mr Pointer respectively - rather than "land defence pistol," as per previously, and that it was also known as the "Lacoste LDP." Although sold as semi-automatic, the Kommando-LDP has a reputation for inadvertent full-auto fire, and is reputedly easily convertible to that mode permanently.

Specifications

(1948 - 1968)

• Type: Submachine Gun

• Caliber: 9x19mm, 7.62x25mm Tokarev

• Weight: 7.2 lbs (3.3 kg)

• Length: 17.5 in (44.5 cm) stock folded, 27 in (68.6 cm) stock extended/fixed stock

• Barrel length: 11.2 in (28.4 cm)

• Capacity: 24 or 40 (9x19mm), 32 (7.62x25mm)

• Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto

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The Sa 23 submachine gun series and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
They Come Out of the Darkness (Pricházejí z tmy)	Josef Mixa	Chief Sergeant Jaroslav Martinec	Sa.25	1954
They Come Out of the Darkness (Pricházejí z tmy)	Petr Skála	Staff Sergeant Jindrich Votava	Sa.25	1954
They Come Out of the Darkness (Pricházejí z tmy)	Vilém Besser	Sergeant Hudecek	Sa.25	1954
Smugglers of Death	Leopold Novák	Kilián known as "King of Šumava"	mocked as Sten Mk I*	1959
Smugglers of Death	Miroslav Holub	Gamekeeper Paleček	mocked as Sten Mk I*	1959
The End of Agent W4C		Secret agents	Sa.26	1967
The Last Grenade	Alex Cord	Kip Thompson	Sa.23	1970
Mafia Junction		Cliff's henchmen	Sa.25	1973
The Wilby Conspiracy		South African BOSS agents	Sa.25	1975
Paper Tiger		Kulagong commandos	Sa.25	1975
Operation Thunderbolt	Klaus Kinski	Wilfried Boese	Sa.25	1977
The Wild Geese		Various Mercenaries	Sa.23 and Sa.25	1978
Game for Vultures		Sixpence		1979
The Gods Must Be Crazy		Sam Boga's terrorist gang	Kommando-LDP	1980
Never Say Never Again	Sean Connery	James Bond	Sa.25	1983
Solo Voyage		American soldier	Sa.25	1985
Wild Geese II		Palestinian gunman	Sa.25	1985
Secrets of Madame Wong (Tayny madam Vong)		Gangsters	Sa.26	1986
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation		US Marines and The Lion's guards	Kommando-LDP	1987
American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt		Guards	Kommando-LDP	1989
American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt		Andreas' henchman	Cobra LDP with barrel extention	1989
Afghan Breakdown		A mujaheddin	SA.23	1991
Chained Heat 2	Markéta Hrubešová	Carla	Sa.24	1993
Chained Heat 2		Guards & Prisoners	Sa.25	1993
The Gray Wolves (Serye volki)	Nartay Begalin	KGB operative	Sa.26	1993
The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin	Zoya Buryak	Nyura	Mocked as Degtyaryov DA-2 mounted on the aircraft	1994
Shirli-Myrli		Man in black	Sa.26	1995
Hidden Assassin	Dolph Lundgren	Michael Dane	Sa.25	1995
Hidden Assassin	Gavan O'Herlihy	Dick Powell	Sa.25	1995
All the Things We Dreamt of for So Long	Nikolay Dobrynin	Nikolay	Sa.25	1997
		Criminals
Spiders II: Breeding Ground		Ship's crew	SA.26	2001
Lion's Share (Lvinaya dolya)		Simonov's henchman	Sa.25	2001
Outside the Law		Black ops operative	Sa.25	2002
Antikiller		Criminals	Sa.25	2002
The Preacher			Sa.25, seen in trunk of Jutka's car	2004
Che Part One: Argentine	Luis Gonzaga Hernandez	Captain Lalo Sardiñas	Sa.25	2009
Whiteout		Russian guard	Sanna-77	2009
In the Shadow		Czechoslovak Border Guard		2012

Television

Show Title	Actor	Character	Note / Episode	Air Date
Bors			Sa.23 and Sa.25	1968
30 Cases of Major Zeman		Czechoslovak policemen	Sa. 24 / (S01E04), (S01E10)	1974-1979
The Professionals		German terrorists	Sa.25	1977-1981
Knights of God		Various	Kommando-LDP	1987
Doctor Who	Various	Neo-Nazis	Sa.25	1988
Young Indiana Jones Chronicles	Sean Patrick Flanery	Indiana Jones	Sa.25/26 SMG - "Attack of the Hawkmen"	1995
Bugs			"Happy Ever After?"	1995-1999
Strike Back - Season 4	Various	Terrorists	Sa. 26 / S04E05 - S04E10	2013
Tyrant	Abdallah El Akal	Fahmy	Sa. 25 / Episode 2	2014

Video Game

Game Title	Appears as	Note	Release Date
Ghost Recon			2001

Anime

Title	Character	Note	Date
Suisei no Gargantia	Pirate		2013

References

Hogg, Ian. Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Glasgow, Harper Collins, 2002. Pages 186 (Sa.25) and 219 (Sanna 77).
My Deactivated Guns - Sa.26
Security Arms - Kommando LDP
My Deactivated Guns - Kommando LDP