Czech ZB26 light machine gun.
By Robert G. Segel
People in the general populace don’t think of Czechoslovakia as an international arms maker of high quality products with a long history of innovation. But those familiar with the world of firearms know that Czechoslovakia has a well-earned reputation of not only producing quality weapons, but researching, developing and pioneering new systems. One such system was the ZB26. This weapon proved to be of such a step forward for a man-portable, full automatic weapon, that the British, upon testing, were so impressed that they licensed the manufacture of the weapon that was then known as the Bren gun; a weapon that served the British and their Commonwealth nations for decades.
The Czech ZB26 gunner’s kit is made of canvas with leather straps that folds in on itself for carrying measuring approximately 11 inches long x 7 inches wide x 1.5 inches thick. Once fully unfolded, leather pockets hold all of the various tools needed to maintain the weapon in proper working order. On one end is a pocket that contains spare parts for the weapon that may wear or break and are easily replaceable by the gunner.
First opening and unfolding of canvas kit. Sides are held in place by two leather straps. 
Further opening of kit shows inner compartment that holds the tools and spare parts. 
Final unfolding of kit showing partitions and slots for the contents of the gunner’s kit. Note that there is a further canvas pocket on the far left with a flap secured by a simple leather strap that contains small spare parts.
1. Canvas and leather gunner’s kit 2. Chamber brush 3. Bore brush 4. Punch 2mm 5. Brass drift 6. Steel pin/drift 7. Brass slotted cleaning rod tip 8. Brass jag-type cleaning rod tip 9. Cleaning rod handle section 10. Cleaning rod extensions (two) 11. Oil can 12. Solvent can 13. Combination tool (complete) with universal wrench, flash hider wrench, small screwdriver, large screwdriver, screwdriver for barrel handle nut, screwdriver for shoulder piece nut, and copper hammer head. 14. Ruptured case extractor 15. Scraper/reamer (complete) with body, blade and handle 16. Blank firing attachment (cylinder type) 17. Pocket attached to main body of canvas carrier that contains small spare parts. Items 18 through 26 are carried in this pocket 18. Firing pin 19. Firing pin spring 20. Ejector 21. Extractor stay 22. Extractor stay spring 23. Extractor 24. Piston post spring 25. Trigger spring 26. Sear spring”
| This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V20N2 (March 2016) |
