German WWII MG 37(t) / Czech ZB-53 Zinc 1:4 Scale Replica Model Machine Gun by Denix with Mount in Box – 1980s Production Original Items

Replica Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely 1:4 scale all zinc non-functional toy model German WWII MG 37(t) / Czech ZB-53 replica machine gun by Denix, complete with the original mount and even the original box! Made during the 1980s and widely exported, these make fantastic desk display pieces, and the high quality cast zinc construction really looks the business! As far as we can tell, these came in two different finishes, and this is the black finished variety. It is complete and in great shape, measuring about 15 1/2 inches from muzzle to the end of the shoulder stock. It attaches to the included mount using a nut on the bottom of the cradle assembly.

The original box measures approximately 16 1/2″ x  8 3/4″ X 5 1/4″, and is in very good shape, with the expected wear and deterioration from being about 40 years old. The original styrofoam insert is still present, with some chunks missing at the ends.

Ready to stick on your desk and display!

The ZB-53 was the commercial designation for the Czechoslovak vz.37 machine gun. A versatile weapon, it was used both as a squad support weapon, as a mounted machine gun for tanks and other armored vehicles, and on fixed positions inside Czechoslovak border fortifications. Adopted before the World War II by the armies of Czechoslovakia (as Těžký kulomet vz. 37, Heavy machine gun model 37) and Romania, it was also license-built in the United Kingdom as the Besa machine gun. Following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, large quantities of the weapon were captured by the Wehrmacht and used during the war under the designation of MG 37(t).

History
The ZB-53 was designed as a private venture by Václav Holek and Miroslav Rolčík of the Zbrojovka Brno works as a replacement for the Schwarzlose machine gun of World War I origin. Czechoslovakia purchased 500 for testing giving them the designation Vz.35 (“1935 Model”). Based on these tests some improvements were requested and the improved ZB-53 was adopted by the Czechoslovak Army with the designation TK vz. 37 (“Heavy Machine Gun Mark 1937”). It was introduced as the standard machine gun of Czechoslovak LT-35 and LT-38 tanks. Czechoslovakia exported the gun to Romania, Yugoslavia (1,000 pcs in March-April 1940), Argentina, Afghanistan, Iran and China (large numbers were used during the Second Sino-Japanese War), while UK bought a licence and started to produce its own version, known as the Besa machine gun (over 60,000 pieces made). During the German occupation of the factory, large numbers were produced for the Waffen-SS until 1942.

Czechoslovak Zbrojovka Brno and then Zbrojovka Vsetín produced the gun in large quantities until the 1950s.

The weapon was a gas-operated, belt-fed, air-cooled machine gun that served both the infantry support and vehicle weapons roles. The machine gun was delivered in three variants: infantry machine gun (on heavy tripod), heavy bunker machine gun (with heavier barrel, marked “O”) and for armoured vehicles (marked “ÚV”). It was designed to withstand five minutes of constant fire, after which time the barrel had to be changed due to wear. Although modern, the weapon was prone to jamming due to a complicated rate of fire selection mechanism.