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Sa 23 submachine gun series
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
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 | Miloslav 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Chained Heat 2 | Markéta Hrubešová | Carla | Sa.24 | 1993 |
| Chained Heat 2 | Guards & Prisoners | Sa.25 | 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 |
| Spiders II: Breeding Ground | Ship's crew | SA.26 | 2001 | |
| Lion's Share (Lvinaya dolya) | Simonov's henchman | Sa.25 | 2001 | |
| The Preacher | Sa.25, seen in trunk of Jutka's car | 2004 | ||
| 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 | Pirat | 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