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Praga I-23: Prototype Belt-Fed Predecessor of the ZB26

Praga I-23: Prototype Belt-Fed Predecessor of the ZB26

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Published on February 3, 2025
Duration: 15:15

This video explores the Praga I-23, a prototype belt-fed machine gun designed by Vaclav Holek in 1923. Serving as a predecessor to the ZB-26, it was based on the Vickers/Maxim system but evolved towards a lighter, more portable design. Chambered in 8mm Mauser, the I-23 featured a simplified tilting bolt and a long stroke gas piston. While 40 were ordered by the Czechoslovak military, only 20 were delivered and tested, ultimately leading Holek to revise the design into a box-magazine fed weapon that paved the way for the ZB-26. The video thanks the VHU (Czech Military History Institute) for access to the prototype and highlights their Army Museum Žižkov.

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