• 1947 Model 24/47 Rifle (Mfg by Preduzece Crvena Zastava)

    1947 Model 24/47 (7.92 x 57mm) Rifle
    Mfg by Preduzece Crvena Zastava (Red Flag Factory)


    (Click PIC to Enlarge)

    Caliber: ......................... 7.92 x 57mm (8mm Mauser)
    Rifling: .......................... 4-groove, RH Twist. 1 Turn in 240mm (9.4 in.)
    Barrel Length: ............... 19.8 in. (504mm)
    Overall Length: .............. 43.1 in. (1094mm)
    Weight: ......................... 8.55 lbs. (3.85kg)
    Magazine Capacity: ........ 5 (staggered column)
    Qty Mfg in 1947: ............ 10,935

    Source: .......................SERBIAN AND YUGOSLAV MAUSER RIFLES (2005) by Branko Bogdanovic - ISBN:1-882391-35-7

    Canadian Collector Market Value Estimate: $


    1947 Model 24/47 Mauser

    (86 picture virtual tour)

    Observations: (by "Claven2")

    During the second world war, Germany had absorbed the Yugoslavian government's inventory of Mauser rifles (primarily M1924’s and VZ24’s) into its military and had stripped the Military Technical Institute, Kragujevac (fore-runner to the Zastava factory complex) of most useable machines for use elsewhere in the Reich's armaments industry. After the war's conclusion, Yugoslavia had effectively no remaining capacity to build complete rifles and the technology to do so would have to be re-developed and relearned by its craftsmen.

    Re-armament began by refurbishing the German K98k rifles on-hand at the time of the German surrender. These rifles provided the Yugoslavian armed forces with the backbone of their equipment until a longer-term solution could be found. Beginning in 1947, many of the old rifles and barreled actions on-hand were upgraded and rebuilt into serviceable arms to further bolster the military and satisfy their need for equipment. The guns were converted using new and old parts and were stocked in new and/or used stock wood identical to pre-war Model 1924 rifle stocks. In the cases where older stocks with VZ24 type side-swivels were used, the side-mounted hardware was removed and the holes plugged with dowels. These became known as the Model 24/47. It is not unusual to find recycled older walnut stocks mated with later production handguards of walnut, beech or elm.

    Most M24/47 stocks were made of walnut, though in rare cases, red oak can be encountered with the earlier M24/47 profile. During late conversions, wood of the M48 profile began to periodically be used and one can encounter beech and elm stocks with the beefier M48 type stock wrist.

    In 1952, the focus of work on rifle refurbishment shifted away from the M24/47 and towards the M24/52 rifle. The chief difference being that the M24/52 was based on refurbishment of standard length actions, primarily older VZ24’s, while the M24/47 program was based on refurbishment of the intermediate length Yugoslavian M1924 actions available to the Yugoslavian government in the post-war timeframe (usually originally manufactured either domestically or by Fabrique National in Herstal, Belgium before WW2). Virtually all M1924 pattern rifles in Yugoslavian inventory during the late 1940’s were converted to the M24/47 standard which apart from a straight bolt handle, was functionally identical to the later M48 series rifle. The M24/52 was also patterned similarly to the M24/47, but obviously based on the slightly longer standard M98 action.

    Both M24/47 and M24/52 rifles are generally encountered with their original markings sanitized and new markings applied at the time of refurbishment. Most often, the facility which did the work was either Zavod or Pred 44 (written in Cyrillic). Usually, the Yugoslavian crest will have been applied on top of the receiver ring. Other facility markings likely to be found include “1.TRZ”, “TRZ.5”, “Radionica 124” and “Radionica 145”.

    Despite the continued availability of refurbished German K98k and M24/47 rifles, the further need for arms continued. Many of the necessary machines to manufacture rifles were acquired abroad, most notably from stocks of captured German machines in the Soviet Union. Based on prototyping begun in 1948, in 1950 the Model 48 Mauser was finalized and adopted for service. As M48 variants became more plentiful, many of the older K98k refurbished rifles and M24/47 rifles on inventory were relegated to reserve status and the M48 became the primary issue weapon. The M24/52 rifles, having been constructed after the M48 became widely available, were likely not issued in great numbers. Most Mausers were withdrawn from active service after 1959 when the SKS carbine was adopted in Yugoslavia. Despite the adoption of more modern arms, many Mausers were drawn from storage and used in the civil war that ravaged Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s, leading to the fracturing of the country.



    Collector's Comments and Feedback:

    1. Most Yugoslavian rifles the collector is likely to encounter in Canada were brought into that market by Marstar Canada in the late 1990’s, though the bulk of Marstar’s Yugoslavian rifle inventory was subsequently retailed in the United States through large Military Surplus retail stores and importers. Later exports from the former Yugoslavia have been, for the most part, exported directly to the United States by a variety of companies. Though some of these rifles showed considerable wear, excellent condition examples are not difficult to locate given that the majority of the import of these rifles lasted from the late 1990's through to about 2005. Some dealers still stock a few models, often in like new condition, but be forewarned - Yugoslavian arsenals were VERY fond of liberal application of cosmolene and it can be a real trial to remove it all. Special attention should be paid to leeching the preservative grease out of the woodwork to prevent damage during firing. ........... (Feedback by "Claven2")


    2. I am the Moderator of milsurpshooter.net's Yugo Mauser forum and my user name there is nothernug, but I'm registered here as Jim. I was reading the section on the Yugo refurb model 24/47.

    I can offer an item of interest related to this statement...

    In the cases where older stocks with VZ24 type side-swivels were used, the side-mounted hardware was removed and the holes plugged with dowels. These became known as the Model 24/47.

    That is accurate but there is a practically unknown exception. Approximately 5000-6000 M1924/47 refurbs were configured as type II carbines for issue to the army mountain cavalry unit. This unit was disbanded in 1953. The fate of their 24/47 carbines is unknown. To date, only one example is has been identified. An article on it was published in the last issue of the Military Rifle Journal. The weapon is refurbished and marked as a 24/47 but has it's side slings.

    I asked Branko Bogdanovic about it thinking it was a fluke, but Branko was quite specific. This unit had been armed with Mosin M44s, Russian PPSh and some other assorted weapons. The 24/47s were issued to simplify supply.

    I will be glad to answer any questions on Yugoslavian milsurps.
    ........... (Feedback by "Jim")
    This article was originally published in forum thread: 1947 Model 24/47 Rifle (Mfg by Preduzece Crvena Zastava) started by Badger View original post
    Comments 1 Comment
    1. Jim's Avatar
      I wandered back to this article and just noticed this. The title is not accurate and a related comment in the text does not go far enough and can be misunderstood to an incorrect meaning.

      First, the title; "1947 Model 24/47 Rifle" The 24/47 was produced through several years. It only BEGAN production in '47.

      Now, this comment; "... the facility which did the work was either Zavod or Pred 44 (written in Cyrillic)" While it might be read that way, they are not two separate facilities but one. From restoration to operation at war's end to Sept. 1947 the primary arms works at Kragujevac was designated ZAVOD 44 or, "3ABOД 44.
      The reference to "PRED" is, in fact, a shortened version, an abbreviation if you will, of the full version PREDUZECE 44. But, the Cyrillic version ПРЕДУЗЕЂЕ 44 was used first then the Latin version.
      That should clear that up.
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