The vz. 50 (also known as the CZ 50) is a Czech semi-automatic pistol. Vz. 50 term is an abbreviated form of the Czech "vzor 50" (model 50).
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After the Second World War the Ministry of the Interior requested a new pistol design from Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod. The resulting pistol in .32 ACP was designed by two brothers Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl and closely copied from the Walther PP and PPK. The grip is made of bakelite. The pistol is fed from an 8-round single-stack magazine, located within the grip frame. Small fixed sights are located on the top of the slide. The operation is blowback - recoil causes the spring, which is located around the fixed barrel, to compress. The slide, after it reaches the end of its rearward travel, is returned forward by the recoil spring, stripping a new round from the magazine as it does so. The operation is double-action - after a round has been chambered and the hammer has been lowered, the hammer may be reengaged by squeezing the trigger.
Vz. 50s were sold commercially but most were produced for police agencies under the control of the Ministry of the Interior. Vz 50s were produced initially at Strakonice and later at Uherský Brod. Ended manufacture in 1970.
Serial numbers start at 650001, continuing from the discontinued vz. 27 serial number range. Pistols manufactured at the Strakonice factory end in the 740000 range. Pistols manufactured at Uhersky Brod have 5 digit serial numbers preceded by a letter (which can change in the middle of a serial number series).
The last two digits of the year of manufacture are stamped on the left rear of the slide next to the proof stamp (a lion superimposed on an "N").
Many Vz 50s bear the crossed sword government property stamp.
The vz. 70 (sometimes called the CZ 70) is a variant of the vz. 50 with some minor cosmetic changes and internal improvements made in 1970.