Zagi M-91
Encyclopedia
Zagi M-91 is a submachine gun created in 1991, when the dissolution of Yugoslavia left Croatia with few or no weapons to arm their military in the time of Croatian War of Independence
. Since the embargo prevented the newly formed state from legally buying equipment abroad, they had no choice but to design new weapons locally.
This gun was produced by LIKAWELD, now bankrupt machine tools factory based in Zagreb, also called the "First Croatian Weapons Factory", PHTO (Prva Hrvatska Tvornica Oružja).
The name of the gun likely relates to Zagi - squirrel mascot of XIV Summer Universiade
that was held in Zagreb, in 1987.
Weapon's mechanism is based on Sten submachine gun, famous for its simplicity of production Magazine is based on the MP40, dual stack, single feed magazine.
Extending stock resembles one used in Grease gun
. However, unlike its World War II
predecessors, it features partially plastic receiver/handle.
The gun was fairly solid in construction, precise and apparently liked by its users.
Some of these guns ended up as military aid in 1992 in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war started there, and were used by muslim army forces, desperately in need of the weapons.
Somewhat interesting fact is that they copied the gun (with some small modifications, like using the wooden lower receiver/handle instead of the original plastic one) and produced it in Pobjeda factory in town Goražde
, calling it "Bosanski Zagi" (Bosnian Zagi), in apparently very small numbers.
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
. Since the embargo prevented the newly formed state from legally buying equipment abroad, they had no choice but to design new weapons locally.
This gun was produced by LIKAWELD, now bankrupt machine tools factory based in Zagreb, also called the "First Croatian Weapons Factory", PHTO (Prva Hrvatska Tvornica Oružja).
The name of the gun likely relates to Zagi - squirrel mascot of XIV Summer Universiade
1987 Summer Universiade
The 1987 Summer Universiade, also known as the XIV Summer Universiade, took place in Zagreb, Croatia . It involved participants from 111 countries and over 6,000 individual sportspersons and members of teams.-Medal table:...
that was held in Zagreb, in 1987.
Weapon's mechanism is based on Sten submachine gun, famous for its simplicity of production Magazine is based on the MP40, dual stack, single feed magazine.
Extending stock resembles one used in Grease gun
M3 submachine gun
The M3 was an American .45-caliber submachine gun adopted for U.S. Army service on 12 December 1942, as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M3. The M3 was designed as a more cost-effective alternative to the Thompson, optimized for mass production...
. However, unlike its World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
predecessors, it features partially plastic receiver/handle.
The gun was fairly solid in construction, precise and apparently liked by its users.
Some of these guns ended up as military aid in 1992 in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war started there, and were used by muslim army forces, desperately in need of the weapons.
Somewhat interesting fact is that they copied the gun (with some small modifications, like using the wooden lower receiver/handle instead of the original plastic one) and produced it in Pobjeda factory in town Goražde
Goražde
Goražde , is a city and municipality in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Drina river. It is located between Foča, Sokolac and Višegrad, and is administratively part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the center of the Bosnian Podrinje Canton.-Location:Goražde is situated on the...
, calling it "Bosanski Zagi" (Bosnian Zagi), in apparently very small numbers.