Vz. 52 (rifle)

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Vz. 52 and vz. 52/57

Type Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service 1952-1959
Used by Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Cuba, Syria
Production history
Designer Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl
Designed 1947-1952
Manufacturer Povážské strojárně,
Česká Zbrojovka
Produced 1952—1959
Variants Vz. 52/57
Specifications
Weight 4.14 kg empty
4.33 kg loaded (vz. 52)
4.30 kg loaded (vz. 52/57)
Length 1005 mm with bayonet folded
1205 mm bayonet deployed
Barrel length 520 mm
4 grooves, right-hand twist
Cartridge 7.62x45mm vz. 52 (vz. 52)
7.62x39mm (vz. 52/57)
Action Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Muzzle velocity 760 m/s (vz. 52)
735 m/s (vz. 52/57)
Effective range 650 m (vz. 52)
400 m (vz. 52/57)
Feed system double stack 10-round detachable box magazine
or cartridge clips
Sights Open iron sights graduated from 100 to 900 m
This article is about the vz. 52 rifle. For the vz. 52 pistol, see vz. 52 (pistol).

The vz. 52 rifle (often incorrectly called the "CZ 52") is a gas-operated self-loading rifle developed shortly after the Second World War. Its full name is 7,62mm Samonabíjecí puška vzor 52[1]. Vz. 52 is an abbreviation for vzor 52, meaning "model 52". It fires the unique 7.62x45mm vz. 52 cartridge. It ejects shells upward and to the front, and has an integral blade bayonet which folds to the right side of the stock. The rifle had the unusual feature of tipping the bolt to lock the mechanism [1]. It is considered both reliable and accurate, although it is longer and heavier than later assault rifles such as the vz. 58. The first 5000 vz. 52 rifles were made by Povážské strojárně Povážská Bystrica, but due to production difficulties, its manufacture was taken over by Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod.

Contents

[edit] Conversion

After pressure from the Soviet Union to adopt its 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge, existing Czech rifles were rechambered to the Soviet caliber, and all further production of the rifle was chambered in this caliber and re-designated the vz. 52/57. The vz. 52/57 is identical except for its barrel and its magazines. It is considered less reliable and accurate than the original vz. 52 rifle, on the other hand the vz. 52/57 has chromium-plated bore and chamber. The vz. 52 magazines can be used with the vz. 52/57, but they do not feed reliably.

[edit] Decommissioning

All of the vz. 52 series were quickly replaced in Czechoslovak service by the Sa vz. 58, but the earlier rifles found their way to Soviet allies during the Cold War, and have seen service in Grenada, Somalia, Cuba and Afghanistan and many of those were passed on to guerrillas[1]. The Czech Castle guard uses chrome-finished, deactivated vz. 52 rifles with darkened wood stocks as ceremonial weapons.

[edit] References and further reading

  1. ^ a b c Bishop, Chris (2006). The Encyclopedia of Small Arms and Artillery. Grange Books, pp. 13-14. ISBN 978-1-84013-910-5. 
  • Čermák, Jiří (1999). 40 let konstruktérem zbraní 1946-1986 (Od samopalu ČZ 247 ke zbraňovému kompletu LADA). Brno: Ardent. ISBN 80-238-3397-9. 
  • Popelínský, Lubomír (1999). Československé automatické zbraně a jejich tvůrci. Praha: Naše vojsko. ISBN 80-206-0567-3. 
  • Šáda, Miroslav (2004). Československé ruční palné zbraně a kulomety. Praha: Naše vojsko. ISBN 80-206-0745-5. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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