| CZ 82, CZ 83 | |
|---|---|
CZ 82 Czechoslovak Military pistol in 9x18mm Makarov caliber. (note: Serial number digitally concealed) |
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| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1983-1993 (Czechoslovakia, since 1993 Czech Republic, Slovak Republic) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Augustin Nečas |
| Designed | 1982 |
| Variants | CZ-83 (civilian version) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 800 g (28 oz) empty 920 g (32 oz) loaded |
| Length | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Barrel length | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Width | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Height | 127 mm (5.0 in) |
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| Cartridge | 9x18mm Makarov (82 & 83), .380 ACP, .32 ACP (83 only) |
| Action | Blowback, double action |
| Muzzle velocity | 305 m/s (1,001 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 50 m (55 yards) |
| Feed system | 12-rd, staggered-column, detachable box magazine (data for basic military variant in 9x18mm Makarov) |
| Sights | fixed front blade; rear drift-adjustable for windage |
The CZ 82[1] is a compact semi-automatic pistol made for the Czechoslovakian military with the designation "Vz. 82", "Vz" is an abbreviation for "vzor", which translates to "model." A civilian export version is called the CZ 83.
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Manufactured by the Czechoslovak firm Česká zbrojovka the vz. 82 replaced the 7.62x25mm Tokarev vz. 52 pistol in Czechoslovak military service in 1983. It is a compact, double-action, semi-automatic pistol with a conventional blowback action. This type of action allows the barrel to remain solidly fixed to the frame, resulting in improved accuracy over pistols with pivoting barrels (like the U.S. M1911 series). The low bore axis of the vz. 82 provides for less muzzle rise and quicker follow-up shots. For added convenience, both the frame-mounted thumb safety and the magazine release are ambidextrous. The vz. 82 was the first service pistol to feature both these features. The bore is chrome plated, which gives it three advantages: longer barrel life, resistance to rust from the use of corrosive ammunition, and ease of cleaning. Another feature of this pistol is the use of polygonal rifling in the barrel bore. This replaces the traditional lands and grooves rifling design with a rounded, smooth polygonal pattern which has a more "hills and valleys" appearance.
The vz. 82 was added to the US government's "Curio and Relic" list with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) in February 2007, after an individual wrote a letter to the ATF attaching a letter from a federal museum curator who stated that the vz. 82 had "museum interest" as a curio and relic.[2]
The vz. 82 was made in 9x18mm only while the CZ 83 is available in a variety of finishes and chamberings: