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CZ 52


vz. 52


Overview


CZ 52

Left side view of CZ 52 pistol.
Source: www.guns.com - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Czechoslovakia
Type
Pistol
Entered service
1952
Status
Obsolete
Development
1950
Developer
Czechoslovakia
Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl
Production
1952 - 1957
Producer
Czechoslovakia - CZ
Number produced
About 200.000
Designations
vz. 52 (Czechoslovak service)
Notable users
Czechoslovakia
Algeria

Description


Introduction

The CZ 52 is an early Cold War era pistol of Czechoslovak origin. The pistol is named after the year of adoption. It was designed by the Kratochvíl brothers as a double action pistol in 9mm. Via changing military requirements it ended up as a 7.62mm Tokarev pistol with single action trigger. Due to some of these suboptimal changes and brittleness of parts the CZ 52 is known as a rather poor design.

Design

The CZ 52 is a steel framed pistol with single stack magazine. It is a recoil operated pistol with a roller locking design reminiscent of a MG42 machine gun. The all metal design makes the pistol heavy. The grip is rather long and somewhat uncomfortable.

Firepower

The CZ 52 fires the 7.62x25mm Tokarev round from an 8 round detachable magazine. It is a semi-automatic pistol with a single action trigger. Effective range is about 25 meters. Due to the high bore axis and locking mechanism felt recoil is rather high for a pistol chambered in 7.62mm Tokarev.

Users

The CZ 52 was produced in relatively large numbers for its short production run. It was the standard issue pistol in Czechoslovak service from 1952 to 1982, when it was replaced by the CZ 82. Export sales were one of the main reasons to call this pistol the CZ 52, to distinguish it from the Vz 52 self-loading rifle. Many former Czechoslovak pistols were acquired for by importers for civilian sales in the USA.

Details


Facts CZ 52
General
Origin
Czechoslovakia
Type
Pistol
Caliber
Caliber
7.62x25mm Tokarev
Feed system
8 round detachable magazine
Barrel length
120 mm
Rifling
4 grooves, right hand twist
Muzzle velocity
480 m/s
Operation
Action
Recoil operated
Locking
Roller locked
Trigger
Single action
Fire selector
0 - 1
Rate of fire
Semi-automatic
Dimensions
Length
210 mm
Height
140 mm
Weight
0.95 kg
Sights
Mechanical
Iron sights, post front and notch rear
Sight radius
175 mm

Media


Related articles


CZ 82

In Czechoslovak service the vz. 52 was replaced by the more reliable and more capable vz. 82 pistol.

Tokarev TT-33

The CZ 52 was developed and produced as a domestic alternative to the Soviet Tokarev pistol.

Harmonization efforts in the Warsaw Pact led to the CZ 52 to be rechambered to the 7.62mm Tokarev cartridge during its design.