Vz. 52 (rifle)

Infobox Weapon
name=Vz. 52 and vz. 52/57


caption=
origin=flag|Czechoslovakia
type=Semi-automatic rifle
is_ranged=yes
service=1952-1959
used_by=See "Users"
wars=
designer=Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl
design_date=1947-1952
manufacturer=Povážské strojárně,
Česká Zbrojovka
production_date=1952—1959
number=
variants=Vz. 52/57
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
part_length=520 mm 4 grooves, right-hand twist
crew=
cartridge=7.62x45mm vz. 52 (vz. 52) 7.62x39mm (vz. 52/57)
caliber=
action=Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
rate=
velocity=760 m/s (vz. 52) 735 m/s (vz. 52/57)
range=650 m (vz. 52) 400 m (vz. 52/57)
max_range=
feed= clip-fed, staggered-column, 10-round detachable box magazine

sights=Open iron sights graduated from 100 to 900 m

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 52cite book
last = Bishop | first = Chris
title = The Encyclopedia of Small Arms and Artillery
publisher = Grange Books
year = 2006
pages =pp. 13-14
isbn = 978-1-84013-910-5 ] . 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 . 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.

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.

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. The Czech Castle guard uses chrome-finished, deactivated vz. 52 rifles with darkened wood stocks as ceremonial weapons.

Users

*flag|Cuba
*flag|Czechoslovakia
*flag|Egypt
*flag|Nigeria
*flag|Syria

References and further reading

* cite book
last = Čermák
first = Jiří
year = 1999
title = 40 let konstruktérem zbraní 1946-1986 (Od samopalu ČZ 247 ke zbraňovému kompletu LADA)
location = Brno
publisher = Ardent
id = ISBN 80-238-3397-9

* cite book
last = Popelínský
first = Lubomír
year = 1999
title = Československé automatické zbraně a jejich tvůrci
location = Praha
publisher = Naše vojsko
id = ISBN 80-206-0567-3

* cite book
last = Šáda
first = Miroslav
year = 2004
title = Československé ruční palné zbraně a kulomety
location = Praha
publisher = Naše vojsko
id = ISBN 80-206-0745-5

ee also

* Sa vz. 58

External links

* [http://www.buymilsurp.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=101&products_id=800 VZ 52 Rifle Parts List and Pictorial]
* [http://www.sturmgewehr.com/bhinton/Czech_Vz52_52.57/ Buddy Hinton Collection / Vz52 Vz52/57 ]
* [http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl14-e.htm world.guns.ru: "VZ.52 and VZ.52/57 semi-automatic rifle (Czechoslovakia)"]