CZ 52
vz. 52
Overview
CZ 52
Left side view of CZ 52 pistol.
Source: www.guns.com -
© Copyright lies with original owner
Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl
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
Media
CZ 52
CZ 52 pistol on display with magazine, 7.62x25mm Tokarev ammunition and holster.
Source: Anonymous
Copyright: CC BY 3.0
CZ 52
A CZ 52 pistol shown in hand. Note the high bore axis and long slide.
Source: Oleg Volk
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
CZ 52
Right side view of CZ 52 pistol.
Source: www.guns.com
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
CZ 52
Right side view of CZ 52 pistol with slide in rearward position.
Source: www.guns.com
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
CZ 52
CZ 52 pistol on display with ammunition and magazine shown alongside.
Source: Jag7720
Copyright: CC BY 3.0
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.