Vz. 52

CZ 52
CZ 52 pistol
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service	1952–1982 (Czechoslovakia)
Production history
Designer	Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl
Designed	1952
Produced	1952–1954
No. built	Approx. 200,000
Specifications
Weight	0.95 kg (2.09 lb)
Length	210 mm (8.3 in)
Barrel length	120 mm (4.7 in)
Cartridge	7.62×25mm Tokarev
Action	Recoil operated, roller locked
Muzzle velocity	500 m/s (1,640 ft/s)
Effective firing range	50 m
Feed system	8-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Rear: notched and dovetailed front: fixed blade

The CZ 52 (also known by the Czechoslovak military designations vz. 52, for (vz. - vzor = model) "model of 1952", and CZ 482) is a semi-automatic pistol designed by two brothers, Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl, in the early 1950s for the Czechoslovak military. Around 200,000 vz. 52s were made by Česká Zbrojovka in Strakonice from 1952 to 1954. Before standardizing on the 7.62×25mm vz. 52, the Czechoslovak military used several domestic and foreign pistol models in three different calibers. After 30 years of military service, the vz. 52 was eventually replaced by the 9×18mm Makarov caliber vz. 82.

The CZ 52 is technically known as the vz. 52 as its Czech military designation, but is often referred to as the CZ 52 to differentiate it from the vz. 52 rifle which entered the export market before the pistol.

The CZ 52 pistol is a roller-locked short recoil–operated, detachable box magazine–fed, single-action, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge (the gun was originally designed for 9×19mm Parabellum caliber but due to political pressures had to be redesigned for the then-standard Soviet pistol cartridge). It weighs approximately two pounds unloaded. Military models feature either a parkerized finish or a gray oxide coating, while some CZ 52s were arsenal reblued in the 1970s. These re-finished guns are usually marked as such.

Ergonomically, the grip of the CZ 52 is long when measured from front to rear and slim from side to side with a low "hump" which meets the web of the hand at the rear. This causes the bore axis to sit high above the grip, resulting in a very strongly felt recoil. Due to its high muzzle velocity and projectile shape, certain higher pressure FMJ ammunition fired from the CZ 52 pistol will penetrate the lower rated NIJ IIA ballistic vest, but is stopped by a standard police issue NIJ II or better ballistic vests,

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