Iraqi Police Issued VZ58s?

[cancer]

Check this link out:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/30/iraq-elections-violence-intimidation

Who cares about the article, in the picture the police man has a VZ58. So much for the AK47!

 

[Corpus]

Yes, the Iraqi, and Afghanistan Police make heavy usage of the Vz.58. Those two conflicts have actually seen the largest war-time usage of the Vz in it's history. Iraq and Afghanistan--50 years into the Vz's lifespan--is where it is finally "cutting it's teeth" on a large scale. I believe the Iraqi's were given about 65,000 (may have been 85, I can't remember for sure) of them, and the Afghans were given about 35,000 of them several years back. Coalition troops face off against them often as well (lifted, and a small stock were already in those two countries to begin with), and they are revered, by all. The interesting thing about it is, the rifles that the Czech Government donated to these countries were--for the most part--the "worst of the stock." The oldest, and most beat up, and they are still performing like a champ. The rifles that we have are MUCH, MUCH nicer than what is being used in combat over there right now. In my estimation, the Vz.58 is the all-time greatest assault rifle in history; a "SUPER AK" if you will.

 

[furet]

For quick viewing enjoyment.

 

[Desert_Fox]

If any of you cats watch "Arrested Development", you can see the Iraqi's with the VZ-58's in the later episodes of Season 3 where Gob does his christian magic act in Baghdad. His act which gets him put into an Iraqi prison of course is the late great Jesus's famous "illusion", the burning bush

.... I love that show...

 

[CTS]

That's pretty cool. A little off topic but I heard that Russia is getting rid of there AK's for a lighter less powerful sub machine gun. Maybe they can send the used ones over with the SKS's...haha

 

[Corpus]

That's pretty cool. A little off topic but I heard that Russia is getting rid of there AK's for a lighter less powerful sub machine gun. Maybe they can send the used ones over with the SKS's...haha

Link Please. I'm interested in reading some about that, if you have a link. Thanks.

 

[venom_bullet]

That's pretty cool. A little off topic but I heard that Russia is getting rid of there AK's for a lighter less powerful sub machine gun. Maybe they can send the used ones over with the SKS's...haha

x2

 

[ian_in_vic]

There used to be some photos of KevinB with a VZ58 in Afghanistan on here somewhere.

 

[CTS]

Here ya go

h ttp://www.mnweekly.ru/national/20081106/55355328.html

h ttp://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/04/russian-police-moving-away-from-ak-carbines-and-makarov-pistol/

 

[Corpus]

Thanks for the link. However, that's only their Police that are transitioning. I thought you meant the Russian Army.

 

[Big_Red]

The VZ is widely used in Iraq but it is not preferred to the AK by Iraqis. On the market you can easily get 3 VZs for the price of an AK.

I'm not sure of the truth to this but one of my Iraqis who is very well educated & knowledgable about weapons stated the VZs that were in the country prior to the invasion were generally used by troops in amphibious roles as they did not rust as easily as an AK. But that was the only reason they would ever be used over an AK.

Personally, I like both weapons.

 

[chris1974]

If any of you cats watch "Arrested Development", you can see the Iraqi's with the VZ-58's in the later episodes of Season 3 where Gob does his christian magic act in Baghdad. His act which gets him put into an Iraqi prison of course is the late great Jesus's famous "illusion", the burning bush

.... I love that show...

http://moviesmedia.ign.com/movies/image/article/719/719518/arrested-
development-20060718034749756.jpg

That show was the best to bad it's off the air

 

[palinak]

This actually spewed off several other deals of which 2 came across my tiny desk. I’m sure several other suppliers here were approached with this as well. The biggest one was 500 000 magazines for IRAQ of which no one was able to come up with. The Czech and Slovak suppliers that I know were scrambling to try to fill this request, I myself with my Slovak government contacts was able to secure 120 000, far from enough and somewhat late. Eventually the deal was awarded to a US manufacturer who manufactured new US made vz58 mags. The ironic part was that they screwed them up and the bolt would not hold open once empty. They sent some samples up here to see if it can be easily fixed.

Yes, the Iraqi, and Afghanistan Police make heavy usage of the Vz.58. Those two conflicts have actually seen the largest war-time usage of the Vz in it's history. Iraq and Afghanistan--50 years into the Vz's lifespan--is where it is finally "cutting it's teeth" on a large scale. I believe the Iraqi's were given about 65,000 (may have been 85, I can't remember for sure) of them, and the Afghans were given about 35,000 of them several years back. Coalition troops face off against them often as well (lifted, and a small stock were already in those two countries to begin with), and they are revered, by all. The interesting thing about it is, the rifles that the Czech Government donated to these countries were--for the most part--the "worst of the stock." The oldest, and most beat up, and they are still performing like a champ. The rifles that we have are MUCH, MUCH nicer than what is being used in combat over there right now. In my estimation, the Vz.58 is the all-time greatest assault rifle in history; a "SUPER AK" if you will.

 

[Deckard]

We could use affordable mags.

 

[Satain]

A little reading for you AK and VZ guy's
http://50ae.net/VZ-vs-AK/
The difference between the two are huge!

 

[6gm6]

We could use affordable mags.

Yes, yes we could.

 

[Barracuda.40]

The VZ is widely used in Iraq but it is not preferred to the AK by Iraqis. On the market you can easily get 3 VZs for the price of an AK.

I'm not sure of the truth to this but one of my Iraqis who is very well educated & knowledgable about weapons stated the VZs that were in the country prior to the invasion were generally used by troops in amphibious roles as they did not rust as easily as an AK. But that was the only reason they would ever be used over an AK.QUOTE]

Oh yeah, amphibious roles in the desert...

 

[Corpus]

The VZ is widely used in Iraq but it is not preferred to the AK by Iraqis. On the market you can easily get 3 VZs for the price of an AK.

I'm not sure of the truth to this but one of my Iraqis who is very well educated & knowledgable about weapons stated the VZs that were in the country prior to the invasion were generally used by troops in amphibious roles as they did not rust as easily as an AK. But that was the only reason they would ever be used over an AK.QUOTE]

Oh yeah, amphibious roles in the desert...

Iraq has a small coastline, and a small navy. Amphibious means sea and land. Seriously, no joke!

 

[Barracuda.40]

ok ok

 

[Norseman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deckard View Post
We could use affordable mags.

Yes, yes we could.

Wasn't there someone blabbin awhile back about cheap mags?