100+ pic of my new VZ52/57 (now un-bubba-ed)

[RUSTSPOT]

ive been obsessed with this rifle for quite a period of time. but i could not find much detail pic on the internet of this beautiful rifle. i finally got myself one from EE. so i thought id take picture of every detail of all the amazing machine work that was designed and crafted almost 60 years ago, for those who might not have the chance to own one of these.

*new pic added, bottom of this post

(hide the serial number)

i hate the color and the previous workmanship of the refinishing( sand paper mark with a random orbital sander...), so i re diding it.

stripped off old stain

hand sand with 180 to get raid of all the orbital sander marking. finish with 220

thought it turned too dark

turned out ok and color is pretty close to orignal when the stain dried.

**** new pic
done. closer to original color with the new finish. i think i now "unbubba-ed" this beauty.

sks and VZ52/57

and its younger brother VZ58 that were made 10 years apart in 1968.

 

[DOOK]

Dang!
Makes me want to look into getting one!
How much was it?

 

[Woodbeef]

Is it all numbers matching?

 

[RMXC51]

I smell a sticky, thanks for posting that up! What a beauty!

 

[diananike]

Wow
Thanks for all the great pics.
I really feel like I have a sense of the old gal even if I've never handled her.

 

[IMagius]

Very nice looking gun.

 

[RUSTSPOT]

price range from mid 4s to 6 depends on condition from what ive seen in the past couple of years. other than the fore hand guard isnt # match the rest is. but doesnt matter anyways, the stock wasnt in orignal finish unfortunately. i couldnt find a close enough color stain which is a yellowish gold kinda tone.

the attention to every detail of this rifle never seize to amaze me. just the folding bayonet mechanism alone has been well thought out and executed. every where you look you see well thought out designs. i truly think this is a better rifle than the M1 garand. its simple, it was build beautifully by probably using less resources than what the Americans had. its smart and over engineered in may ways for its time.

 

[Blegend]

Thats an awesome rifle man, I'm jelous

 

[scott585]

i assume the serrations on the dust cover are for stripping, but why on the gas block?

 

[svt1940]

i assume the serrations on the dust cover are for stripping, but why on the gas block?

Its for sliding out the piece so the stock can be removed.

 

[saskcop]

Those guns are a fine piece of work, although they have some funky springs in the receiver/fire control group if I recall. Also, unless you have the proper stripper clips, you are kinda screwed as finding mags for those rifles is kinda like finding a large deposit of unobtainium. Beautiful guns though. I kinda wish I still had mine.

 

[Keller]

I can honestly say I've never seen one of those before. It's like the illegitimate love child of an SKS and a M14.

 

[5440fight]

Congrats on your new camera. Prepare yourself for the onslaught of bubba comments regarding the stock finish- it looks good, but is incorrect I believe for a vz52/57. The proper finish is greenish, like the bottom rifle. At least mine and all the un-refinished ones I've ever seen are. PP, care to comment?

 

[RUSTSPOT]

ive only had the rifle for 3 days. i took the pic as i received it. it now look more like the 52/57 you posted . im not responsible for the oak like finish from the pic. i hated that color and the workman ship was just horrible( random orbital sander making all over the stock.... if you cant do it right, dont f**kin do it) . im in the middle of refinishing it ( coating lacquer at the moment) i'll post pic when the stock dried up. the exact correct color is not easy to find so dont blame me, blame the guy who previously screw with the finishing in the first place.

 

[5440fight]

ive only had the rifle for 3 days. i took the pic as i received it. it now look more like the 52/57 you posted . im not responsible for the oak like finish from the pic. i hated that color and the workman ship was just horrible( random orbital sander making all over the stock.... if you cant do it right, dont f**kin do it) . im in the middle of refinishing it ( coating lacquer at the moment) i'll post pic when the stock dried up. the exact correct color is not easy to find so dont blame me, blame the guy who previously screw with the finishing in the first place.

Cool. I love the vz52/57 myself, though I think you love it more than me. (just teasing, your pictures are great, I could build one from scratch using them as a blueprint) I agree with your dificulty in matching the colour, it can be a tricky thing. Good luck! Ps. the colour is much greener in person than that photo, google a few and see if it shows better.

 

[RUSTSPOT]

Cool. I love the vz52/57 myself, though I think you love it more than me. (just teasing, your pictures are great, I could build one from scratch using them as a blueprint) I agree with your dificulty in matching the colour, it can be a tricky thing. Good luck! Ps. the colour is much greener in person than that photo, google a few and see if it shows better.

i can honestly say i love this more than my garand.

and funny you said building one with these pic as blue print. ive got a request by a forum member from over seas who wants detail picture of the VZ52 to make a replica. thats why i took these pic with great details.

 

[Woodbeef]

How's the gas piston area and the port area on the bottom of the barrel look? From the color of the bolt,and your answer about the serial numbers,if there are no stamps in the rear sling swivel area I'd say you have a very rare non-refurbed example. Too bad about the wood. Mags do show up on the EE,for around $75. What's even rarer than them and stripper clips,is a complete cleaning kit with the piston scraper.

 

[RUSTSPOT]

the stock is matching, i just fuzz out the serial number because every body else is doing it..... lol

 

[fnrob]

I smell a sticky, thanks for posting that up! What a beauty!

I second this motion. I love the look of these rifles.

 

[RUSTSPOT]

*** post merged.