I just received a VZ52/57 from another CGN'r that was described as "outstanding" and it WAS!! In fact after pretty quick examination I am not sure if it has ever been fired. However thats not the purpose of my thread ... I can say I have seen a lot of "milsurp" firearms over the years and I think this VZ may well be the best made military arm I have seen. The attention to detail and overall robustness of construction is very impressive. Maybe I have led a sheltered life -- but these ARE outstanding examples of well constructed post war military firearms - I cant think of any that are better from the cold war period. my 2 cents
Vz52/57
- Thread starter AP
- Start date
Yes, they are a very nice rifle! I have one in fantastic condition that I haven't even shot yet! The one thing I wonder about them is if they were used a lot with corrosive ammo in a battle situation, it seems to me that the gas system would have been an absolute pain to keep clean enough to not have it rust out. From what I remember when I took it apart when I got it, you can't really dismantle the large cylinder/piston surrounding the rod it slides back and forth on. From all the ones I have ever seen, they look to me like they were never really tested on the battlefield and I wonder how that design would have held up?
Definately the Ferrari of the SKS-ish rifles out there!
Ian
Definately the Ferrari of the SKS-ish rifles out there!
Ian
Good point!
I will investigate further .. I have extensive experience and great faith in simple "boiling" water poured on metal parts to remove fouling. The metal heats to the point that the water remaining evaporates very rapidly and a light oiling suffices. Water quickly dissolves and removes corrosive salts that if left are hygroscopic. From a cursory examination it appears that the entire barrel/gas assembly can be quickly removed and washed down with very hot water. IF I actually shoot this thing (probably unlikely now that I have seen it!) I will report back how this works.
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
yep, i have one too, a very cech design. Bit of a tank as i recall, but nice to shoot. Mine hates brass cased ammo (pulls the rim off)
Congrats on your new gun. They are a beauty. I had one years ago sold it. Found another paid 3x as much for what I sold it They are Keepers. A lot of these milsurp guns go up in value in years to come. Mine is a safe Queen like a few others That's my thinking I now have the 52/57 and 58 and one day will find a good 52 If I only would stop buying everything else FCK I need to collect stamps
congrats on the gun you got a keeper
congrats on the gun you got a keeper
Phat Eagle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Fraser Valley, BC
Been wanting one for awhile...
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
go ahead and shoot it, just clean well after surplus...there are so few of them that the value ain't gonna change that much, and your robbing yourself of most of the fun of owning it. If you want an investment, by a RRSP....
IMO the only people RRSP's are benefiting are the shysters that sell them.
But I agree that shooting rifles - if you care enough about them to maintain them properly - won't hurt .. I couldnt afford enough ammo to wear out any commercial firearms I have
dermeister025
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays BC
I think the 52/57 is one of the real gems of the milsurp/red rifle world, it's too bad they only made them for a few years... I didn't even know they existed when I first saw one at a gun show last spring, but it was an interesting looking rifle (and Czech!) so I had to buy it. The handguard doesn't quite match, but I got it for $425 so no complaints! I had to clean and adjust the gas system a bit to get it running right, the big nut was good and seized so I had to take it right apart and clamp it into a barrel block to take the piston apart. Now it runs and shoots great, I always seem to be grabbing it before my SKS's and it's right up there with my Garand and K31 on the list of rifles I'm never getting rid of. I found some spare magazines and stripper clips on the EE a while back and paid good money for them, definitely worth it though.
If you have one of these you really have to shoot it or you're missing out, fortunately CanAm keeps bringing us cheap non-corrosive ammo to feed them! I'll have to snap some pics next time I have it at the range...
If you have one of these you really have to shoot it or you're missing out, fortunately CanAm keeps bringing us cheap non-corrosive ammo to feed them! I'll have to snap some pics next time I have it at the range...
