The Firearm Blog

From what I can make out, it appears that the Czech Army may be planning to replace their well known Vz. 58 assault rifles.

Vz. 58 rifle

All the articles I have read were very badly written and incredibly confusing. The Czech news website Ceskenoviny.cz , for example, seems to be confused by the different between a pistol and a rifle.

The new arms will replace machine guns 58 based on the Soviet-made Kalashnikovs AK 47, Pravo writes.

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"It was originally said that only special units will get offensive handguns. The whole military could be rearmed for two billion crowns," Seda told Pravo.

It writes that the military also plans to spend 3.49 billion crowns on the purchase of light armoured vehicles. Next year 418 million crowns are to be spent on the purchase and a greater part in 2013 and 2014.

Earlier this year I covered the launch of the CZ S805 rifle, which was developed in conjunction with the Czech Army. I guess that this will be the replacement.

CZ S805. ⓒ Adamicz. Used with Permission.

For a company that supplies bayonets with some of their pistols, I am surprised it has taken CZ-USA this long to offer a breech choke.

I presume that it will fit in all their 12 gauge semi-automatic shotguns. I don’t know how useful this would be in a home defense situation, but it sure looks cool and at $39.99, is not all that expensive.

CZ have introduced a new 9mm submachine gun called the Skorpion EVO III. Contrary to what the name suggests, it shares no heritage with the classic CZ Škorpion vz. 61 subgun.

CZ’s 2009 military weapon line up.

Since the 1993 split of Czechoslovakia into the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic, the Slovakian arms industry has gone into decline and is now only a shadow of its former self. The fact that the Czech arms industry is doing well seems to be a source of irritation to the Slovak government.

The Skorpion EVO appears to be a cosmetic update to the Laugo LG 205 submachine gun that was designed by a Slovakian firm sometime in the last decade. They must have been unsuccessful in generating interest in the product and appear to have sold the design to CZ.

From the excellent site Small Arms Illustrated.

I know very little about the gun other than it is chambered in 9mm Luger / Parabellum, made of lightweight polymer and has all the picatinny rails you could want.

CZ are marketing it as a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon), although I cannot see any feature that distinguish it from any other 9mm submachine gun. You can see in the top image that they have given it the same stock and pistol grip as the new CZ S 805 rifle, which their marketing department are using as a selling point.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this gun. At one point the designer (I have no idea who designed it, despite an hour and half of research) had it on display with a thumbhole stock and carbine length barrel. Personally I think it would have a great 9mm civilian carbine.

Last week the IDET military expo was held at the famous arms manufacturing town of Brno, Czech Republic. I had been looking forward to the expo for some time because CZ announced they would have their new rifle military arms on display. Developed in conjunction with the Czech Army, the new CZ S 805 assault rifle looks like a solid addition to the range of “3rd generation” (I use this term lightly) 5.56mm military rifles.

Click to expand. Photo ⓒ Adamicz. Used with Permission.

The model pictured above, the CZ S805A, is the standard assault rifle/carbine model and interestingly enough has a 14.5″ barrel compared to the 16″ or 18″ barrels of similar rifles. Although it has been designed so it can be converted into a light machine gun or designated/squad marksmen rifle.

While it appears to be another plastic fantastic, it in fact has an aluminum receiver. The rifle is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO but by changing the bolt head, magazine, magazine well and barrel it can also be chambered in 7.62×39mm and 6.8 mm Remington SPC (6.8×43mm). The trigger group, as you can see below, allows the selection of fully automatic, two round burst, and single shot modes.

Click to expand. Photo ⓒ Adamicz. Used with Permission.

Like all modern military rifles it is out fitted with a folding/adjustable stock and quad rails. The transparent magazine is a nice touch but is not STANAG (M16) compatible.

According to REMOV CZ plan on producing a semi-automatic model for the US and European civilian market Hopefully legalities and politics do not prevent it from showing up in a store near you.

Many thanks to Adamicz for providing me with photos and credit for the information goes to REMOV

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CZ-USA is once again importing the Skorpion pistol. What I found really interesting is that the press releases mentions that the gun is features in video games. I have not seen this before. I think most companies want to distance themselves from violent video games.

From the press release (emphasis mine):

Although it was developed for use with security forces, the Skorpion was adopted by the Czechoslovakian Army in 1961 as a sidearm for vehicle drivers, armored vehicle personnel and special forces. In addition to being featured in many of today’s popular video games, the VZ 61 Skorpion is currently in service with numerous military units, and police agencies around the globe.

The pistol comes with all the accessories you will ever need: 1×10 round mag, 2×20 round mags, cleaning kit, pouch, and an instruction manual on a CD. The MSRP will be $814.
Specs:

Caliber .32 ACP
Overall length 10.4”
Barrel length 4.52”
Height 6.5”
Width 1.68”
Weight 2.58lbs

The difference between this and the “real” Skorpion is that this lacks full auto (obviously) and the wire stock.

UPDATE:

Game screenshots showing the Skorpion:

Golden Eye

Call of Duty 4

This year CZ-USA will be importing the CZ BRNO BO 801 over/under 12 gauge shotgun this year.

Two models will be for sale. The 801.1 model has a 3.5″ chamber and the 801.2 has a 3″ chamber.

The CZ 75 SP-01 Phantom came out early last year in the Czech Republic and I think was available mid-year in the US. I missed the launch and have been meaning to cover it for a while. Anyway, here it is:

The SP-01 Phantom is a polymer version of the CZ 75 SP-01 TACTICAL. The use of polymers has reduced the weight by 33%.

The pistol features:

* SA/DA action
* Decocking lever, safety stop on hammer and a firing pin safety.
* Interchangeable grip inserts
* Accessory rail.

Specs:

Capacity: 19+1 capacity and can use older CZ 75 magazines
Barrel Length: 4.7″
Weight: 1.8 lbs
Overall Length: 8.1″
Height: 5.8″
Width: 1.5″
Rate of twist: 1:9.7

The MSRP is $695. I did spot it priced for $626.99 at Impact Guns.

A video of the pistol being shot:

The CZ P07 “Duty” is a new 9mm pistol by CZ that will be launched this year.

Click to expand image

CZ have not yet released the specs of the “Duty” (as it is known). It is polymer-framed DA/SA and features an interchangable decocker/manual safety.

The pistol was designed for law enforcement but I am sure CZ-USA will offer it to civilians.

I will update this post as information becomes available.

Hat Tip: CZ-Zone, THR and CZ Forum

Xavier has a write of an an amazing five barrel shotgun made in Czechoslovakia.

Looks like a similar concept as the Winchester Liberator and Colt Defender

Eight barreled 20 gauge
Colt Defender Mark 1

Read it here.

CZ USA are now selling the VZ 58. The VZ 58 is chambered in 7.62×39mm and although it looks like the AK-47 the similarities end there. Internally it is completely different.

VZ 58 Tactical Sporter

VZ 58 Military Sporter

The Czech SA Vz. 58 service rifle is now available from CZ-USA in 2 semi-automatic only versions, the VZ 58 Tactical Sporter, and the VZ 58 Military Sporter.

The Sa vz. 58 was developed by Ing. Jiri Cermak in 1956 and 1957, adopted by the Czechoslovakian army in 1958. and was produced by Ceska Zbrojovka in Uhersky Brod, Czechoslovakia until 1983. Approximately one million Sa vz. 58 rifles were produced during it’s 20 year production run. As of 2007, it is still the standard issue service rifle in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The new Tactical and Military Sporter models are manufactured by combining original Sa vz. 58 components with a new semi-auto only milled receiver, a new trigger mechanism and new fire control parts.

While the appearance of the VZ 58 looks similar to the AK-47, it was inspired by the German StG 44 and initial development was actually based on the 7.92 x 33. Mechanically, the VZ 58 is completely different from the AK-47, and no parts including magazines are interchangeable.

Differences between the VZ 58 Sporter and the AK-47

* The VZ 58 has a milled receiver, the AK-47 is stamped.
* Even with the milled receiver it is almost one pound lighter than a stamped AK-47.
* The bolt of the VZ 58 stays open after the last round in the magazine has been fired.
* The VZ 58 has a more natural point of aim and is faster handling.
* The safety is more ergonomic making a faster first shot possible with the VZ 58.
* The ejection port is HUGE. There is no chance of an empty case getting stuck in the action of the VZ 58.
* The VZ 58 gas piston can be removed or exchanged without tools.
* The alloy magazine of the VZ 58 is half the weight of the steel AK-47 magazine. (.42 lb. vs. .84 lb.)
* VZ 58 is easier to field strip.
* The VZ 58 is striker fired unlike the hammer fired AK-47. This reduces the number of parts and possible points of failure.

More here.

“GUNRUNNERS OF PA” @ PFOA posted some photos of his new CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical which includes a bayonet and breech teeth.

Sure it is useless …. but different!

Click to enlarge images.

Click here for more photos.

Nice looking .22 CZ rifle with green dyed beech stock

I really like the color!

More photos here.