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| Article by
Jamie Mangrum |
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Adobe PDF
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No matter how great a design, there are
always improvements made over the life of the
design. A great example of this in the firearms industry
is the Ruger 10/22 .22 LR carbine. There is an entire
industry founded on the hundreds if not thousands of
aftermarket parts available today for the 10/22. Most
offer improved accuracy and functionality over the
original design. Sometimes these
design improvements are made after the firearm is no
longer manufactured. The Cz 52 is one of these
instances. Don't get me wrong, the Cz 52 is a great little pistol.
It is accurate and functions for the most part
flawlessly. None the less, in my opinion there are a few
design improvements that are still warranted. Other
folks must agree with me because aftermarket products are now being
brought to the market for sale.
The first
flaw that I would correct with the
Cz 52 is
a stronger firing pin of which I covered in a prior
article on
Replacing the Cz 52 Firing Pin and Checking the
De-Cocking Safety.
The second thing I would improve is to give the
pistol an external, thumb actuated slide release. The last thing is just a
cosmetic change. I would replace the pistol's original grips with a nice
set of walnut grips. |
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As I stated before and as shown in figure 2
the Cz Model 52 pistol does not have an external
slide release. To actuate the Cz 52 slide
release requires two
hands. Hold the pistol with your right hand.
With your left hand and
with the slide in the rear and locked
position, pull back on the slide and then
release. The slide will then slide forward. I
own several modern (some not so modern) semi-auto pistols and the
functionality of the Cz 52 slide release just does not sit well with me. |
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am a big fan of being able to reach up with the
thumb on my right hand (while holding the
pistol with the same hand) and depress a
pistol's slide release causing the slide to slam
forward.
Also shown in figure 2 is my very
scratched grip panels. Do I really need to
explain why I would want to replace these?
Guns
N Stuff carries a drop-in extended slide release
that looked to me like that it would do the job.
They also carry replacement walnut grips. I placed my order.
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Project
Components and Where to Buy the Parts |
Cz 52 Grip Panel Set
Supplier's Description: Hardwood. Checkered. Ready-to-install.
Price: $33.00
Cz 52 Slide Release
Supplier's Description: Blued steel replacement for slide catch. Drop
in. Requires inletting of left grip panel.
Price: $27.95 |
FAC of America
8035 Ranchers Road
Fridley, MN 55432
Phone: 1.800.486.5971
http://www.gunsnstuff.net/ |
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The Project:
Installing the Slide Release |
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Make certain the pistol is
pointed in a safe direction.
Remove the pistol's
magazine and pull back on the slide to ensure
the pistol is unloaded (figure 3).
Remove the slide from the frame (figure
4). For detailed field disassembly
instructions
click here.
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Remove the grip retainer (figure 5 & 6).
Remove the left grip panel (figure 7).
Remove the right grip panel (figure 8). |
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Figure 9 shows the
original release lever and its installed
configuration. Since we
all don't have the luxury of owning two Cz Model
52 pistols I have included this as a reference. Note the
release lever tab to the rear and how it fits into
the gun frame. Also pay attention to how the
spring is installed.
Using a steel punch or other similar tool,
punch out the retaining pin that holds the
release lever in place. |
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The supplied
instructions state that it is a good idea to
leave the punch (figure 10) in
place once the pin is pushed out. The reason for this is that the pin also
holds the take down latch assembly in place. The
take down latch assembly is pulled
straight downward to
remove the slide from the frame
when breaking down the pistol. If you remove the
punch without holding down the take down
assembly with a finger, it will fly
across the room. |
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To install the new slide release you will
have to pull the spring back (figure 11) a fraction so the
slide release can can fit under the spring. |
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The new lever once installed
should lay flat against the frame as shown in
figure 12. |
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Line up the hole of the slide
release with the hole in the frame.
Insert the
pin and push out the punch.
Use the punch to tap
the pin into its fully installed position. |
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Figure 14 shows the
new slide release installed.
Note the position of the slide release at the
rear where it fits into the frame of the pistol.
Also note the
position of the spring. |
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The Project:
Installing the
Grips |
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You will need to remove some of the top of the
left grip panel for the new slide release lever
to function properly. To measure the area that
needs to be removed, set the left grip panel up
against where it will sit when installed. I took a cutting blade and
marked the exact location (top of the grip)
just behind where
the rear of the slide release lever extends (figure
15).
I then marked how far down I
needed to cut on the front of the left grip
panel (figure 16).
The
instructions state that for most pistols the
inlet you cut
out of the left grip panel should have a
dimension of 1 inch (from the front) x 3/16 inch
(down from the top).
I then used a rotary tool with a
cutting disc to make the inlet (remove the wood) (figure 17).
The instructions state that you can use a file as
well to make the cut. |
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After cutting the inlet out of the left grip panel, install the left
grip panle and make
certain the new slide release lever can function freely
without catching on the grip panel (figure 18).
Install the right hand grip panel (figure 19).
Install the grip retainer (figure 20). |
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Install the slide on the frame (figure
21). For detailed field disassembly
instructions
click here.
Do not install a magazine.
Pull back on the slide and push up on the new slide
release lever to hold the slide locked in place (figures
22 & 23).
Test the slide release lever by
pressing down on it.
The slide should easily slide
forward (figure 24). |
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All
Finished!!! |
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Not only is the Cz Model 52 pistol a great little
shooter, mine now even looks great as well as functions
more like a modern semi-automatic pistol! Both
modifications are non-permanent and do not detract from
the value of the pistol. Just place your original parts
in a sealable storage bag and stash them away in case
you ever want to return your pistol to its original
condition. |
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jlm;) |
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