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I love Czech and Swedish firearms, and avidly collect both, and just about anything else that isn’t nailed down; the others I accumulate, Czech and Swedes I collect, well that is how I rationalize it.  Getting the CZ 82 as been on my wish list since I saw that SOG International Inc. (www.southernohiogun.com) was importing them, but the hassle of finding a 01 Dealer and associated transfer fees was not a welcome endeavor.  I got really lucky at a local SAXET Gun Show in San Antonio, TX; there it was waiting for me.

Ok, I cheated and didn’t want to wait till it became 03 C&R Qualified, I’m 51 and that would be a really long wait, but Mil-Surp is Mil-Surp.  When I got home… the phrase “it followed me home” was about as well received as “I got a new toy”.  But this in not about my marriage; lets talk about the new item in my collection.

What it is:

The CZ 82 was the replacement for the obsolete CZ 52 (as “decreed” by the former Soviet Union) for use by the Czechoslovakian Army for which it became the standard issue sidearm as soon as it became available.  It was produced by Ceska Zbrojovka (or as we know it CZ).  As far as I can determine it’s still the official sidearm, but other models and sidearms by other manufacturers are being used as well in smaller quantities.

The Soviet Union’s influence (required) the use of established current issue caliber for newly introduced arms.  So with specifications established by the Czech Military, the design by Augustin Necas and Stanislav Strizek for the CZ 82 came into being and was introduced into production in 1982 and manufactured from 1983 to 1992. The Czech’s were not satisfied with just the same 9mm Makarov round, but developed a more powerful round labeled “pistolovy naboj Vz.82” which they claimed exceeded the standard Soviet Makarov rounds ballistic qualities by 20 percent.  I wish I could find some of that ammo now, or at least it’s characteristics, but that’s another search.

The pistol is a fixed barrel design utilizing the blowback style operation.  It’s a double action pistol, with an ambidextrous safety.  The safety locks the slide and sear when engaged, allowing for "cocked and locked" carry (real neat!).  The sights are of fixed type with the rear sight dovetailed into the slide frame (horizontal), while the front sight is dovetailed from the front and pinned.   The sight picture has two dots at rear in white with a white vertical on the front. The slide and barrel are made of high grade steel, a bit heavy for those of us spoiled by the new polymer based designs, but the all-steel construction makes it almost indestructible.

When you look down the barrel looking for the traditional grooves and lands that we are most familiar with you will be surprised, they are not there.  They utilize a polygonal type of system which almost looks like a smooth bore, but it’s far from that.  This system does surprisingly well with the Makarov round.

Seeing the commercial potential of this pistol with its “in house” popularity, CZ introduced the CZ 83 in three caliber choices:  32ACP (7.65 Browning), 380ACP (9mm Browning Short) and 9mm Makarov  for civilian use.  It was manufactured from it’s introduction in 1985 till 1994, reintroduced from 1999 through 2002, and except for special runs has been discontinued.  Other than finish options (blued, glossy blue, satin nickel and black polymer), a different trigger guard (changed after initial production), the CZ 83 is pretty much identical to the CZ 82.

Take down of the pistol is easy;  take the magazine out of the pistol.

Pull back the slide while lifting up from the frame when it comes free.

I fell instantly in love with the feel of this model (mine was manufactured in 1987).  Although the grips are typical of a military issue (hard plastic), it was extremely comfortable in my hand.   The trigger action was smooth and predictable, with a crisp trigger pull.  Because of it’s solid design and weight, it allowed much better control in rapid fire; without the pistol bucking like a wild horse.

Unlike other Czech military pistols it has the magazine release (again ambidextrous) just behind the trigger on the side of the frame which makes magazine changes so much easier.  Take down of the pistol is easy;  take the magazine out of the pistol, pull down on the front of the trigger guard hard, which detaches it from the frame and lowers it about 3/8 of an inch, and pull back the slide while lifting up from the frame when it comes free.

Best of all was the accuracy.  Of all the handguns that I own, this is one of the most consistent and accurate.  No feed problems, no failure to fire, no problems at all.   As a comparison I bounced back and forth with my E. German Makarov, and the CZ 82 just felt better, although the recoil was a bit different than the Makarov it was very manageable.  I found the difference to be that the Makarov would buck upwards, while the CZ 82 went more toward the heel of the hand with less of a upwards buck.

Using Sellier & Bellot (95gr FMJ) it grouped less than 1 inch groups at 7 yards with repeatable results.  It’s far more accurate than my shaking hands are.  With that type of accuracy I’m really pleased.

Sources:

Dolinek, Vladmir, and others.  Czech Firearms and ammunition; History and Present.  Prague,   Radix, 1995.

Berger, R.J..  Know Your Czechoslovakian Pistols.  Chino Valley, Publishers Blacksmith Corporation, 1989

Fjestad, S.P..  Blue Book of Gun Values; 26^th Edition.  Minneapolis,  Blue Book Publications, Inc., 2005

Schwing, Ned.  Standard Catalog of Military Firearms 3d Edition, The collector’s price and reference guide. Iola, Krause Publications, 2005

CZ-USA (www.cz-usa.com)

And of course the magical C&R forums which keeps history alive

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