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Origins of the vz.82: A Western Pistol for Communist Czechoslovakia (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2022-09-02 12:00:04 +0000 UTCThe vz.82 and its cousin the CZ 83 are pistols that originated when the Czech state export company during the Cold War began looking for arms it could export to bring in hard currency. The current service pistol, the vz.52, was, shall we say, not widely desirable and its 7.62x25mm cartridge was not widely used outside the Warsaw Pact anyway. The earlier vz.50 and vz.70 pistols were also not really suitable, as they were old and rather clunky designs. Something new was needed that could appeal to customers worldwide.
So, the export firm approaches the state arms factory - CZ - about designing something new. The Ministry of Defense got wind of the project in 1977, and joined in - they also wanted a new pistol - specifically something in 9x18mm Makarov. In 1978 the Czech Ministry of the Interior also joins in, looking for a new pistol for the police. To meet all of these requests, CZ developed a remarkably modern and effective compact pistol which would eventually be made in three different calibers - .32 ACP, .380 ACP, and 9x18mm Makarov.
The first prototypes were completed in 1979, and full scale production began in 1982. Today we are looking at specifically a very early prototype vz.82 in 9x18mm (with a decocking mechanism that would later be dropped from the design) and the standard production vz.82.
The 9x18mm pistols were designated vz.82, and they used polygonal rifling because they were initially developed for a unique Czech 9x18mm cartridge which used a sintered iron bullet. That would cause undue wear on traditional rifling, and so polygonal rifling was chosen instead. The cartridge was eventually scrapped, but the rifling choice remained. The guns in .32 and .380 were designated the CZ 83, and used traditional rifling. Large numbers of both have come into the US in recent years as surplus.
Comments
Guido Schriewer
underestimated option. for a ccw thing... not bad.
Jeff I
Perhaps a time zone or brain fart due to finnish brutality?
Steven Vanosdall
Jeff, it just popped up a few minutes ago. I'm hoping Ian messed up the release timing... but after the Fiasco last week with the CZ episode, I'm fearful that he didn't and it got blasted by Youtube again.
Jeff I
Am I blind or did the normal version not publish on youtube? (it is public on Utreon though?)
Bruce Brodnax
FWIW, the ammo *taught* you to wear eye-pro; you *learned* from it. Not a flame, just thought that since your English is already so good you'd appreciate the tip on polishing it even further. #EnglishIsWeird
Marc Paris
I have an 82. Great shoulder holster gun. I don’t like the fact that it’s a DA/SA that doesn’t have a decocker. That’s why I don’t like the Jericho. At least this is more of a historical gun. The Jericho is still being produced with that manual of arms
Sonny Hughes
Those are both great pieces. I have one of the CZ82s that came in several yyears back. Later picked up a commercial 83 in .380.
Sabertooth88
Wow, I feel dumb. I just thought the barrel on my 82 was just shot out, looks like all the 9x18s are supposed to be that way. Definitely learned something today
Jan Chvojka
during study on Technical University of Prague (ČVUT) i attend mandatory military training, where we traing on vz.52 pistols but when we go onto shooting range of tank regiment in Podbořany we were given these pistols vz.82 to shoot. nice weapon to shoot, mild recoil.
Ľuboš Gergel
BTW this ammunition learned me to wear eye protection, as ruptured cases are not uncommon...
Ľuboš Gergel
Hi Ian. As an owner o vz. 82, I am shooting mostly sintered iron bulets. They were made in Považská Bystrica (aym) factory until cca 2004-2005 (based on headstamps), and then the production moved to Sirok in Hungary. Latest headstamps I have are from 2012.
When I bought my Vz. 82 pistol it only came with one magazine. About a month afterward AIM Surplus had a deal for one spare mag and a black leather mag pouch for some reasonable price, so i ordered one. When it arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find the Adidas logo had been added to the magazine baseplate by the previous user... i suspect from Eastern or Central Europe. Anyway, I love my Vz. 82 and it reminds me of working with the Slovak Army/Air Force in the mid 20-teens. Thank you for the content, Ian.
Timothy Conklin
This is my favorite pistol! 🇨🇿🔫❤️
Matthew Halfpenny
Now I'm really curious about the sintered iron bullets they tried making. Is there any more information on them available?
