markings

[n-6x6pinz-czechpistols82792]

What do all the markings on the CZ52 frame indicate?

[n-6x6pinz-czechpistols82792]

OK so the double swords and the number following is the manufacture date?
the VOZ (plus number or numbers) are the years the gun was rearsenaled?
A "T" with a circle around it on the barrel is an indication of a test performed on barrel ?(what test)
a dimple or punch on the top of the gun indicates a test for hardness of metal?
the other numbers are serial numbers

How do you know who imported them? There is mention of an importation mark but not where it would be located. Any help?

All above correct?

[wolfshell]

Ok, it looks like you read my reply on the one post here ( http://czechpistols82792.yuku.com?topic=4988/t/Original-military-finish-on-the-vz-52-pistol.html ). As far as I could find, based on the source information I found, that post was correct.  As for importer information, it depends on the importer.  Usually you will find any information engraved either on the side of the gun, on the outside of the trigger guard, on the bottom in front of the trigger guard, or rarely, under the grips or on the back of the grip frame.  Not all importers do this as it does damage the collectability.

[skucera]

I should look through the old posts for some where all the marks are explained. That takes a long time, longer than to just describe them all again.

The rampant lion is the proof mark. Symbolically, it is the white lion of Bohemia. It is a symbol that has been used from the middle ages. I'm surprised it was retained by the communists, but it was.

The crossed swords are the acceptance stamp from the Czechoslovakian Army (and still used by the Army of the Czech Republic today). The crossed swords are used everywhere, even on plastic uniform buttons and stamped into leather holsters.

The "rid" stamp is the military manufacturer code for CZ Brno.

"VOZ" followed by any numbers are the years that the pistol was sent for reconditioning at the arsenal. Some pistols were never reconditioned; some like mine have been reconditioned several times. Mine has "VOZ 77 86 95" and that last year was just before it was exported to the US.

A "Z" stamp (foggy memory) signifies that the pistol was inspected for properly working safety.

Scott

[Radom]

Does anyone know how to distinguish a Zbrojovka Brno vz-52 from a Ceska Zbrojovka Strakonice pistol? CZ-UB says that Strakonice produced some vz-52s just before all small arms production ceased at the Strakonice plant.

[skucera]

I never heard that CZ Strakonice built vz 52 pistols until you mentioned it here. Kirby's article at http://www.geocities.com/kirbytheog/czech/czbook.html mentions that CZ 50 production was moved from Strakonice to enable production of the CZ 52, so that seems to confirm that idea. (I wish Kirby had cited his sources.)

I've read many places that said that CZ Brno was the nationalized "Narodni Ponik" of all weapons production in Czechoslovakia under communism. My dad mentioned that when he was an armorer in the Marine Corps, they had all of the Warsaw Pact small arms in their armory, and the CZ pistols were all referred to interchangeably either as "CZ pistols" or as "Brno pistols." It makes sense that the nationalized CZ monopoly would use many factories, and would put pistol manufacture in factories traditionally equipped to produce pistols, like Strakonice and Uherzky Brod.

All the CZ 52's I've seen have the "rid" manufacturer code. I don't know if that refers to the CZ Narodni Ponik in general, or to the individual factory where they were built. If that "rid" stamp refers only to one factory, then there might be some pistols stamped with another three letter code.

Scott

[Radom]

Scott,

Thanks for the feedback.

[cz52luvr]

Regarding markings on CZ52 pistols, I know all of the obvious exterior markings, but just recently I have been looking into what these internal markings are, so far with no luck (I do know what the "Z in circle" is).  Does anybody know what they mean?  They are labeled as the "scythe", the "Q", the "flower / star", the "heart with stem", and the "curved dagger" if that's what it is?