CZ52 Value

[elhefe86]

Looking at local CZ52 with little bit of ammo.  What is value of one in decent shape? 

[elhefe86]

Update, gun and 3k rounds with it.  Value on that?

[elhefe86]

Anyone?  Was going to get back to the seller today.  CZ52 is decent condition with holster, 2 mags, and 3k rounds.  Looking for approximate value.

[rdcinhou]

I don't normally respond to this type of post (original poster hasn't done any homework), but it IS almost Christmas.

Currently there is ONE (1) CZ 52 (made in 54) on Gunbroker.com auction, no reserve, and they are asking a starting bid of $490...BUT they also are including a holster which probably adds $90-$100 to the worth.

I paid about $400 for mine some years back, but it had the original mags and the original "parkerized" finish--making it a true C&R value.

Many CZ 52's that I've seen at gun shows have been refinished in such ways as I believe decrease the value. Of course those sellers ask exorbitant prices for the gun.

On any used gun, I typically want to check out the bore and if possible the mags and firing pin. That is difficult to do with over-the-web auctions.

If you are getting to handle the gun, ask them to show you field stripping and reassembly.  It would also be good if they'd let you shoot it to prove that it still works.  There are a lot of used guns out there that need work, and some that are only good for spare parts.

The CZ 52 is wonderful to shoot and was a ground-breaking design when it first came out--with the dual roller recoil system and both a safety AND decocker.

Good Luck!

[elhefe86]

I don't normally respond to this type of post (original poster hasn't done any homework), but it IS almost Christmas.

Currently there is ONE (1) CZ 52 (made in 54) on Gunbroker.com auction, no reserve, and they are asking a starting bid of $490...BUT they also are including a holster which probably adds $90-$100 to the worth.

I paid about $400 for mine some years back, but it had the original mags and the original "parkerized" finish--making it a true C&R value.

Many CZ 52's that I've seen at gun shows have been refinished in such ways as I believe decrease the value. Of course those sellers ask exorbitant prices for the gun.

On any used gun, I typically want to check out the bore and if possible the mags and firing pin. That is difficult to do with over-the-web auctions.

If you are getting to handle the gun, ask them to show you field stripping and reassembly.  It would also be good if they'd let you shoot it to prove that it still works.  There are a lot of used guns out there that need work, and some that are only good for spare parts.

The CZ 52 is wonderful to shoot and was a ground-breaking design when it first came out--with the dual roller recoil system and both a safety AND decocker.

Good Luck!

I'm so new to the CZ game I wanted to ask.  I did check GB, but looks like to me gun is about $350-400ish.  It does come with a holster. I figured the ammo alone would make this a no brainer to buy.... 

[Palmetto Marsh]

My only comment is to do your research on Cz 52’s as some have been rebuilt a couple of times.. doesn’t make them all bad... it’s all what you want... as the other poster stated... best if you see it in person....the ammo .. be careful if it’s old surplus Cold War ammo... might not be that is not safe to use.....  a original cz 52 without import marks are hard to fine.. the net is full of info on these neat post war hand  guns.

[elhefe86]

My only comment is to do your research on Cz 52’s as some have been rebuilt a couple of times.. doesn’t make them all bad... it’s all what you want... as the other poster stated... best if you see it in person....the ammo .. be careful if it’s old surplus Cold War ammo... might not be that is not safe to use.....  a original cz 52 without import marks are hard to fine.. the net is full of info on these neat post war hand  guns.

How do I know if it's old surplus cold war ammo?  Any tips to look for?  See one marking on the side and 53 next to it.

[rdcinhou]

Oh, the ammo!

While doing research for my CZ 52, there were cautionary warnings about using old ammo from that period.

One particular one was that the Russian powder/primer ends up being acidic and that cleaning instructions back then included washing the barrel with water to remove the residual acid.

Then of course, stay away from steel-cased ammo as this had been implicated in premature failures of ejectors.

[Palmetto Marsh]

If you are really serious about this Cz 52 ... a book to buy is Cold War  Pistols of Czechoslovakia by James Brown.. Amazon has them. This is probably the best.. my opinion.. in describing every aspect , variations in over 25 pages.. small print about the cz52 .. best to be educated before buying.. to me the history and the different variations is all part of the chase.
Merry Christmas 🎄

[Palmetto Marsh]

I just notice a nice cz52 on GB .. markings shows it hasn’t been rebuilt.  If it was there would be a vor / voz .. then date stamped above the trigger guard  and I didn’t see any import marks . Good price at $350.. NOS holsters are available lots of place and a good gun store carries Sellier and Beloit ammo for this pistol.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

Back when they wall fell and these pistols started showing up in the US they sold very cheap like well under $200 cheap and I had a couple. Surplus ammo was readily available at that time as well but much of it was corrosive so you had to follow the cleaning regimen for that type of ammo which is the same as any black powder gun which means lots of hot soapy water and scrubbing. Much of it was very old as well and I ran into a batch years back that often took a double strike on the primer to fire, it was the ammo and not the guns so some of the ammo was unreliable.
Today the surplus ammo coming in from over seas has dried up and any you find has been here for awhile. There is some commercial new manufacture to be found from Winchester and Sellier and Beloit but it is pricey and given current conditions I'm sure it's off the chart expensive. So now all that said when the cheap ammo disappeared I sold the guns off and never looked back. These guns are never going to be High dollar collector pieces and ammo could be hard to find if at all and even a deal with ammo included there's no guarantee the ammo is good if it's surplus. I'd ask the seller about the ammo specifically and they should know what it is. Buyer beware.
Personally I would not even consider one of these pistols today at any price but to each his own.

[elhefe86]

Oh, the ammo!

While doing research for my CZ 52, there were cautionary warnings about using old ammo from that period.

One particular one was that the Russian powder/primer ends up being acidic and that cleaning instructions back then included washing the barrel with water to remove the residual acid.

Then of course, stay away from steel-cased ammo as this had been implicated in premature failures of ejectors.

I am told it's all brass.  And submachine ammo.

[Rock-it3]

The 53 stamped ammo is military surplus, and loaded pretty hot. It is corrosive, so you will have to clean the pistol after every range trip. The brass is also somewhat brittle, and you will experience cracked necks in the cases. I have seen 1 or 2 cracked necks in each 8-round magazine. Don't count on reloading them, they are Berdan primed, so difficult to reload even if the brass wasn't brittle. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot the stuff, but I wouldn't buy it, either.

I think I paid $175 for my CZ52, about 8 years ago, and it appeared unfired. I don't know what they sell for now, but double $175 wouldn't surprise me.

[elhefe86]

Ended up buying the CZ52.  Paid $1k for the gun, holster, 2 mags, and 2,970 rounds of ammo.  Also got 224 rounds of 44mag ammo.  Half was hollow point shock point.  CZ has not been refurbished as it only had the original 53 marking on the side. 

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

Ouch! Well hope you enjoy your new purchase.