Cz.52 Pistol - Build your own?

[Rusty_S85]

I have been looking online for Cz.52 pistols for a few days now and I keep seeing alot of parts and I have a question for those that might have tried this or done this before.

If I were to say pick up a Cz.52 frame by itself would it be possible to obtain all the parts to build a Cz.52 and have the cost the same if not slightly less than buying one out right?

I am curious about this because I keep seeing frames for $25 or so and I do recall seeing a armory kit some place for $200 or so but it didnt appear to come with a slide but supposedly came with everything else.

But back to the question just wondering if it would be possible to buy a frame and get the parts to build your own using new parts and come out the same if not cheaper than buying one out right.  I know theres some on gunbroker and other auction sites but I dont like auction sites for stuff like this, can easily pay more than you would really like to.

[jcrntx]

Rusty,

Yes, it is possible, did it myself a couple years ago.  Bought a frame, slide and a bunch of the parts on gunbroker.  Picked up one of the armorer kits off ebay and put one together using the barrel and any needed parts from the kit.  It was a real tight nice shooting pistol.  Not sure if it will end up costing you any less than finding a decent deal on one of the forums or gunbroker but it was fun and not a very challenging build (my first).  Good luck!

[Rusty_S85]

Thanks for the quick response.  I am thinking long as the price is around $200 - $250 I would be happy with it.  I just cant justify spending $400+ like on gunbroker that those people are wanting.  I could go to academy and buy a .38 special revolver for $240 or a .357 Magnum for $270 revolver brand new.  I understand these are old guns but every source I see says made from 1952 - 1982.  30 years worth of the model shouldnt make them that valuable in my book but I will have to look.  I found a few places that have the CZ.52 listed for around $200 - $250 but its listed as out of stock.

[lklawson]

I understand these are old guns but every source I see says made from 1952 - 1982.  30 years worth of the model shouldnt make them that valuable in my book but I will have to look.

That's not right.  They were manufactured from 1952 to 1954.  Two years.  They remained in service until '82.  I suspect that armory kits and replacement parts were made during that time.

Nevertheless, they were only produced from '52 to '54.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

[Rusty_S85]

Well then I guess that was an error on the sites I been to.

In the end I will still consider building my own since Southern Ohio told me that they havent had them in stock for over a year now and that they doubt they ever will get more in.

My only options would be to fork over $400+ for those on gunbroker or other gun auction sites or to build my own.  Would be great if I could build my own for $200 - $250 for everything.  Be worth that much since its all brand new and I could even look into the parkerize finish if it could be done, being built from parts would mean the finish would be done first.

I dont know if there would be any legal issues with piecing a gun together from parts I doubt it but who knows with how crazy some laws can be.  I do know I would like to get some of those desert armor custom wood hand grips for it if I built it myself.  Would have to take time to figure in the cost of all the parts unless I could get a quick fairly accurate estimate on the cost for all the parts by itself.

I figure the mags would be around $40 or $50, the frame I know is $25 for sure, not sure how much a slide would go for havent seen any of those listed new or on part sites.

[lklawson]

A regular over on hipointfirarmsforum.com is selling his for $230, shipped.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

[Rusty_S85]

I can get all the parts to build one brand new from this one website I found, only thing though is buying every part including the mag housing, floor plate and springs but excluding the side grips since I wanted aftermarket wood ones.  Well the price of doing this is way higher than I like, sent an email off to them if they would offer a discount for buying all those parts at once.

But I came up with $445.99 for all new parts internally with a bare orignal slide and a bare orignal frame but as I said excluding the hand grips.  Honestly I dont know if a totally brand new internally CZ.52 would be worth $445.99 or not but I am fixing to see how much the magazine costs being pieced together compared to the complete orignal one that the site offers might knock the price down some.

I know there are some selling cheaper but I just dont feel safe with buying from a private seller online.  Prefer to go through a business if possible.

-Edit-

Well I could save some money getting the assembled magazine than putting it together myself.  To put it together is $46 where as the assembled magazine is priced at $30.

So I could get the price down to $429.99 which is alittle better.  Need to check some of the other bare parts vs assembled parts and see if I can knock the price down even more.

To get the barrel bare, and get the Roller locks, Roller cam, and the roller cam pin the cost is $83 compared to the assembled barrel with all that which is priced at $69.  Which honestly looks like its orignal parts not new which would be strange to cheap out on getting used assembly just to save a few bucks when I can build a new assembly using a stripped barrel.

[josey88]

I got my two cz-52s on a Gun Show . Since those were used guns and God only knows what kind of shape they were in , really, I got two new barrels , rollers, firing pins , springs, slide locks , wood grips , etc . Now my two beauties are brand new , look better than new and shoot perfectly. I have , since, shot 300 rds with each .

[Rusty_S85]

josey88, I am possibly considering getting the $340 unissued one from blackbeararms.  It would be in great condition mechanically and $340 is alot better price than $400+ it would cost me to buy the parts (excluding s&h) and my time putting one together.

I did see alot of people comment that if your going to shoot it $340 is steep for a shooter but I paid $220 for my M91/30 which was in mint condition in my book and I planned on shooting it some (it might be mint but its from 1939 and a post war stock plus WWII would have seen this specific rifle in action so its not like I can wear it out).  In the end I rather shoot a gun that I know to be mechanically good than to shoot one that might not possibly be safe to use as is.

Only thing though is I will end up getting the 1895 Nagant revolver and the CZ.82 first since I can have those for under $200 and the CZ.52 will come later, better than me blowing all my disposable funds for firearms all on a CZ.52 when I can get the other two hand guns I would love to have and have money still on the side.

[josey88]

rusty, I can see the logic of your reasoning, however, on the case of the CZ-52s there are some variables ... for example, even if you buy a brand new, unfired  pistol, you would have to replace the rollers (that is mandatory) , along with the firing pin (harrington ones) to upgrade the trigger , and most likely(since it doesn`t come with it) an extended lock release and wood grips .  I paid $200 for one and $210 for the other , plus the upgrades and parts . I would say that I invested around $350 or so in each of my CZ-52s, but I got them the way I wanted , with the parts and mods that I wanted . In any case , I was not doing it as a measure of saving money , but to improve and upgrade the guns to a today`s level of functioning and reliability , and of course, beauty. I think that for just about the same amount of money that you would be putting up front for a pistol that would need to be upgraded anyway , I did pretty well.  Of course , this is only my point of view ; you cut go on with the pistol the way it comes from factory. Enjoy the pics

[skucera]

You don't need to replace the OEM firing pin and rollers.  My pistol still uses both its original rollers and its original firing pin, and I got the pistol in 1996.  The secret is to never, ever dry fire the pistol without a snap cap in place, and to lubricate the rollers along with the rest of the moving parts.  Also, the Cosmoline used to preserve these pistols is not a lubricant, so it must be thoroughly cleaned out of the pistol before use.  This pistol will give years of faithful service with regular use and thoughtful maintenance.

Scott

[josey88]

You don't need to replace the OEM firing pin and rollers.  My pistol still uses both its original rollers and its original firing pin, and I got the pistol in 1996.  The secret is to never, ever dry fire the pistol without a snap cap in place, and to lubricate the rollers along with the rest of the moving parts.  Also, the Cosmoline used to preserve these pistols is not a lubricant, so it must be thoroughly cleaned out of the pistol before use.  This pistol will give years of faithful service with regular use and thoughtful maintenance.

Scott

That is true . My reason  in replacing the firing pin with a Harrington #3 Heavy Competition firing pin was to reduce  the trigger pull weight to  3.5 or 4 lbs , which is very nice , besides eliminating firing pin breakage at the same time. The rollers... well ... why not ? Now I am sure that I have hardened rollers and nothing to worry about it for life

[skucera]

Good points, both.

Scott

[Rusty_S85]

rusty, I can see the logic of your reasoning, however, on the case of the CZ-52s there are some variables ... for example, even if you buy a brand new, unfired  pistol, you would have to replace the rollers (that is mandatory) , along with the firing pin (harrington ones) to upgrade the trigger , and most likely(since it doesn`t come with it) an extended lock release and wood grips .  I paid $200 for one and $210 for the other , plus the upgrades and parts . I would say that I invested around $350 or so in each of my CZ-52s, but I got them the way I wanted , with the parts and mods that I wanted . In any case , I was not doing it as a measure of saving money , but to improve and upgrade the guns to a today`s level of functioning and reliability , and of course, beauty. I think that for just about the same amount of money that you would be putting up front for a pistol that would need to be upgraded anyway , I did pretty well.  Of course , this is only my point of view ; you cut go on with the pistol the way it comes from factory. Enjoy the pics

True, personally I didnt think about upgrading it.  The firing pin I would upgrade if the orignal broke, but I dont plan on dry firing it and I do plan on having snap caps to use with the pistol to prevent dry firing.

On the mag release I am not sure how I will like it, I never seen ina CZ.52 in person nor messed with a eurostyle mag release.  For all I know it might be easy for me.  I know I can use my finger to release the mag floor plate release on my M91/30 which appears to be fairly simmilar to the euro style mag release whcih is basically a short piece of metal that you have to push one way to release.

The hand grips I am not sure which ones I will go with but these are the ones I was looking at.

Arizona Desert Iron Wood


Royal Camouflage Laminate


Tigerwood Laminate


or Walnut


Are the ones I am really liking and think would look good.  Should cost around $100 for the grips if I remember right for the CZ.52 reguardless on the style of wood I deside on.  I do how ever llike the blackbeararms deal since I am wanting the parkerized finish CZ.52 over the blued version.

[joemac]

A regular over on hipointfirarmsforum.com is selling his for $230, shipped.

Kirk - I couldn't find the CZ 52 for sale at that site.  Do you have a direct link?