Some questions and answers with Czech Point.

[JDA70]

Here are some questions I sent to Czech Point that were kindly answered
by Dan brown.

The only answer I don't agree with is #1. They sell every other part
and I don't see why they wouldn't sell replacement barrels.

Hi.

Will Czech Point be selling replacement Barrels for the vz.58?

No.   If you are looking for a replacement  barrel, you could contact Apex Gun Parts or Ohio Ordnance to see if they have barrels for sale. 


Will Czech Point ever sell stripped receivers to people who own parts kits to build there own like an AR-15 for example?

 
No.  We had sold stripped receivers in the past, but quite a few people who had purchased these receivers had extreme difficulty completing the build.   It was very labor intensive to support people who did not have the skills, tool, and/or experience and I took the receivers off of the website.  We are a manufacturer and importer and there was not enough time in the day to assist people with building this rifle.

and one last question...

Will Czech Point sell a lower priced vz.58 to compete with commercial AR-15s,  WASR-10 AK-47 or even IWI's new Galil?

No, I don?t see it happening.   Not unless the US dollar increases in value.   A few years back, our rifles were selling $799.00 retail.  Now that our rifles are using quite a few new parts, these rifles are more expensive from the factory.   Our rifles will never be priced that low again ? it just can?t happen.   

[Brasky]

and one last question...

Will Czech Point sell a lower priced vz.58 to compete with commercial AR-15s,  WASR-10 AK-47 or even IWI's new Galil?

No, I don?t see it happening.   Not unless the US dollar increases in value.   A few years back, our rifles were selling $799.00 retail.  Now that our rifles are using quite a few new parts, these rifles are more expensive from the factory.   Our rifles will never be priced that low again ? it just can?t happen.   

Is labor in Czech that expensive? Or are the parts that expensive to make? Or are the export costs too high?
I could see not wanting to price their rifles lower or build a more competitively priced rifle, but I do not believe when they say they cannot price rifles that low.

[cciman]

While supply lasts, you can have a close version for under $500 (VZ2008), and add $200 for welding and other mods, and you are near identical, for less.

[RSR]

Is labor in Czech that expensive? Or are the parts that expensive to make? Or are the export costs too high?
I could see not wanting to price their rifles lower or build a more competitively priced rifle, but I do not believe when they say they cannot price rifles that low.

Ditto.  Look at the VZ58's price in Canada.  They have recently gone for $800 CAD or so there w/ special furniture and the Canada specific 18 or 20" barre (can't recall).  And their dollar is worth 10% less than ours. 

Granted, Czechpoint has to open the magwells to doublestack, swap out the thumbhole stock, single stack bolt, put in the plastic trigger parts, and on the tactical the front sight block to one w/ a bayo lug -- but those parts can just be shipped back in forth from the Czech republic (or, the US parts installed in the Czechc Republic and just the stock, bayo lug, and magwell done here...).

Bottom line, Czechpoint is the exclusive importer and distributor and retailer which amounts to a monopoly.  So there are most definitely market inefficiencies which for us consumers, which means higher prices than there should/would be otherwise...

[vblue42]

I have railed against Czechpoint/CSA prices for over two years on this site as not justifying the price of their rifles compared to the Century builds. And when they were building their rifles from surplus parts as Century does the price certainly wasn't justified. Now however, CSA is building all new manufactured rifles due to the fact that surplus armorers kits have dried up. I don't know if I agree with 1K plus on the price but I will agree it's not as out of the question as it was before they started using all new made parts to build their rifles. I still wouldn't buy one when I can get a good quality  entire rifle package for 399. My 2 cents.

[DanielBoone]

I think importing an actual rifle is much more expensive (time, paperwork, inspections, etc) than importing parts.  Czechpoint imports whole rifles then modifies them while others import the parts or buy the imported parts then use a US receiver and barrel.  I love the fact mine was made in the Czech Republic.  Unfortunately we all have to neuter these with US parts...

Were Czech Points cheaper I'd buy more - agreed.  But in this day and age, what may well be the best twilight years of modern sporting rifle ownership, I think the benefits outweigh the cost.   Customer service, quality, warranty, cool logo, Czech Receiver sold me (four times since 2009) on Czechpoint.  I'd love a VZ2008 to at some point.  They each have advantages.  So does a Bushmaster vs a Colt vs a LWRC.   They are all apples - I'm just paying extra to get one that is organic....

Just my thoughts...

[RSR]

Relative to other weapons systems on the market, I do think Czechpoint's prices are fair -- simply b/c I think the VZ58 is a much better short stroke piston weapons system than the modern polymer guns its competing with...  Only the Sig long strokes and Adams Arms ARs are in the same price point.  Everything else is at least $1500 or so.

But relative to what they have in purchasing rifles, I think @ $750 for single stack and $900 for converted they'd still be able to make a hefty profit and their increased sales volume would almost certainly mean more a more profitable business...  (Remember that they're combining importer, distributor and retailer profits and knocking just one of these surcharges off would likely lower to the prices I'm mentioning...).

I'm really happy they've switched to 16" barrels for rifles however.

I still don't like them requiring mag parts swapping for 922r compliance (gets expensive, puts customers at risk if ignorant about 922r, and adds no performance benefits), the polymer trigger components, the forward to fire safety, and that they don't allow you to select the style of front sight you want to run on your weapon...  So you're looking at +$100-$200 just to get the weapon to where it should even though it's "premium."

[Franz Maurer]

On top of that for your thousand dollars you may find out that czechpoint's warranty is a complete lie
as it doesn't cover defects in materials and workmanship

Czechpoint has no problem whatsoever to knowingly sell a rifle with a rear sight slot welded up and subsequently re-cut off center breaking the symmetry of the rear sight whenever they need to "sight in" a rifle with out-of-spec windage poi
 

[DanielBoone]

Sorry to hear you had trouble with them - I think I recall reading that before.  Just for anyone thinking of buying from them though - I've dealt with them four times and they have been 100 percent first rate and reliable.  Anyone can screw up once or twice - but I would not hesitate at all to buy from Czechpoint.

[RSR]

The more I think about this email exchange the more it bothers me.  In particular the barrel one.  Why wouldn't Czechpoint sell barrels to their customers or any other person in the US?  I see no logical reason for that.

It just goes with the "keep all my toys to myself" and "play by my rules or go home" type mentality that that company operates.  Just like how they require you to buy a beat up old bolt carrier from them to get a tab... 

Or how they sued Century for building a weapon system similar to their own -- it wasn't just about the tab, though that seemed to be the icing on the cake, as Century redesigned receivers after that lawsuit and apparently sealed settlement as well...

[Sheepdog]

Sorry to hear you had trouble with them - I think I recall reading that before.  Just for anyone thinking of buying from them though - I've dealt with them four times and they have been 100 percent first rate and reliable.  Anyone can screw up once or twice - but I would not hesitate at all to buy from Czechpoint.

I had a small issue on one of my Czechpoint rifles. When I bought it, the folding stock had some paint damage on it. I didn't notice it at first. I mailed the rifle off to InRange to have some work done. And Dan took the new stock to InRange (they're not far away) and hand delivered the stock himself. InRange installed it for me. This was several years ago.

That being said. From all I can gather and recall, Franz seems to have a reasonable gripe I think. But he just loves to come in and trash/gripe Czechpoint whenever he gets the chance. That's cool though. Since he has seems to have a reasonable gripe.

[Sheepdog]

The more I think about this email exchange the more it bothers me.  In particular the barrel one.  Why wouldn't Czechpoint sell barrels to their customers or any other person in the US?  I see no logical reason for that.

Well, they don't give a specific reason. Perhaps the profit margin isn't high enough. Perhaps they don't see a demand. Perhaps they sell enough rifles they don't see a need. Perhaps Lothar Walther (who makes all the barrels I believe) won't sell them extras. No one knows. Maybe because they had issues with people during the time they sold blank receivers, they don't want to deal with all the extra barrel questions they might get down the road with spare barrels.

It just goes with the "keep all my toys to myself" and "play by my rules or go home" type mentality that that company operates.  Just like how they require you to buy a beat up old bolt carrier from them to get a tab... 

I see what you're saying. It would be nice I guess if they sold the tabs by themselves. Why they don't, we don't know. Perhaps someone cares to ask Dan why.

Or how they sued Century for building a weapon system similar to their own -- it wasn't just about the tab, though that seemed to be the icing on the cake, as Century redesigned receivers after that lawsuit and apparently sealed settlement as well...

The legal case and the patents that Czechpoint own are out there. Like it or not. I don't think it was purely just the tab that caused the issue. But it's clear that Century infringed upon CSA/Czechpoints patent(s), etc. So I don't blame Czechpoint/CSA for going after them. That's their right.

It would be great regardless if their guns sold for cheaper. But it won't. It is what it is. With costs of importation, modifying (opening mag wells, ect), etc, etc. And the costs of new barrels and a lot of new parts. Compared to the $800 they used to sell for. I don't know that the current prices are that far out of line. Maybe they are.

[RSR]

My primary point about Czechpoint is that the growth and adoption of the VZ58 by American consumers seems to be constrained by the heavy handedness by which the company operates in regards to competitors and the expensive pricepoints for not only the weapons but also all the accessories, etc, on their site.

And I understand their patent situation, etc, but the timeline for the patent suggests the patents were filed specifically for the purpose of cornering the market rather than intellectual property.  And in settling with Century, they could have allowed them to run the tab but give them a fee per rifle built with the technology. From the looks of it, either it wasn't an option or they wanted an inordinate fee -- this is just my speculation. 

For all intents Czechpoint is a monopoly and operates like one.  IMO, that's not good for our pocketbooks as consumers and not good for us as VZ58 enthusiasts who want to see the platform evolve into its optimal and .  End of the day, their business model seems quite short sighted, also IMO.  Leaving me frustrated and disappointed in their status quo...  (To be clear -- not here to bash them, just sharing my perspective and have also been considering adding their 7.62x39 pistol to my collection next year...)