Refinished CZ-52

I zinc parkerized my CZ-52 last weekend. It's OEM finish was getting thin. It's job was done. I took the pistol down, hand filed and sanded out 80% of the eastern block mill and machine marks. Bead blasted it to white and gave it a bath. All parts parkerized except the sear, firing pin parts and springs I did have a barrel plug leak,,,, so the bore got a good park. It was not a bright bore by any means. But a honest good surplus corrosive bore in good as shape as can be expected. I also replaced the cast steel firing pin and barrel rollers. The decocker now works. It not only pass's bench testing. It has also passed repeated field testing. It's still not to be trusted. But it does work!

I took the pistol out yesterday to the range along with the Sigma, and a few other firearms. Long and Hand. The CZ earned it's place as my new full time HD pistol. I put 600 rounds down range with it. A 100 Bulgarian surplus FMJ. 400 rounds of Cech SMG FMJ surplus and 100 rounds of Wolf Gold JHP. I brought it home, cleaned it up reloaded it with Wolf Gold JHP and put it in its place as my go to HD pistol. And put the Sigma up. At 10 yards I could empty the 8 round mag as fast as I could pull the trigger and maintain a 3" group regardless of ammo used. I gave up with the Sigma. 5" groups were hard to get with it in 8 shots. I can't find any muscle memory with the Sigma. The CZ is like pointing your fist. Hard to explain. It goes about it's task with a workman/craftsman type demeanor. And begs for more. I was repeatably good for 8 of 8 balloons blown up to 8" at 100 yards off rest. 8 of 8 off hand at 50 yards with the same 8" balloons. This thing is a freaking tack driver and enjoys helping me get there. No excuse's,,,, all game!

It ate up all ammo loaded up. It shot the SMG ammo as if it was designed for the job,,,, hard primers and all. Can't wait to load up my own ammo for this pistol with JHP's pointing the way at SMG levels. Still trying to figure out if Oklahoma will let me deer hunt with this beast come next season.

What a pistol IMO.





All that is left to do is regrip it and mod in a modern type slide release.

That looks very nice. I have 2 of them, a blued one and a grey parkerized one. Both of them shoot like a champ. I have a holster screwed to the dog house in my van for one of them. I figured if I ever needed a car to car pistol the CZ52 would excel at the job with the penetration it gets.

bob

Looks good! I've got two of them. I was at an auction several years ago, and they auctioned one. My $70 bid was highest, and the auctioneer asked how many I wanted! I asked how many he had. Two it was. They appeared to be unfired. They do indeed shoot good if they aren't the prettiest thing in the safe.

Nice job, I have one of these that I bought around 15yrs ago. For what they went for back then I couldn't pass it up. It's too bad makorov.com went out of bussiness a couple years ago, I bought a lot of the mods I did to mine from them. Mines got aftermarket hardwood grips, hardened stainless firing pin, aftermarket wolf recoil spring, and aftermarket slide release with the thumb lever. Also got the 9mm barrel if I want to swap out. The hardest thing to find for these are factory mags, I have 5 or 6, Triple k makes aftermarket mags, But I have found they don't work as well as the factory ones. Looks like you did a good job on that refinish. Now a new set of grips will make that a beauty.

An excellent looking job on an ugly but superlative pistol. Where did you get your needed parts? I have one of these and would like to replace the firing pin and pick up some spare items. Mine needs a trigger job to ease the 15# pull but it is a reliable operation. It handles 100 grain softpoint reloads with rellish and accuracy.

Dan Cash said:

An excellent looking job on an ugly but superlative pistol. Where did you get your needed parts? I have one of these and would like to replace the firing pin and pick up some spare items. Mine needs a trigger job to ease the 15# pull but it is a reliable operation. It handles 100 grain softpoint reloads with rellish and accuracy.

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I see nothing ugly about the pistol myself. I pick it up and feel a workman/craftsman type tool. That produces results for me. Its my third 52. And all have had the dame quality's.

I'm not sure about Okie rules, but Arkie states centerfire w/4" minimum of brl. Or at least they used to stipulate such for deer w/pistols.

What's not to like about the 52? Flame thrower w/almost 5" of barrel.

Sweet action that has no problem w/little bottlenecked speedster that's a flat shooting machine.

Granted, the ammo was a little pricey before that became in vogue.

Sure, the sights are less than stellar, yet we must remind ourselves that it was a military issue sidearm.

And, there's no mistake when touching off a rnd coz it's loud.

Nuttin' personal agin the blk or bl coats, howevah the parkerized will always "shine" as the finish for me, if I have my druthers.

I changed the rollers & springs & my one complaint is having only one magazine.

Maybe I'll still have a chance to pick up another one or two for the slim, fixed brl, Eastern bloc, wonder pistola.
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This is a cartridge that screams to be offered in a semi-auto or short-throw lever carbine.

I'm surprised that someone doesn't copy the design w/7.62x25 ammo being offered, even by Winchester.

I reckon they couldn't compete w/surplus price while 52's are still available.

Fine work, good looking sidearm & thanks for sharing the story & pics.