The OG's Favorite Firearms

CZ52 FAQs
THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT CERTAIN MARKS OR ''DOTS'' on CZ52s supposedly having to do with the accuracy of the weapon. The short version (don't worry, the long version follows) indicates that one author in a 1989 book indicated these ''dots'' denote results of an accuracy test.
The Deputy Director of the privatized Czech arsenal, in a response to a letter specifically inquiring about these dots, however, made no mention of such a thing. Following is the text of an e-mail I received from Arms Moravia in the Czech Republic during June of 1998 regarding the armory marks on CZ52 pistols. The ensuing discussion took place on Tuco's Forum on June 2 and 3, 1998
I have redacted the Deputy Director's name on the Arms Moravia because I did not inform him that the letter might be published.

-BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT-
03-06-98
ARMS Moravia ltd
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
deputy director

Kirby Sanders
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your mail. We are very pleased to answer your questions.
Armorer�s stamps:
This pistol is of army origin which were at the Czech armament.
1- right side of the pistol The frame over the slide.
a/ mark VOP or VOZ is an abgreviation of a military repair service company of firm. These marks are in a circle or in an oval.
b/ two crossed swords with two numbers. This is an military take over and the year of the take over is mentioned there. Barrel at the space at slide
c/ circle with marked letter T that is a military testing mark.
d/ production number
e/ mark of the government test with 2 numbers of the year of the test.
2- left side of the pistol.
a/ production number and a code of a factory for example - rid for military arms. the civil arms were marked - esk� zbrojovka strakonice.
b/ number of test document of the government test and testing mark.
If there is a round circle with a number on the pistol's frame or on the slide this is a personal mark of the controller.
-END VERBATIM TEXT-

I personally don't think they would have released ''three or four dot''pistols that were marked with test results showing them to be of less-than-perfect accuracy, but that is only my opinion on the ''accuracy dots theory''.
-kirbyTheOG
*****
The following response was sent by another of the Tuco's Forum regulars, Col Corelokt
-BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT-
The book that (a) previous post referred to is Know Your Czechoslovakian Pistols by RJ Berger. On page 74 he states ''In the late 1970's many vz52 pistols were found to be worn. A refurbishing program was initated, and it included the following:
1. new barrels installed and numbered to the pistols
2. pistols refinished by dipping only in a hot blue solution.
3. small worn parts replaced
4. loose pin holes tightened by staking
5. ONE to FOUR PUNCH MARKS put on the sight rib TO INDICATE ACCURACY, ONE BEING BEST
6. the letters VOZ (military repair plant) plus the last two digits of the year(of re-work) stamped above the trigger. The number following VOZ,usually number 1, identifies the plant.
This book ,BTW, was published in 1989. Where Mr. Berger got his info from is not listed in any type of bibliogra- phy or reference list. Take it for what it is worth.
If your pistol shoots accurately, and I've heard they all do, don't worry about it.
I have been looking at them, and have seen several with NO dots. I am going to buy one at the next show, after reading about all the fun you guys have been having. To be safe, I am going to look for a no dot or 1 dot gun....
-Col Corelokt
-END VERBATIM TEXT-

What is beginning to make the most sense to me in this mystery is a suggestion by one Keith W on the C&R FFL forum (August 1998) that these ''dots'' are the results of metal hardness tests done upon rehab of the firearms simply to check the integrity of the metal and to test for metal fatigue! -kirbyTheOG

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