VZ-52 and VZ-57 Assault Rifle Czech Presidential Guard

The VZ-52 Assault Rifle managed to get developed in that short time between the end of World War 2 and the beginning of Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. The operation is adapted from the Nazi MKb42(W), with the tilting bolt design of the Swedish AG- 42 Assault Rifle, and the trigger owes much to the M-1 Garand rifle. The bolt locking system seems to be one that works only on this rifle; other attempts to use the same system have been unsatisfactory. The magazine can be clip-loaded while still in the weapon. The 20.47-inch barrel has no flash suppressor, but a muzzle cap can be removed, revealing threads that are used to attach a blankfiring adapter.

VZ-52 Assault Rifle

The VZ-52 Assault Rifle was not made in large numbers, but many that were built were later converted to fire the standard Soviet 7.62mm Kalashnikov cartridge, and these were called the VZ-52/VZ-57 Assault Rifle. Some 7.62mm Czech versions did make it into combat – in Cuba, during Castro’s revolution, and later in Vietnam, Angola, Nicaragua, and some countries in Africa; most of these uses were in small numbers, and always with irregular forces.

VZ-52/VZ-57 Assault Rifle

The Czech Presidential Guard (primarily a ceremonial unit) still uses the VZ-52/VZ-57 Assault Rifle, since it’s length and form make it easier to conduct drill movements with; some other Czech honor guard-type units also use them. (Czech Presidential Guard versions can produce can be identified because the stocks are of brown plastic, the external metal parts are chrome-plated, and the bayonet is 6.5 centimeters longer. Both versions have a permanently-attached side-folding sword bayonet