CZ 82

The Pistole vz. 82 is a compact semi-automatic pistol made for the Czechoslovakian military. "vz." is an abbreviation for "vzor", which translates to "model." A civilian export version is called the CZ 83.

Vz 82, CZ 83
Vz 82 Czechoslovak Military pistol in 9×18mm Makarov caliber. (note: Serial number digitally concealed)
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
Service history
In service	1983–1993 (Czechoslovakia), 1993–present (Czech Republic), (Slovak Republic)
Wars	Lebanese Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer	Augustin Nečas
Designed	1982
Produced	1983–1992 (CZ 82) 1983–2012 (CZ 83)
Specifications
Mass	800 g (28 oz) empty (9×18 mm Makarov/.380 ACP) 920 g (32 oz) loaded (9×18 mm Makarov/.380 ACP) 750 g (26 oz) empty (.32 ACP)
Length	172 mm (6.8 in)
Barrel length	97 mm (3.8 in)
Width	36 mm (1.4 in)
Height	127 mm (5.0 in)
Cartridge	9×18mm Makarov (82 & 83), .380 ACP (83 only), .32 ACP (83 only)
Action	Blowback, double action
Muzzle velocity	305 m/s (1,001 ft/s)
Effective firing range	50 m (55 yards)
Feed system	12-rd, staggered-column, detachable box magazine (9×18mm Makarov/.380 ACP) 15-rd, staggered-column, detachable box magazine (.32 ACP)
Sights	fixed front blade; rear drift-adjustable for windage

Overview

Manufactured by the Czechoslovak firm Česká zbrojovka the vz. 82 replaced the 7.62×25mm Tokarev vz. 52 pistol in Czechoslovak military service in 1983. It is a compact, single/double-action, semi-automatic pistol with a conventional blowback action. This type of action allows the barrel to remain solidly fixed to the frame, resulting in improved accuracy over pistols with pivoting barrels (like the U.S. M1911 series). The low bore axis of the vz. 82 provides for less muzzle rise and quicker follow-up shots. For added convenience, both the frame-mounted thumb safety and the magazine release are ambidextrous. The vz. 82 was the first service pistol to feature both these features. The bore is chrome plated, which gives it three advantages: longer barrel life, resistance to rust from the use of corrosive ammunition, and ease of cleaning. Another feature of this pistol is the use of polygonal rifling in the barrel bore. This replaces the traditional lands and grooves rifling design with a rounded, smooth polygonal pattern which has a more "hills and valleys" appearance. The CZ 83 was set to discontinued/limited production status by CZ USA in 2012.^[1]

Caliber

The Vz. 82 was made in 9×18mm only while the CZ 83 is available in a variety of finishes and chamberings:^[2]

• .32 ACP (aka 7.65mm Browning) - 15-round magazine capacity. Grooved rifling.
• .380 ACP (aka 9mm Browning Short) - 12-round magazine. Grooved rifling. (13-round if a 9×18mm Makarov magazine is used). The standard Vz. 82 magazine fits the CZ-83 in .380 ACP without alteration ^{[citation needed]}.
• 9mm Makarov - 12-round magazine. Produced 1999 - 2001. Polygonal rifling.

Curio and relic

The vz. 82 was added to the US government's "Curio and Relic" list with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) in February 2007, after an individual wrote a letter to the ATF attaching a letter from a federal museum curator who stated that the vz. 82 had "museum interest" as a curio and relic.^[3]

Users

Current

•  Georgia: Imported during early 1990s, used by elite units of National Guard and Police.^[4]
•  Indonesia: Forest Rangers^[5]
•  Israel: Law enforcement
•  Kazakhstan: 20 CZ-83 pistols were bought in 1998 for Ministry of Internal Affairs^[6]
•  North Korea^[7]
•  Slovakia^[8]
•  Ukraine 30,150 Pistole vz. 82 were gifted from Czech Republic as part of a military package in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[9]
•  Vietnam:^[10] The 9×18mm Makarov model of CZ 83 was imported in the 1980s, and now still in use with People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnam People's Public Security.

The CZ 83 stripped-down into its main assemblies.

Former

•  Czech Republic:^[11] Gradually replaced in service by CZ 75 P-01 Phantom since 2012 and by CZ P-10 C/F since 2020.^[12]