When Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe, I watched as the people of Germany smashed the Berlin wall with sledge hammers. I felt both relieved and happy that day because I felt a major threat to America had finally fallen, and without ever firing a single shot. Little did I know what this momentous occasion would eventually mean to me as a military gun collector.

Many interesting surplus military guns have since emerged from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Many of these guns had formerly been quite rare, and a few that were previously VERY expensive in the U.S. are now commonplace. Many SKS rifles, Makarov pistols, and even German weapons that were captured by the Russians during WWII and stored for over 50 years became available. Most of these guns were in very good condition!

The subject of this article is the Czechoslovakian CZ52 pistol. These Czech pistols were once extremely scarce in the United States, and were priced for advanced collectors. Many military enthusiasts had never even heard of the pistol. Today they are priced around one hundred dollars, and available from almost every surplus gun dealer.

The CZ52 was manufactured at the Ceska-Zbrojovka state factory in Czechoslovakia. Hence the CZ prefix commonly used, but it is not entirely correct. VZ is the Czech abbreviation for Vzor or model, so actually a more correct nomenclature would be VZ52. While most other Communist influenced nations adopted the TT33 Russian Tokarev, the Czech’s decided to devise and adopt a pistol of their own design. All CZ52 pistols are stamped RID. This is the code identifying the manufacturer. The year produced, and the crossed swords acceptance stamp of the Czech military are also present. These markings are located on the right side of the pistol’s frame. The CZ52 remained in Czech service until 1982 when it was replaced by the CZ82 pistol.

The CZ52 was produced from 1952 to 1954, an estimated 200,000 plus were manufactured in that brief period. The pistol is a semi automatic, single action, and features a unique roller locked design. The gun weights a somewhat hefty 35 ounces. Overall length is 8.25”. Magazine is the single stack design with a capacity of 8 rounds. The magazine release is located at the base of the grip, as is typical of European pistols. Recoil and muzzle flash is somewhat harsh especially when firing the hot 7.62×25 Czech ammo. The barrel length is 4.5” and unlike most other communist military weapons, the barrel is not chrome lined. The slide can be locked rearward by pushing up on the lever located on the left side of the frame, just under the slide. However, this lever is relatively thin and difficult to manipulate.

The CZ-52 utilizes the roller locking system used on the WWII German MG42 machine gun and more recently on the H&K assault rifles and submachine guns. The CZ fires the common Combloc 7.62×25 Tokarev round, however the Czech M48 version of this round is about 20% hotter than the normal load produced by other countries. Out of the CZ’s 4.5” barrel these rounds travel at over 1650 feet per second, compared to the 1386 feet per second velocity of the normal loadings. The design of the CZ52 is extremely robust and easily stands up to the hotter round. The Czech M48 ammo is not recommended in other 7.62×25 pistols like the TT33 Tokarev.

The CZ52 is well built and rugged. The frame and slide are made of heavy milled steel. The CZ has a very stiff recoil spring, and may not function with some Tokarev rounds. The safety is easily reached with the thumb and has three positions – fire, safe, and the third position is a decocking mode that drops the hammer. The hammer has a rebound notch that keeps the hammer from resting on the firing pin when the safety is applied and the hammer is down.

CAUTION; Due to metal fatigue or other circumstances, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction when decocking with the CZ’s hammer drop safety.

Most of the CZ52 pistols available today have been rebuilt at Czech arsenals beginning in mid 1970 and continuing through the 1980’s. New barrels were installed and numbered to the frames and all other worn or unserviceable parts were replaced. The pistols were then refinished in a flat dark gray color. The rebuilt guns were stamped on the left side of the frame, VOP and the year it was rebuilt ie; VOP 81 for 1981. The facility that rebuilt the weapon is identified by a single digit number following the year it was rebuilt.

There are a few original condition CZ’s occasionally available that have not undergone the arsenal rebuild. These are easily identified by their distinctive gray/green color similar to the parkerizing on a lot of WWII U.S. weapons. There are even occasionally a few brand new CZ’s offered. Some surplus dealers offer 9mm models for those who want to stay with more common calibers. These are modified 7.62×25 models, as there were no original guns produced in the 9mm caliber. In addition to converted guns there are 9mm barrels being offered to those who would like to convert their existing 7.62 guns to 9mm. Changing the barrel is a very simple drop in procedure. The aftermarket 9mm barrels are complete with the rollers and block.

To fire the CZ pistol insert a loaded magazine with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, grasp the slide, pull it rearward, and release. It will move forward and lock. The pistol is now ready to fire. To place the pistol in the safe position, push the safety lever up one notch. The hammer will remain cocked, although the trigger should lock. To lower the hammer, move the safety lever up to the next position, the hammer will lower. To fire, pull the hammer rearward and place the safety in the fire position. After the magazine is empty, the slide will lock in the rearward position. To continue firing, insert another loaded magazine and pull the slide slightly rearward and release. The pistol is now loaded and ready to fire.

CAUTION; It is not recommended that the CZ52 pistol be carried with a loaded cartridge in the chamber. My personal position on single action firearms is never to carry one with a round in the chamber, only loading when you are ready to shoot.

The CZ52, although its appearance is definitely dated, is a well made firearm. For all its attributes, the CZ’s I have fired are not very accurate (5” groups at 25 yards) when compared to other military pistols. I don’t usually dwell a lot on the accuracy of military weapons. They were not produced to be able to shoot tight groups at measured distances. They were made to shoot at and hit man-size targets, under all types of conditions. But the fact remains that I have a difficult time shooting the CZ52 accurately, perhaps its me, but I am quite used to gritty, creepy military trigger pulls. It is not the ammunition because it is the same 7.62×25 I use in my other guns more successfully.

For all its ruggedness the CZ52 does have a few weak areas. Number one is the cast steel firing pin. Replacements are available, but at around $20.00 seem expensive considering the guns usually cost less than a hundred bucks. One way to extend the longevity of the firing pin is not to ever dry fire the pistol. Dry firing guns is one of my many bad habits.

There is one other area that may cause you some grief if you are unaware of it. I suggest that you do not remove the plastic grips. If you do, be VERY careful when removing the metal spring steel clip that retains the grips to the gun! These clips break very easily when you pry on them, worse there is nothing that you can substitute for that clip that will hold the grips in place. (Editor’s Note: So Frank, how do you know this?) Locating a replacement may prove somewhat challenging.

On the CZ52’s positive side, as previously mentioned they are inexpensive, especially considering their sturdy all milled steel construction. Also mentioned earlier was that most of the CZ’s were rebuilt in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Most were not reissued, but put in storage where they remained for many years. As a bonus the guns usually come equipped with two magazines, lanyard, leather holster and a cleaning rod- not a bad deal. Surplus 7.62×25 cartridges are readily available and inexpensive. In addition the CZ52 pistol is on the BATF’s Curio and Relics list. This makes purchasing convenient for collectors that have a C&R license.

CZ52 Pistols
Century Arms
1161 Holland Drive
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Phone 561-998-1997
Fax 561-998-1993

Czech 7.62×25 ammunition
Gibbs Rifle Co.
Box 214 Hoffman Road
Cannon Hill Industrial Park
Martinsburg, WV 25401
Phone 304-274-0458
Fax 304-274-0078

Yugoslavian M56 Submachine gun

The influence of both German and Soviet designs of the 1940’s can easily be seen in the Yugoslavian M56 and M65 series submachine guns. The post war WWII weapons were produced in the mid 1950’s and 1960’s when there was a huge surplus of German and Soviet weapons in Europe. It is somewhat of a mystery as to why Yugoslavia would manufacture a weapon at that time period when there was no demand for submachine guns. The introduction of the midrange dual-purpose assault rifle concept by the Germans in late WWII made future demand for short range, pistol caliber subguns doubtful. The M56/65 series of Yugoslavian weapons was proceeded by the 7.62 caliber M49 Model submachine gun that was essentially a copy of the famous WWII Soviet PPSh 41, with a few modifications.

Not surprisingly the M56 and M65 submachine guns were not overly successful. Few were manufactured, and many of those were exported to other countries. Sources indicate that both models are still currently used to some degree by the military in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY (Former Yugoslavia) and surrounding countries.

The Yugoslavian M56 and M65 outwardly appear very similar. The main difference is the caliber. The M56 fires the Soviet 7.62×25 Tokarev cartridge, while the later M65 weapon is chambered for the more common 9mm Parabellum round. The 32 round capacity magazine for the 7.62 M56 is curved, while the 30 round 9mm M65 magazine is of a straight in line configuration. Both weapons are equipped with a lug for the attachment of a bayonet. The M56 and M65 are capable of semi automatic or full automatic fire, and both fire from the common submachine gun open bolt method of operation.

The focus of this article is the earlier 7.62×25 M56 Model. At first glance the M56 appears much like a WWII German MP40. The folding stock is almost identical, and the furniture is plastic, like the MP40. When the curved 7.62×25 32 round magazine is inserted it takes on the appearance of a Soviet PPS43 (without the barrel shroud). The Yugoslav M56 dual feed 32 round magazine is almost identical to the original Soviet PPS43 magazine and will probably interchange with some slight alterations to the strengthening rib located at the rear of the magazine body. The magazine release lever is very much like that of the Soviet PPS43 and is located behind the magazine housing. The lever is protected from accidental release by a shroud formed by the plastic stock.

The rear sight is also similar to the German MP40 and can be flipped for a 100-meter or 200 meter range. The front sight that is protected by a hood arrangement is also similar to that of the MP40. As mentioned previously the folding stock is ver similar to that of the MP40 and operates in the same manner. The button to operate the stock is slightly smaller than on the German weapon. The bolt assembly is one piece with a fixed protrusion functioning as a firing pin. The bolt handle is removable and located on the receiver’s right side. The bolt handle is round (similar to a Sten) and has an L shaped safety device attached to the forward end. The safety is capable of locking the bolt to the rear or in the forward position. The recoil spring is also similar to that of a British Sten submachine gun. The fire control selector is located under the receiver tube, just forward of the trigger. The sliding selector is pushed to the right for full automatic fire (marked RAFAL) and to the left for semiautomatic operation (JED).

The trigger mechanism is very similar to that of the MP40, made of sheet metal stampings. The M56’s designer took the use of sheet metal components to the next level by designing even the sear from a formed piece of heavy sheet steel. The weapon is finished in a dull blue also similar to the finish on the German MP40. The plastic composite furniture is black in color. Integral loops for the attachment of a sling are located at the front of the magazine housing, and at the rear of the receiver.

Weight of the M56 unloaded is 6.73 pounds, with a fully loaded 32 round magazine the weight is increased to 8.38 pounds. Overall length of the weapon with the folding stock extended is 34 inches. With the stock folded the overall length is decreased to a compact 25.22 inches, making the M56 ideal for tank crews. The four-groove barrel’s overall length is 9.85 inches.

Firing the M56

When handling the M56 it felt very similar to the MP40, once you pull the trigger however, the similarity ends. The 600 + round per minute cyclic rate and the powerful 7.62 Soviet cartridge made the M56 performance more exhilarating than a 9mm MP40. The weapon was easy to control in the full auto mode, and it was amazingly accurate. Firing the weapon in semiautomatic at a silhouette target at 40 yards was further evidence that this was an effective weapon. The ejection port is located on the top of the receiver (like a Soviet PPS43), ejection is straight up and violent. The spent cases will often hit your head or go down inside your shirt collar on their descent (also like a PPS43).

Norinco 7.62 x 25 ammunition was used for the test firing and functioned in the weapon without any problems. Velocity of the 86 grain, 7.62mm projectile from the M56’s 9.85-inch barrel averaged 1615 feet per second. The 7.62×25 Tokarev cartridge develops 495 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle compared to the 9mm Parabellum developing 399 foot pounds of energy.

The Yugoslav M56 is not very common in the United States today, though there are a few examples of fully transferable and dealer samples out there. At least one Class II manufacturer manufactured a few transferable receiver tubes prior to the May 1968 cutoff date. Accessories and bayonets are rare for these guns. The Gun Parts Corporation of West Hurley, New York advertises the 7.62 magazines and magazine pouches for the M56.

As an Aside

The “Yugo 56” as it is commonly referred to, has been primarily replaced by Kalashnikov variants in the Army of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In a 1996 trip to Serbia, this author had the opportunity to see the Yugo 56 in target use by several different military groups. The younger soldiers were completely unfamiliar with the weapon. I had a conversation with a grizzled old Colonel, who had used them “Way back when”. He liked the submachine gun, and spoke of it with nostalgia. He was unaware that I had owned one for many years, so I let him talk about the positive and negative aspects of the gun without my comments. Apparently he had used it in combat, although he did not discuss the “Where’s or When’s”. His experience was that it was a very reliable arm, and effective as a combat gun.

We got out to the firing line, and the rangemaster directed our fire. After viewing the targets, I was declared the “Winner”, and soon had a more spirited discussion with the Colonel. (Old soldier to old soldier) He discussed his displeasure with youth’s lack of discipline, and then one of the demonstrators began firing the Yugo 56. He experienced what is probably the major problem with this design.

The submachine gun self-disassembled while firing. Here in the United States, there exists a tape of one of SAR’s writers (Not this one or Frank), demonstrating the Yugo 56, and you can clearly see the rear of the receiver lift out of the stock, and the cap coming off, then the recoil spring and bolt flying rearward. In this demo tape, the bolt firmly smacks the operator in the center of the forehead, drawing serious blood. The stunned operator “Safes” what is left of the weapon, tries to act nonchalant about the blood dripping down his forehead, talks to the observers for a minute more, then exits the range. This is almost exactly what happened to the young Serbian private. As the Yugo 56 fell apart, he leaned to the side, and the bolt missed him by an inch.

The old Colonel’s vision grew dark. He glared down at the private, said a few things in Serbian, and then laughed a little. It seems that if you don’t lock down the rear cap on a Yugo 56 when you are putting it together, then this is the result. We joked around about the experience, then moved on to belt fed weapons and ZB26’s. The shooting of the big guns went a lot smoother.

Somewhere in Serbia, I believe that there is a private who is still peeling potatoes and cleaning latrines…..

(As an aside to an aside, I would like to throw a note of caution to our U.S. military friends. I have heard them describe Serb forces as undisciplined. That misconception could prove costly in combat. Of the five different groups that were there that day, from smartly dressed Special Forces to their version of an undisciplined weekend warrior unit, these guys were born to the MG42/Yugo 53. SAR will cover this at another time, but in this writer’s opinion, underestimating the Serb forces could prove deadly.)

– Dan Shea

A few short year ago the Makarov pistol was, one of the many enigmas from behind the communist iron curtain. Few people in the western world had ever seen one, or even knew they existed.

A few Makarovs had slowly made their way into the hands of U.S. collectors over the years. Some were brought to this country during the Vietnam war by returning vets. A few more were captured from the Russians during the Afghanistan war and somehow made their way into the United States. These pistols were extremely rare and expensive. The Makarov pistols in this country were only found in the gun collections of the affluent. Even the peculiar 9×18 Makarov ammo was strictly a collectors item and was as uncommon as the pistols themselves. If someone had the occasion to have Makarov ammunition and a Mak pistol, they would have been considered foolish to fire it, due to the high value of both.

Today things are quite different. Since the fall of the Berlin wall and communism in Europe, previously rare communist firearms that once commanded high “collector only” prices have become commonplace. The pistols are now inexpensive, due to the quantities imported. Even the once rare 9×18 Makarov ammunition is common today in both military surplus, and newly manufactured, commercial forms. The reloading industry was quick to respond to owners of 9×18 com bloc pistols, by manufacturing dies, projectiles, brass and reloading data for the Mak round.

A note of caution on Makarov and other pistols that fire the 9×18 cartridge. Often the pistols are referred to as the “9mm” Makarov caliber. Be advised that the 9×18 round is not interchangeable with the 9mm x 19 commonly referred to as the 9mm Luger or Parabellum, these rounds are too powerful for a straight blow back operated pistol like the Makarov. The case on a 9×18 Makarov is a straight wall case, not tapered like the common 9mm. Additionally, the Makarov round has a larger diameter projectile .363” compared to the smaller .355” diameter of the 9mm Parabellum. The .380 ACP cartridge is not interchangeable with the Mak round either. The Mak is actually closer to a 9.2mm caliber. The Makarov cartridge uses a 94 grain projectile that chronographed at a transonic an average of 1073 feet per second (10 round average). It should be noted that Federal sells threaded .380 replacement Makarov barrels. The subsonic .380 ammo works fine in the modified Makarov pistol.

Based heavily on the captured Walther PPK, the Makarov pistol was developed to replace the obsolete Tokarev 7.62×25 TT33 single action pistol that had been in Soviet service since 1933. The Russian Makarov was developed in the late 1940’s as a result of the efforts of Nikolay Makarov who worked at a Soviet small arms design bureau. The Makarov was adopted by the Red Army in 1951 as the 9mm Pistolet Makarov or PM.

The Makarov pistol is a conventional double action (double action first shot), blowback operated pistol. It has often been compared to the German Walther PP pistol, although its internal mechanics differ. It is unloaded weight is 25 ounces. The barrel is chrome lined for longevity and corrosion resistance. It is fixed to the frame. Barrel length is 3.8 “. The pistol is constructed of high quality, milled steel. The safety is thumb operated and locks the slide. The safety lever is very conveniently located on the left rear side of the slide. The safety is the hammer drop type (keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction when applying this safety). Makarov magazines hold eight rounds in a single stack. Magazine release is the somewhat awkward “European Style” located at the base of the grip. Sights are adequate for a military pistol, the front is the blade type. The rear is a basic square notch. The double action trigger pull required 12 pounds of pressure, while the single action mode required 4 pounds of pull. Trigger pull was not especially smooth as per most military weapons. Two and half inch groups at 25 yards are possible by capable shooters. This accuracy potential greatly exceeds the capabilities of the Makarov’s predecessor, the TT33 Tokarev pistol.

The 9×18 Makarov cartridge is thought to be conceived as a direct result of the Russians capturing the German development plans for the experimental 9mm Ultra cartridge during WWII. The cartridges are not interchangeable however. Russian designer Boris Semin is credited with designing the slightly less powerful 9×18 Mak round. The 9mm Makarov round was first used in the select fire Stechkin machine pistol (ASP). The Steckin is much larger than the Makarov pistol, and is equipped with a removable shoulder stock. Steckins are practically non-existent as transferable, or even dealer sample machine guns.

The Makarov pistol, like most other Soviet weapons, were supplied to and copied by most communist nations. The Makarov was produced in Russia, East Germany, China and Bulgaria. A pistol very much resembling the Makarov was produced in Poland as the Polish model 64. The country of origin of any Makarov Pistol can easily be identified by the markings, or even more easily by the grips. Russian manufactured pistols are stocked with the reddish-orange plastic ones, with a star inside of a circle. Guns of East German origin are equipped with plain, black, checkered plastic. Chinese guns are black or red plastic, and have a shield with five stars inside. There have also been Chinese Makarovs grips with one star inside a circle, similar to the Russian guns, but black or gray in color.

Many sterile Makarovs were manufactured as well. These have no markings other than a serial number. Sterile guns are manufactured to conceal their country of origin, usually for political purposes. Many Maks in the sterile configuration were believed to have originated in China.

The first Makarov pistols to be imported to the U.S. in any sizable quantity were the Chinese Mak’s made by Norinco. Most of the ammunition imported, and still the most common today, was also of Chinese manufacture. These first Chinese Makarovs (Chinese type 59) were of very good quality, and had a nicely blued finish. The only thing I don’t like on these pistols is the large “Made in China by Norinco” writing on the slide. Due to import laws, “thumb rest” grips were installed to be able to import them as sporting arms. These early Chinese pistols are hard to find today. The Chinese Makarovs were also manufactured in .380 caliber a short while after importation began. These were probably made specifically for the U.S. market.

The next group of Makarovs to arrive in the U.S. were these manufactured in East These were rumored to be from the disbanded East German secret police. Regardless of where they came from, some of them were in virtually new condition, and of very high quality. Like the Chinese Makarovs, they too had aftermarket thumbrest grips installed, but usually the original black plastic grips were included along with two magazines and a holster. The best part was, they were cheap. Most of these high quality East German guns, like the early Chinese Mak’s, are all residing in collections today. Very few are still available, and are nowhere near the low selling price they once were.

The rarest group to be imported were some original Russian military Makarovs, complete with fixed sights and the red bakelite grips. These Russian guns are rumored to have been inadvertently shipped with a group of East German guns. They too were bargain priced. As you can guess these were all sold very quickly. As a bonus for collectors, both the East German and the original Russian military manufactured Makarovs are on the BATF Curio and Relics list.

The last and most common group of Makarovs are still widely available today. They too are of Russian manufacture. However, there is a difference that most collectors do not find especially desirable. That difference is an adjustable rear sight, and prolific commercial markings on the slide. These guns were manufactured specifically for the U.S. commercial market.

The adjustable rear sights, and thumb rest grips make these Mak’s more “politically correct.” Still they are excellent shooters, of good quality and bargain priced. They make great carry guns. They are available in both original 9×18 Makarov and the more common .380 caliber. There have been a few variations on these Mak’s as well. There is a wide grip, high capacity model that holds 10 rounds, and there are nickel plated models.

There is yet another Makarov variation that recently became available, and this one is of Bulgarian manufacture. These have the original style fixed rear sight, and come in only the original 9×18 caliber. They are also very good quality guns.

As expected there are many accessories available for the Makarov model pistols. One of the best are rubber grips made by Pearce. These grips give the Mak a very good “feel” in most hands, and enhance the ability to shoot the gun accurately. There are also many Makarov manuals and books available.

Another accessory available is a conversion kit to convert 9×18 caliber guns to the more common, and slightly slower .380 ACP automatic Colt pistol caliber. The same magazine is used. The conversion consists of only a barrel change. At first glance a barrel change appears easy, as the barrel is simply pinned and lightly pressed into the frame. In reality the firearm needs to be disassembled because there is simply not enough room to slide the barrel rearward enough to remove it. The disassembly is not overly difficult, but the less mechanically incline may want to enlist a qualified gunsmith to perform the task. The pin holes normally do not line up. The barrel’s feed ramp often impacts the magazine, preventing mag removal.

Any one of the aforementioned Makarov pistols would be a great addition to any collection of military arms. Recent imports, of course, are all marked by the company that imported them, as per BATF requirements. Most companies take great pains to make these markings as small and unobtrusive as possible.

Still many purist collectors look down their noses at “recent imports”. I personally feel the condition of most of these guns and their low price make them a real bargain for us shooter/collectors, who would otherwise never have the chance to own, shoot and enjoy such historic firearms.

A term often used in conjunction with U.S. military firearms is DCM, most commonly with the DCM M1 Garand Rifle. New collectors of military arms are sometimes confused by this term and the DCM program itself. This article is intended to explain the DCM program (now called the CMP) and how to obtain a genuine U.S.M1 Garand at a reasonable cost from government storage depots.

A Brief History of the M1 Rifle

Development of the M1 rifle began in 1919 just after the conclusion of WWI. The concept of a semi-automatic military rifle met with a lot of controversy and resistance by many conservative minded individuals. These individuals believed that a semi-automatic service rifle would create an ammunition supply problem, would not be accurate, and would be difficult to manufacture.

Fortunately for the United States there were many forward thinking individuals who believed in the concept of the semi-automatic service rifle, and development went ahead to find a suitable design. Unfortunately politics and the conflicting ideas of many of those involved in the project caused the program to drag on until 1936 when a suitable prototype finally evolved. The basic design was tinkered with until 1940 when large-scale production finally began. Most of the countries involved in World War II relied upon bolt action rifles, many of which were designed prior to World War I. With the modern semi-automatic M1 rifle the U.S. serviceman was the best-equipped soldier in the war.

John C. Garand created the M1 Rifle while he was working at the Springfield Armory. During World War II the M1 Rifle was manufactured by the government operated Springfield Armory and the private Winchester Arms Company. Over 4,000,000 M1s were manufactured from 1937 to 1945. Although the Germans and the Russians during the war fielded semi-automatic rifles, they could not compare to the reliable U.S. M1. The incredible M1 design was to have a service life extending long past the conclusion of World War II.

In 1950 the outbreak of hostilities in Korea brought many of the World War II M1’s out of retirement. Soon it was decided that more M1 Rifles would be needed, and plans were set in motion to resume production. During the Korean Conflict M1 Rifles were manufactured by International Harvester, Harrington & Richardson and the Springfield Armory. In the mid 1950’s about 1,400,000 additional M1 rifles were produced, and many more WWII era rifles were refurbished. Many World War II rifles had to be rebarrled due to the U.S. military’s use of corrosive ammunition during WWII.

Supply and Demand

The M1 Garand continues to be one of the most desired World War II era firearms by both collectors and shooters. Although the M1 Garand rifles are fairly common today it wasn’t always that way. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the M1s were quite scarce in the hands of collectors, and the guns were highly sought after. Welding together parts of M1 receivers that had been demilled by the government fulfilled part of the demand for the rifles. Several enterprising individuals performed this re-welding procedure and the quality ranged from poor to excellent. The problem was knowing which ones were good and which ones were not. The commercial Springfield Armory also produced new M1 receivers and rifles for shooters and collector who didn’t want to take a chance with a welded receiver.

In the mid 1980’s a new trade protection bill was signed into law. A rider, REC S2234, was attached to the bill that would allow weapons on the Curio and Relics list to be imported into the United States for the first time since 1968. This caused a huge influx of M1 Garands, carbines and other military weapons. The condition of these weapons ranged from good to poor. This created a whole new category of collector firearms named “recent imports”. Many purist collectors snubbed the recently imported weapons, mainly because the new law allowing their importation also required the importer’s name to be stamped on the barrel. Some importers did a very nice job making the import stamp as unobtrusive as possible, while others made them as large and unsightly as could be imagined.

Still another popular source for obtaining U.S. issued firearms was the DCM or the Director of Civilian Marksmanship Program. The DCM had 1903 rifles, 1911 pistols and eventually M1 Garands all at reasonable cost, and in serviceable condition ranging from good to excellent. The condition and manufacturer of the M1 rifle received was pure chance. Prices for these weapons in the past have been a real bargain. Until recently M1 Garand rifles could be purchased for $165.00!

The CMP Program

The DCM program was changed in 1996 to the CMP or the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Up until 1996 the U.S. Army administered the program that originally began in 1916. The mission of the CMP program is to promote firearms safety training and rifle practice for all qualified U.S. citizens, with special emphasis on youth programs. The big difference was that the program now had to be financially self-supporting. What this meant was the consumer’s cost of the rifles had to be increased to help support the program. Still, the prices are competitive with the current market value of the guns. Another change in the program is that participants in the program are eligible to purchase one service grade rifle, and one collector grade rifle per year. Prior to these changes participants could only purchase one rifle per lifetime.

The CMP Board of Directors has established the following grades and prices for M1 rifles.

Service Grade- $400.00 these rifles show normal wear. May be light pitting, no guarantee of matching parts. Throat erosion will not exceed a 5.

Select Grade- $550.00 Excellent condition, though no guarantee of matching parts. Bore will gauge 2 or less.

Collector Grade- $750.00. Original as shipped from the manufacturer. These are not new but in very good to excellent condition. Barrel will gauge a 5 or less. This group includes some rare and desirable variations of the M1, however the rifle selection is luck of the draw only.

In addition to the rifle program there is a spare parts program as well, entitling participants to purchase spare parts for M1’s and M14’s (no receivers). From time to time the CMP comes across some small caches of interesting rifles. A lottery is held for those interested in obtaining one of these rifles. Most recently was the lottery for M1D sniper rifles. These desirable rifles were sold for only $650.00 each. There were also a small amount of 1903A3 rifles for $350.00. I’m sorry to report that all of these aforementioned rifles have been sold.

There is an effort being made to allow U.S. M14 rifles to be purchased by program participants. Currently the M14 rifles, because of their full automatic capability are ineligible for the program. It was suggested permanently disabling the full automatic capability of these rifles, but this in conflict with the BATF’s policy that “Once a machine gun, always a machine gun”. Making the M14 rifles eligible for sale in the CMP program would require a change in this point of view. It would be great to have an opportunity to purchase a “real” M14 rather than see them being destroyed as is currently happening. (Editor’s note: removal of the selector position lug on the bottom of the receiver, and several other small modifications would make these virtually indistinguishable from the semi automatic versions)

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to purchase an M1 from the government there are some requirements. First of all you must be a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older and a current NRA member. Secondly you need to be a member of a club associated with the CMP program. And last of all you need to participate in a CMP sponsored high powered rifle match, show proof of high power rifle activity firing a minimum of 50 rounds or:

1. Have proof of Distinguished Rifleman status
2. A certificate of completion of the Small Arms Firing School at the National Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio.
3. Possess a certified instructor card for “Rifle”
4. Copy of Military I.D. card showing “current” active duty in any U.S. military branch.

All persons must consent to, and pass a background check, which requires the applicant’s fingerprints to be taken. The applicant must comply with all federal, state and local regulations pertaining to the purchase of a CMP M1 rifle. Persons precluded from purchasing firearms by the 1968 Gun Control Act are ineligible for participation in the program.

I recently attended a local CMP match to see first hand exactly what was required to qualify for the purchase an M1 Rifle through the CMP program. I arrived at the Sportsman’s Association of Greensburg shooting range on a Sunday morning and was greeted by Dave Petrun. Dave is an accomplished shooter and one of the clubs range masters. He was very courteous and explained the program to me. As the shooters arrived Dave introduced them to me. Without exception, the shooters were all very friendly and anxious to gain new shooters into their program. The cost of firing the match is $10.00. If you are using an M1 for the match you can obtain 88 rounds of U.S.G.I. 30’06 ammunition in 8 round clips for a donation of $15.00. A portion of the proceeds goes to the NRA.

As the match began the shooters were split into two groups. One group manned the pits to prepare and score the targets. The second group was to be the first shooters. After the first group was done firing they would man the pits for the other group. As I served in the pits I was quite impressed at the tight groups most of the participants were shooting. One needs not be immediately intimidated, because you are not actually competing against their scores. The actual match consists of firing at ranges of: 200-yards, 300-yards and 600 yards*, in timed slow and rapid fire. Various required firing positions were used: standing, sitting and prone. Two sighter shots are allowed at the beginning of each string.

*The actual distance for the third portion of the match is intended to be 600 yards, but due to the limited ranges of most clubs a 300-yard modified event is substituted. Smaller targets are used to compensate for the shorter distance.

On the firing line the shooters choice of weapons varied from a 1903 rifle to exotic match AR-15s. My host Dave explained to me that many of the shooters at first were reluctant to use the AR-15 for match shooting. They were afraid that the weapon would not be competitive, especially at the longer ranges. There was some pressure from the program directors to use the AR15, because these were service rifle matches, and the AR15 (M16) has been the standard service rifle in all branches of the U.S. military for over 30 years. Dave explained further that as shooters slowly adopted the AR15s they found that the small 5.56mm rifle could be competitive, and the shooters found that the rifle to be more reliable, having fewer parts breakage problems.

Being almost exclusively a submachine gun shooter for so many years, I had forgotten how interesting and enjoyable other aspects of the shooting sport could be. The only problem I had was that those targets looked so small at 300 yards…

For the CMP applications contact:

Civilian Marksmanship Program
ATT: M1 Sales
PO Box 576
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
Phone: (888) 267-0796
Email: applications@odcmp.com

Special thanks to Dave Petrun, Dave Demegone, & all the members of the Sportsman’s Association.

In a Department of the Army memorandum dated 14 January 1985 it was officially announced that the U.S. military would begin replacing its tried and true .45 1911A1 semi automatic service pistol. Its successor would be the 9mm Beretta Model 92F or, as it would be officially known, the M9 Personal Defense Weapon (PDW).

It was an announcement that many die-hard Government model fans knew was coming. The 1911 and 1911A1 pistols and the .45 ACP cartridge have enjoyed an enormous following among military and civilian shooters. It remains one of the most popular handguns of all time.

The single action, 7 round capacity, 1911 and 1911A1 pistols were issued to troops for almost 75 years. The Ithaca Gun Company manufactured the last 1911A1 military pistol in 1945. The military had on several occasions considered stopping the issue of handguns altogether. They felt that handguns were a defensive weapon only, and inaccurate in most soldiers’ hands at distances beyond 10 feet. The U.S. M1 carbine was developed and adopted specifically to replace the military .45 pistol during World War Two. It never quite accomplished that goal.

The military “powers that be” did not share the admiration and sentiments for the old war-horse 1911 pistols. In 1978 the House Appropriations Committee Surveys and Investigations Staff revealed that there was an extreme proliferation of various handguns and caliber’s among the different branches of the military services. The variation of 25 different types of sidearms had created a logistical nightmare. It was decided that a new more modern weapon was needed, and that it should be in the NATO standard 9mm caliber. This proposed new weapon would be the standard issue sidearm of the U.S. Army, Airforce, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. The chosen sidearm would be issued to officers, aircrews, military police, and combat vehicle crews. After years of tests, evaluations, opinions, needs, and competing with a host of weapons, the 92F Beretta was adopted.

Candidate weapons involved in the military test program were subjected to; extreme 140F heat and -40F cold temperatures, a salt-water submersion test, a loaded weapon drop test, and burial in sand, mud and snow. A total parts interchangeability requirement also had to be met. In addition a mean round before operational failure (MRBF) test was also conducted. The military requirement was set at 1 malfunction per 1,250 rounds. The Beretta far exceeded this requirement. Average stoppages in the 92F pistol were 1 in 17,500 rounds.

Some of the pistol manufacturers that competed with the Beretta in the Army XM9 pistol trails were: Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Browning, Heckler & Koch, Ruger, Star, Colt, Steyr

The 9mm double action Beretta 92 series evolved from the earlier single action Beretta Brigadier model 1951. The action is a delayed blow back system designed by Tullio Maregoni in 1950. Tullio Maregoni was also responsible for the legendary Italian Beretta 38A and subsequent model 38 series submachine guns. The pistol action he designed and used in the 92 series pistols is very similar to the WWII German Walther P-38 pistol’s short recoil, delayed locking block system. Located on the bottom of the Beretta M9/92’s barrel is a pivoting-locking block. As the slide moves forward the locking block is cammed into the locked position on the slide. The conventional double action along with the firing pin safety block allows the Beretta 92 to be safely carried with a round in the chamber, ready to fire. The open slide configuration of the Beretta design provides easy access to jammed cartridges, and aids in successful ejection of spent cases.

The 92 series production began in 1975 with the model 92. This became the model 92 S when the decocking/safety lever was relocated from the frame to the slide in 1977. The hammer drop style safety blocks the firing pin and disconnects the trigger bar. In the SB model the European style heel magazine release was changed to a push button and was relocated to the side of the frame. A loaded chamber indicator is also featured.

The Beretta evolved further into the 92F version in 1983. This time the changes were those suggested by the Joint Services Small Arms Project Committee (JSSAP) The changes included: A combat style trigger guard, a chrome lined bore, ambidextrous decocking/safety lever, lanyard ring, a modified magazine base plate and a reversible magazine release button. A new epoxy type finish called Bruniton was to be applied to the new pistols. The 92F’s frame is manufactured from 7075T-6 aircraft grade aluminum. The slide and barrel are made from high quality nickel chrome-moly steel

After intense firing with very hot loads it was reported that the some of the slides were developing cracks on the 92F. This defect made it possible for a failed slide to depart the frame in a rearward direction into the shooter’s face. This is generally looked on as a negative occurrence. To prevent such accidents a new reengineered model 92FS was introduced. This model featured a flange on the hammer pivot pin that fit into a groove machined in the slide. In the event of a slide failure, the end of the groove in the slide would catch on the flange and retain the slide onto the frame. The new added letter S in the suffix indicated; Slide over travel system.

There is also a machine pistol version of the Beretta, the 93R. This weapon features a foregrip and optional folding shoulder stock. The 93R’s have a special ported barrel to aid in controlling muzzle rise. It is able to fire semi automatically or with a 3 round burst. The 93R uses a special 20 round magazine. The U.S military has adopted no 93R models as standard issue.

The NATO standard 9mm-pistol cartridge is a 115-grain full metal jacket design. The velocity is 1200 feet per second developing 383 foot pounds of energy. The Germans during WWI developed and first issued the 9mm Parabellum round. The common 9mm cartridge is also known as the 9mm Luger and the 9×19 mm round. The U.S. military 9mm service ammunition is officially named the; 9mm Ball NATO M-882

The Beretta Company is one of the oldest industrial organizations in the world. The main headquarters is located in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy. In 1978 Beretta began manufacturing firearms at its new U.S. plant located in Accokeek, Maryland as Beretta USA. After being awarded the military contract in 1985, the facility was expanded to handle the increased production.

The 92 series pistols have been increasingly popular with various police departments in the U.S. Many departments prefer the D series weapons that are double action only.

Most of the police departments are adopting the Beretta in the very popular .40 caliber Smith and Wesson cartridge over the military 9mm. Over 800 Law Enforcement agencies have adopted the Beretta thus far, and include the State police of ; Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, Connecticut, Maine, Indiana, Washington, Rhode Island and South Dakota.

In addition to the M9 the Army also issues an M11 pistol. The M11 is the compact Sig Sauer 9mm 228 model. The U.S. Army Military Police School at Fort McClellan Alabama initially requested the addition of a compact pistol to the authorized weapons list. The reason for the request was a need for a more concealable weapon. The M11 is also issued to authorized personnel who prefer it to the full size M9.

In addition to military contracts, commercial sales increased substantially by those civilian shooters and collectors desiring to own the same pistol issued by the military.

The models available to civilians are the 92F and the 92FS. These pistols differed from their military counter parts only by the markings on their slides and frames.

This satisfied many enthusiasts, but still there were those purists who desired something a little closer to the real thing. Beretta has responded by introducing a new model. It is called the M9 Special Edition. As you can see from the photos the markings are very much like those of its military sibling. There is a special serial number range assigned to the pistols as well. The serial numbers all begin with the prefix M9-

The M9 Special Edition comes complete with an issue M12 holster by Bianchi, a M1025 magazine pouch one 15 round magazine and a M1015 pistol belt. Also included are military manuals for the pistol and holster, and a special shoulder patch and a letter of authenticity. The M9 comes in a special, large olive drab colored box. The M9 Special Edition run has been limited to 10,000 pistols.

So far the Beretta M9 has seen service in Panama, Grenada, Somalia, and most recently in the Gulf War. Over 400,000 M9 pistols have been issued to date. Only time will tell if the new M9 will ever reach the legendary status of its predecessor, the famous and admired 1911/1911A1 Government Model.

The Czechoslovakian CZ50 Pistol

The Czechs have been supplying the world with creative firearm designs for many years. The weapons they create are not only innovative, but are also very rugged and well built. Some famous Czech designed weapons are the ZK383 submachine gun and the ZB26/30 light machine gun. The Czech ZB30 design evolved into the famous Bren Gun of WWII.

Many different pistols, rifles, and machine guns were designed and built by the Czechs. Although Czechoslovakia fell under Communist influence a few years after WWII, the Czechs didn’t adopt the usual Soviet designed small arms like other Communist nations. The Czech people chose to arm their military with weapons of their own design. Most of the surplus Czech pistols that are readily available today, were quite a rarity in the U.S. until the collapse of Communism in Europe in the early 1990’s. Prior to that time Czechoslovakia was a Communist nation from which no formal trade with the United States was conducted.

For most of WWII, Czechoslovakia was under Nazi control, after the Germans overran that country in their Blitzkrieg campaign of Europe in 1939. During the German occupation, the Czech arms industry was forced into continuing production of their firearms to supply the insatiable German war machine. The Nazis took control over the Czech firm of Ceska Zbrojovka and changed the name to Bohmische Waffinfabrik (Bohemian Gun Works). Among the many weapons the Czechs built for the German Army were their Mauser action vz24 and vz24/30 rifles, that were almost identical to the German standard issue Kar.98k service rifle.

Close to half a million pistols were manufactured for the German war effort by Czechoslovakia, the most common were the VZ24 designated as the P24(t), the VZ38 or P38 (t) and the VZ27. Most of the VZ27’s produced during this time have prolific Nazi Waffenamts and other German proof marks. Some of the CZ27 pistols produced had special barrels installed for adaptation of a suppressor. The Czeska Zbrojovka factories also made parts for the German P38 pistol. The CZ factory was assigned the code “fhn” during the war. The Nazi Waffenamt code WaA76 are stamped on CZ27 pistols manufactured at the Czech factory.

A few years after the conclusion of WWII , the CZ50 pistol was designed and produced to provide some semblance to the medley of obsolete firearms in use by the military and various police agencies in Czechoslovakia following the war. The Czech CZ50, is sometimes referred to as the VZ50 pistol. The CZ50 was designed by the Kratochvil brothers and was produced after WWII in several factory locations by Ceska Zbrojovka, hence the CZ prefix in many of the Czech nomenclatures. VZ is the abbreviation for Vzor or model in Czechoslovakia so VZ is also a correct prefix designation for Czech firearms. Ceska Zbrojovka supplied the Czech military with firearms from 1924 until 1954.

Most of the CZ50 pistols manufactured were issued to the various police departments throughout Czechoslovakia, a few went to the Czech military. Many more of the CZ50 pistols were sold commercially to other countries. The CZ50 was produced from 1950 until 1952 at the Strakonice factory, when production was interrupted to concentrate on the manufacture of the newly designed CZ52 military pistol, slated to be manufactured for the Czech Army. Production of the CZ50 resumed in 1957 at the Uhersky Brod factory. The CZ50 design was eventually superseded by the updated CZ70 model that is remarkably similar to the CZ50. The CZ70 was produced until 1983. More recent pistols to be produced by Ceska Zbrojovka are the excellent CZ75 and CZ85 models. Both of these latter guns are modern, high capacity 9mm double action pistols.

The CZ50 is similar in appearance to the famous Walther PP pistol, though a few obvious differences do exist. The safety lever on the CZ50 is frame mounted, rather than slide mounted as on the Walther. Another major difference between the two designs is, the CZ50 uses a frame mounted take down button, for removal of the slide, instead of the hinged trigger guard style latch.

The CZ 50 is a conventional double action design, chambered for the .32 ACP round. As with all Czech pistols it is built to last a lifetime, constructed mostly of milled steel, except for the grips that are plastic. The finish is a dull blue, and the pistol is marked with some interesting Czech markings. On most CZ50s imported, the slide legend reads; Ceska Zbrojovka Strakonice Narodni Podnik. Ceska Zbrojovka translates to “Czech Arms Factory”. Strakonice is the city where the factory that manufactured the pistol is located. Narodni Podnik translates to “National Factory”. There are slight variations on the slide markings. The crossed sword military acceptance mark is stamped on the inside of the slide.

The BATF required importers stamp is unobtrusive, and located on the right side of the pistols frame. The year of manufacture is stamped on the front part of the grip. The pistol reviewed for this article is stamped NB 51 for 1951. An encircled letter T is stamped on the part of the frame that the barrel is pressed into. This mark is the barrel proof. The slide and frame are stamped with the serial number. The frame number is visible through the ejection port. At first glance it appears as though the barrel is numbered, but it is actually the part of the frame securing the barrel.

The CZ50 functioned and fed the .32 ACP cartridges with no problems. The magazine has an 8 round capacity and forms part of the front grip surface. The trigger pull in both the single action and double action modes was rather stiff, but seemed to smooth out with use. Trigger pull in the single action mode was 8 pounds. The CZ50 has a easy to reach magazine release button located on the upper left side of the frame near the grip. The CZ50 pistol also features a loaded chamber indicator on the left side of the slide. It is large enough to be easily seen, or can be felt with a finger tip in low visibility conditions.

The front sight is of the blade type, the rear sight is a simple U notch type, dovetailed into the slide and is driftable right or left. The sights are adequate for a small pistol of this type. Short range accuracy proved to be very good. The CZ50 weights 1.5 pounds when loaded. Barrel length is a compact 3.8”, overall length is 6.8”. The pistol is similar, though slightly smaller, in size to a Makarov.

Small pocket pistols in both the .32 ACP and .25 caliber cartridges were very popular in Europe during the 1900’s. The .32 ACP cartridge is one of the many creations of John Browning, and dates from 1899. The .32 ACP is also known as the 7.65 Browning cartridge in Europe. The .32 ACP round is topped with any one of several different bullet designs, from full metal jackets to hollow points. 32 ACP cartridge is available with projectile weight ranging from 60 to 100 grains, although the 71 grain slug is the most common. Projectile diameter ranges from .310” to .312”. Velocity from the CZ50’s barrel chronographed an average of 910 feet per second. Muzzle energy of the .32 ACP calculates to 131 foot pounds, with the common 71 grain bullet.

The CZ50 pistol is available in various grades ranging from good to excellent condition. The very best part of the CZ50 is its price tag. The CZ50 reviewed for this article was in excellent condition, and had matching frame and slide numbers. This particular gun was obtained from SOG International Inc., and cost about $129.00 with one magazine and a holster, a terrific bargain! If these pistols were being produced today the price would certainly be twice that amount. Another big advantage of the CZ50 pistol is that it’s listed on BATF’s Curio and Relics list. This is a big plus for collectors that have a C&R license. The ranks of C&R licensees are growing, while the number of regular Class 1 Federal Firearm License holders are declining, due to the many new federal restrictions placed on obtaining or retaining an FFL.

To me there are few things that compare to obtaining an old or relatively old firearm in very good or excellent condition. Such was the case when I received my CZ50. The gun looked like it was recently manufactured, but in fact it is over 46 years old! I have been a collector of various firearms for many years. One thing I have learned, gun bargains don’t last very long. Especially when they are in nice condition, and inexpensive. Gun prices seldom, if ever, go down. If you ever have the opportunity to look at some old gun magazines from 10 or so years ago, look at some of the prices of guns in the advertisements and you will see what I mean.

Field Stripping Procedures

Source:

SOG International Inc.
240 Harmon Ave.
PO Box 590
Lebanon, OH 45036-0590
Phone 1-800-944-4867
FAX 1-513-932-8928

The United States was one of only two countries that entered WWII equipped with a modern service rifle. The U.S. Infantryman had the distinct advantage of the 8 shot semiautomatic 30’06 M1 Garand Rifle. In September 1941 the U.S. adopted another semiautomatic design, the 15 (later 30) round detachable magazine M1 Carbine. The carbine fires a small, less powerful .30 caliber round. The M1 carbine, however, was not intended to serve as a front line infantry battle rifle. Slightly over 6 million M1 and M2 Carbines, and about 4 million M1 Garand rifles were manufactured during WWII.(950,000 additional Garands were manufactured during the Korean War).

Even though the United States issued the semiautomatic M1 Garands and carbines in large numbers, the WWI U.S. bolt action rifle, the 1903 Springfield, was also issued. Production of the WWI era rifle resumed in late 1941 to keep up with an ever growing demand for weapons. The 1903 design was slightly modified for faster production. The new design was designated the model 1903A3. The 1903A3 was manufactured by Remington and Smith Corona. The 1903A3 rifle remained in production until February, 1944.

Large numbers of U.S. made rifles and carbines were supplied to the United State’s allies during the war under the Lend Lease Act of March 1941. U.S. semiautomatic rifles that were captured by the Axis powers proved to be very popular and highly regarded among their troops.

The British forces during the war were mainly equipped with the bolt action .303 caliber Enfield rifles. The latest version produced during WWII was the No. 4 MKI. Older versions were utilized as well. Australian troops also carried the Enfields. The German Wehrmacht’s main infantry rifle was a modified WWI Mauser design bolt action rifle, the 7.92x57mm Karabiner 98 kurz. Over 14 million Kar.98k’s were manufactured.

The Germans choice for arming the majority of its soldiers is somewhat surprising, because they had developed so many other revolutionary weapons for their forces. The MG34 and MG42 machine guns, the FG42, MP38/40 submachine guns, the MP44 midrange Strumgewehr, and a modern double action semiauto pistol, the P-38. Yet their main battle weapon was an 1898 designed bolt action rifle! The Germans would soon realize their blunder when they faced the firepower of the semiautomatic Russian SVT Tokarev, and U.S. M1 Garand rifles. Hitler was convinced that the K98 was a suitable infantry weapon based on his experience as a German corporal in WWI. The Germans developed a few semiautomatic rifles later in the war, the G41, K43, and G43. None of the German semiautomatic rifles were an outstanding success, or issued in large numbers.

The Japanese used the Mauser type action Arisaka rifle to equip its Imperial Army. It too, was an antiquated design dating from 1905. There were two major models the Type 38, that fires a intermediate 6.5mm round, and the Type 99 that fires a more powerful 7.7mm round. Over 10 million Arisaka rifles were produced in many rifle and carbine configurations. Although hampered by a small 5 round internal magazine, the Arisaka is an extremely accurate firearm.

The Russians, like every other nation involved in the war, issued an outdated bolt action firearm, the pre WWI designed, 7.62x54R caliber 1891 Mosin-Nagant bolt action rifle. There were several versions of the Mosin-Nagant issued during the war, including sniper variations. Slightly over 12 million of the bolt action Nagant rifles were produced. Despite the large amount of various weapons manufactured, the Mosin-Nagant endured as the main battle rifle of the Russians in WWII. The bolt action Mosin-Nagants were supplemented by the Soviet PPSh41 submachine guns. The Soviets highly favored the submachine gun. The subgun was easily and cheaply produced, and was well suited for their battle strategy.

Although the U.S. M1 Garand is often thought of as the most prolific semiauto battle rifle of WWII, the Russians used semiauto battle rifles in far greater numbers. The Soviets issued the semiautomatic SVT38 SVT40 and the AVT Tokarev rifles, designed by Fedor Tokarev in 1938. Tokarev was probably best known for his earlier weapon design, the semiautomatic TT33 Tokarev pistol.

The Tokarev SVT38 design was slow getting into production because of technical problems, but by late 1939 the rifles were being issued in quantity to the Red Army. The AVS 36 select fire rifle proceded the SVT Tokarev rifles in Soviet service, but reliability problems led to the adoption of the newer SVT design. The same breakage and reliability problems the AVS36 had would also be encountered in the SVT 38/40 rifles.

The Samozariadnya Vintovka Tokareva, (self loading Tokarev Rifle) or the SVT rifle, was first used by the Soviets in their brief 1939 winter war with Finland. The war only lasted from November 1939 until March 1940, but the Russians learned some very valuable lessons about tactics and weapons. It wasn’t long until reliability and breakage problems began to surface with the SVT38 rifle. Many problems were directly attributed to the 7.62x54R cartridge, it was simply too powerful for the rifles design, and secondly it used a rimmed cartridge case. Rimmed cases are less than ideal for feeding in a magazine feed semiautomatic weapon.

Modifications to the SVT38 design soon followed resulting in an improved version, the SVT40. The actual changes were somewhat minor. Looser tolerances were allowed in the manufacture of the parts to make the rifle less susceptible to dirt and jamming. A new one piece stock replaced the fragile two piece stock of the SVT38 that was subject to cracking. The weight of the SVT40 was also reduced. The new improved Tokarev SVT40 also proved to be a less than adequate design.

There were also sniper variants of the SVT produced. The rifles that were chosen for this task had barrels that were carefully manufactured to closer tolerances than the average service rifles. The sniper versions were equipped with either the PU or PE Russian scopes. The rifles that were slated for use as sniper weapons can be identified by grooves cut into the receiver for a scope mount. These rifles supplemented the older, but more accurate, bolt action Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles.

Another variant of the Tokarev rifle was also produced out of desperation during the war. This model was the select fire Avtomaticheskaya Vintovka Tokareva or simply the AVT. The AVT rifle is basically an SVT40 with a modified trigger group that allows both full and semi automatic fire. The stock was strengthened at the wrist area and has an additional cut for the fire selector. The selector is the safety lever behind the trigger. The left position is semi auto, the middle safe, and the right position full auto. The AVT’s cyclic rate is an extremely fast 750 to 850 rounds per minute, that will empty the 10 round magazine in less than a second. Full auto controllability is slightly more challenging than the 7.62 NATO U.S. M14 rifle. Production of the AVT version was halted in 1943.

The AVT select fire rifles were only issued to carefully selected soldiers, and were to be used when there was inadequate heavy machine gun support. Standard operating procedures and the 10 round magazine strictly limited use to short bursts. It may seem odd that the Russians would use a rifle design that was somewhat delicate to begin with, and make a fully automatic version. Partial reasoning behind the full auto AVT rifle was the acute shortage of belt fed machine guns. One has to realize just how desperate the Russian situation was when the Germans were overrunning their country.

Interestingly enough, 8 fully transferable AVT trigger packs were registered in the early 1980’s by DLO manufacturing. They were comprised of all Russian parts and are on the Curio and Relics list.

The Germans captured many of the Russian SVT rifles from the Eastern Front and effectively used them against their former owners. The German designation for the Tokarev rifle was the 259r or the 258r Selbstladegewehr. The Germans tried during the entire war to develop a successful semiautomatic battle rifle. The most successful German semi-autos were the G43 and the K43. Oddly enough, these German rifles had many features directly copied from the Russian SVT.

The SVT38/40 Tokarev Rifle was manufactured at Tula and Izhevsk arsenals in Russia. The rifle has a very long 48.1” overall length. Weight varies between models. The SVT38 weights 10.8 lbs., the SVT40 9.48lbs. and the full auto AVT 9.24 lbs. The magazine is detachable and holds 10 rounds of the 7.62x54R ammo. There are slots machined into the receiver cover for loading with stripper clips. The weapon is gas operated and has a variable gas port. The Tokarev rifles uses a cammed/tilting bolt that locks into a bolt carrier. This bolt design was later used in the Belgian FN49 rifle. The manual safety feature on the Tokarev rifles is marginal at best, and consists of a lever that does nothing but physically block the trigger when applied. Caution should be used when handling a loaded Tokarev rifle even when the safety is on.

The barrel has an extension made of thick sheet metal. This extension provides a platform to mount the flash hider, front sight and bayonet lug. The chamber of the weapon is fluted to make extraction easier, especially in situations were the weapon was not maintained regularly. The rear sight is a small shallow U notch tangent design, graduated to 1500 meters. The front sight is a hooded post. Accuracy is an unspectacular but Soviet combat acceptable 4.0” group at 100 yards.

The Russian standard battle rifle cartridge in WWII was the 7.62x54R. This round was equivalent to the U.S. 30’06. The 7.62x54R uses a 149 grain full metal jacket projectile, that averages 2850 feet per second. This round dates from 1891 and has a rimmed cartridge case. Muzzle energy is 2687 foot pounds.

The SVT38, SVT40 and the AVT rifles proved to be complicated and somewhat unreliable. The long length made it awkward and clumsy. Additionally, it was difficult to field strip and maintain, especially in the winter when wearing gloves. The root problem was the Russian Army wanted a modern lightweight automatic rifle, but wanted to retain the WWI full power cartridge. Russia, like the United States, simply did not want to abandon the full power battle cartridge. Eventually, the Russians would concede, and adopt the 7.62×39 midrange cartridge and the SKS45 rifle by the end of the war. It would take the United States another 20 years and the M14 rifle to realize that a full power cartridge in a light, shoulder fired, automatic weapon was simply not feasible.

Production of the SVT rifles was reduced more each year as the war dragged on, and finally ceased in late 1944. Even so, close to 6 million of the SVT38, SVT40 and AVT rifles were produced. This figure is almost 2 million more than the number of the U.S. M1 Garands produced during WWII.

The Russians, realizing the advantages of the semiautomatic battle rifle, continued trying to develop a suitable design to replace the troublesome SVT. In 1945 near the end of the war in Europe, the Russians began field testing a new semiautomatic design, the aforementioned SKS45. The war in Europe ended before the SKS would get into full production. The SKS rifle would later become famous during the Vietnam War. The Tokarev SVTs would remain in service for many years after WWII. Many were eventually issued to Soviet satellite nations as military aid.

Today, many SVT rifles have been imported by Century Arms from Russia, where they had been refurbished and stored for many years. Most of these weapons are in very good to excellent condition. Those rifles bearing “Sa” markings were captured and used by the Finns. The Finns had allied with the Nazis to regain territory they lost to the Russians during the earlier Winter War in 1939. Although there were a large number of SVT38 rifles produced, the SVT40 is the most common version available in the United States. The Tokarev Rifles are on the BATF Curio and Relics list.

The Soviet SVT rifles are a very interesting piece of important WWII history. Although the rifle is described as fragile, this was partially because of the hard use and neglect the rifles endured during the war. The Russian Tokarev SVT rifle was the most prolific semiautomatic battle rifle used in WWII. Still, it will always live in the shadow of the highly successful U.S. M1 Garand rifle.

Special Thanks to: Mark Manovich, Bob Bowman Trident, East European Collectibles and Military Surplus

FIELD STRIPPING PROCEDURES. Stripping the SVT 38/40 rifles is somewhat difficult. Be advised there are several springs under tension in this weapon. Always wear safety glasses!

The SKS Carbine

As interest in military firearms began to rapidly grow in the U.S. during the early 1980s, prices on popular models of “assault rifles” started to escalate, due mainly to supply and demand. Soon, government bans and new laws raised the prices even further, and created new terms like “pre ban” and “post ban” models. The popular Chinese SKS carbines prices, however, still remained low, primarily due to the seemingly unlimited supply. In the 1990s, with the collapse of Communism in Europe, new sources of SKSs soon emerged. Now formally rare Russian SKSs were available, as well as a limited supply of East German and Yugoslavian guns. These versions of the popular SKS were priced competitively with the prolific Chinese models. Recent laws and restrictions have stopped importation and now prices on these formerly plentiful carbines is rapidly climbing.

In 1990 new laws were enacted by our elected officials that prevented guns from being manufactured or imported if they were equipped with certain “undesirable” features. Some of these features were folding stocks and a bayonet or a bayonet lug. This law of course applied to the bayonet-equipped SKS carbines, placing them in the “dreaded assault rifle” category. All SKS carbines imported after September 1990 could not be equipped with bayonets and no bayonet could be added either. Doing so would be committing a federal crime.

The SKS

Those who served in the Vietnam conflict became familiar with the SKS carbine and its 7.62×39 cartridge long before they were common place in the United States. These carbines (along with AK47s and a proliferation of other combloc weapons) were used by the NVA and Viet Cong against U.S. Troops in Vietnam during the 1960s and 70s. Most of these weapons were of Chinese origin. Some of these SKSs were captured and brought home as war trophies by returning vets. The condition of many of these liberated carbines was rather poor due to exposure to the humid tropical climate of Southeast Asia. The 7.62×39 ammunition for these rifles was practically non existent in the U.S. until the mid 1980s when semiauto AKs and SKSs began to be imported in large quantities from China.

The typical Chinese or Russian SKS weighs 8.8 pounds, and has an overall length of 40.16”. The barrel length is 20.47”. The non-detachable magazine has a 10 round capacity, and was designed to be loaded through the receiver with stripper clips. The standard M43, 7.62×39 cartridge has a full metal jacket with a 123 grain projectile. The velocity reaches 2410 feet per second from the SKS barrel. Barrels are chrome-lined to resist the effects of corrosive primed service ammunition. The front sight is a hooded post, while the rear sight is the tangent type, graduated to 1000 meters.

THE RUSSIAN SKS45

A loose copy of the German assault rifle, the SKS45 carbine was designed in Russia by Sergei Simonov in the early 1940s. The very first limited production of the SKS was in the mid-1940s. The SKS carbines first saw service when they were sent for field testing to the ByeloRussian Front during the latter part of WWII. It was the first rifle produced that was chambered for the 7.62×39 M43 cartridge. The rifle performed satisfactorily under battlefield conditions and was an improvement over the then current Soviet issue semiautomatic rifle, the Tokarev SVT 40. The Tokarev SVT38/40 rifles fired the full power 7.62×54 rimmed Russian round, and was very prone to breakage. The SVT40 was a complicated design, difficult to manufacture. In the years following WWII, the 7.62×39 SKS carbine would eventually be adopted by twenty-one communist influenced nations, and manufactured by six countries. Over four million would be produced.

The conclusion of WWII in Europe ended the need for any new military weapons. In a few short years after the end of WWII, the cold war between the East and West began to heat up. SKS production in the Soviet Union soon resumed, with slight modifications, in 1949. The rifle was only issued as a front line infantry weapon in the Soviet Union for a few years, until it was greatly overshadowed by the adoption of the select fire AK47 assault rifle, which went into production in 1951. The SKS was soon relegated to secondary status, although production would continue for several more years. The SKS had two antiquated features, it was semiautomatic only, and worse, it had a fixed 10 round magazine.

Due to the Soviet’s usual secrecy in their weapons production, it isn’t known for sure exactly what year SKS production concluded in the Soviet Union. Some earlier production models had the year of manufacture stamped in the receiver top cover, along with an arsenal stamp identifying the factory that manufactured the rifle. The top covers were also serial numbered to the rifle. The last year marked in this manner was 1955. It is believed that carbines manufactured after 1955 were only marked on the left side of the receiver with the serial number and a smaller arsenal stamp. The Russians used their Cyrillic alphabet letters in their serial numbers reportably to designate the year of manufacture. Using this system it is believed that there were carbines produced up until 1957.

The SKS was manufactured at two Russian factories, Tula and Izhevsk. Tula arsenal’s stamp consisted of a star with an arrow inside it, This star and the year of manufacture were stamped on the receiver top cover. This was subsequently changed to just a star, stamped on the side of the receiver along with the serial number. The Izhevsk arsenal stamp was a triangle inside a circle, with an arrow inside the triangle. The Tula produced models are the most commonly encountered.

The Russian SKSs were originally finished in a polished, deep blue color. The bolt assemblies and bayonet blades are a flat silver color. Russian SKSs are equipped with a blade style bayonet. Most parts are numbered to the receiver. A hardwood or laminated stock was also serial numbered to the receiver. The stocks on mismatched rebuilds will have the original serial numbers lined out, and the current serial number added. While undergoing the rebuilding process, maintaining matching part numbers apparently wasn’t a priority.

The first Russian SKS carbines were imported into the U.S. in the early 1990s. All of these Russian imports, unlike some of the Chinese guns, were all genuine military surplus. Most of these carbines had been rebuilt and stored as reserve weapons in Russia. A few brand new unissued and unfired carbines were also discovered. Virtually all the Russian guns imported were in very good condition. Along with the Russian guns limited amounts of East German and a very few Yugoslavian models were briefly imported. These latter guns are seldom seen today. The Russian guns, like the Chinese, are equipped with folding bayonets. With the Russian guns however it is legal to retain the bayonet, partially because the Russian guns are on the BATF’s Curio and Relics list!

THE CHINESE TYPE 56 CARBINE

The most common of the SKSs available in the U.S. are the Chinese versions. Importation began in earnest in 1986. It is estimated that over a million were imported. Almost all of the SKS carbines in the United States prior to that time were limited to veteran’s war trophies. All Chinese SKSs were originally equipped with folding bayonets. The early guns had the blade type, the later guns were equipped with the spike version.

The first Chinese SKSs that were being brought into the country were actual military firearms that in most cases were arsenal rebuilt, and had been stored for many years. These carbines were bargain priced and the ammunition was inexpensive as well. For about $200 you could purchase an SKS carbine and a thousand rounds of 7.62×39 ammo. The carbines were so popular that soon the Chinese ran out of surplus guns and began manufacturing SKSs specifically for the U.S. commercial market. All the Chinese SKSs imported were manufactured in government operated weapons factories

U.S. Importers and distributors even began offering special modified Chinese SKS models that would appeal to all types of shooters; Paratrooper models featuring shorter barrel lengths, target models, scoped models, folding stock versions, saddle guns, and other non military variations were available. Accessories of all sorts were being introduced to upgrade or enhance the SKS. A few SKSs were manufactured to accept the AK47 30 round magazines. These were marketed as the “SKS 30” or the “Model D”. Some people thought it quite ironic that the Chinese, who had formerly supplied the North Vietnamese with weapons, were now making money selling them to the very people that they were used against in the Vietnam War.

The Chinese manufacture of the SKS began after the Russians considered the weapon obsolete in 1956. The Chinese nomenclature for the SKS was the Type 56 Carbine, not to be confused with their Type 56 Rifle (The Chinese version of the AK47). For the Chinese, the SKS carbine was easy to manufacture, reliable, and fulfilled their requirements for a military rifle.

Chinese SKSs are finished in a flat black color. The wood on Chinese carbines is a type of hardwood indigenous to China. Original military guns will have the receiver serial number stamped vertically on the stock. A number of maroon colored fiberglass stocks and hand guards were also manufactured for military use in tropical climates, such as Vietnam. Serial numbers are located on the left side of the receiver, along with a manufacturer’s code, usually a number inside of a triangle. A common code on recently imported guns is a number 66. This is the factory code for Norinco, a large exporter of SKS Carbines, AK rifles, and Tokarev pistols. The date of manufacture of Chinese military SKSs is a numerical code in the serial number. Military Type 56 SKSs were manufactured until sometime in the 1970’s.

Early Chinese SKS carbines were identical to their Soviet counterparts. In later production, in an attempt to expedite manufacture, a new style receiver and barrel was adopted. This new barrel was pressed and pinned into the receiver, rather than screwed in like previous versions. The sheet metal receiver AKs also feature this type of barrel installation.

The Chinese took SKS development a step further, and introduced several select-fire versions, the Type 63 and the Type 68. These models featured a 20 or 30 round magazine and adjustable gas regulator. The mode of fire selector is located in front of the trigger guard. Although they are similar in appearance to a common semiauto SKS carbine, they differ internally. One interesting difference is that they feature a rotating bolt much like that in the AK series of rifles. The Type 68 also features a sheetmetal receiver.

EAST GERMAN SKS

The East Germans produced a variation of the SKS known as the Karabiner-S. It is very similar to the Russian gun. It is recognized by its unique stock that has a slot cut in it to retain the sling, much like WWII German K98 rifles. A few other minor differences are the lack of a cleaning or knock out rod stored under the barrel,and the fact that the buttplate is solid, without provisions for storing a cleaning kit. Serial numbers are located on the left side of the receiver. Very few East German SKSs were imported, and they are quite rare today.

YUGOSLAVIAN M59/66

The Yugoslavian version of the SKS is the Type M59/66. It differs from other versions of the SKS in that it has a permanent, barrel mounted grenade launcher, and folding ladder type grenade launcher sight. There is also a gas shutoff valve. A rubber recoil pad is also fitted to the stock. Sights are similar to other SKS models, except they are luminous night sights. The M59/66’s grenade launching attributes bring the weight of this version up to 9.63 pounds. Very few of the Yugoslavian SKSs were imported and they are highly sought after today. They are one of the highest quality manufactured SKSs.

As popular and common as the SKS imports once were, they are now slowly disappearing from the surplus advertising pages and the classified ads. The SKS carbines will never again be as plentiful and inexpensive as they once were.