Česká Zbrojovka CZ-82

[Black Blade]

CZ-82

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I reblued three of the CZ-82 pistols and added custom wood grips on two of them. They were all excellent shoorters and most had smooth trigger actions. I guess I can continue to do more custom work and may do some Duracoat work and add new grips and night sights to a few. The last batch of CZ-82 pistols only one of which had a minor problem (slide lock spring). The Makarovs (bottom two - top photo) were crisp shooters that will make for nice CCW pieces, though not as smooth shooting as the CZ-82s.

They do work as decent CCW and BUG firearms. There ate times I carry a CZ-82 as a main carry gun and other times as a BUG in an ankle holster.

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The quality and function in a 9x18 is among the best while the western style ambi mag release is a major plus. It does have a higher mag capacity than most 9x18 guns.

- Black Blade

[Black Blade]

In the previous post I have a photo of a parked CZ-82 and is my main CZ-82 carry gun. I get a few CZ-82s at a time and the cosmetic condition often leaves much to be desired.

It is unbelieveable the rising prices for good East German Makarovs lately. I remember getting them for about $100 to $150 each not all that long ago. On Gunbroker they have been selling for over $300 and some asking for well over $450. Now I like Maks as much as the next guy, but if I am spending that kind of money then I will get an upper range commercial brand gun. However, when I failed to secure another Makarov or two, I decided that I might as well get more CZ-82 pistols while they are still around and fairly cheap. Of course they come beaten up a little with chipped and worn surface paint anymore as importers are obviously getting down to the dregs. The ambi magaine release tends to be stiff and may only work in one direction. Still, considering the price and the current political environment, getting what you can for a decent price is probably the best course of action.

I got in three more CZ-82 pistols. I have already parkerized and duracoated, so this time I decided to try "Bluing" as these are steel frame guns. The parkeried are the best but the process is time consuming and involved considering I really don't have the space or time right now. The results were not bad at all.In fact better than I expected considering I was trying for a darker bluing. This result find of reminds me of the old Colt .45 (1911) guns I used to see when I was a mere fingerling. Sorry the lighting wasn't better (damn enviro-lights!).

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The upper right and left I added marschal grips which really give the guns a nice look. The lower right is one of my IWB tuckable holsters and the Leatherman case I use to carry a spare magazine.

I essentially disassembled the guns and stripped the old paint with "Zip-Strip", rinsed, cleaned off stray paint with 280 grit sand paper and super fine 0000 steel wool. Then I degreased the gun and used rust/blue remover, rinsed and then repeated with the degreaser. Finally I blued the guns with a liquid blue (Birchwood Casey) and worked the metal with more super fine steel wool to even the bluing over the metal surfaces, rinsing with cold water after each application. I repeated the bluing process a few times until darked. It actually come out close to the bead blasted and parkerized finishes but with a slightly reflective patina finish.

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Blued CZ-82 with checkered Wattle with clear shallac red finish Marschal grips.

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Blued CZ-82 with Padauk, clear shellac finish, checkered Marschal grips.

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Blued CZ-82 with original military plastic grips.

If I don't get anymore East German (or Bulgarian) Makarovs, then I will likely get a few more CZ-82 pistols and might even blue some of those (perhaps with a different brand for a different effect).

- Black Blade

[Black Blade]

Today we get another batch of CZ-82 guns. After a preliminary examination I find one in nearly perfect condition, two in fair condition and one in need of a little work. Since these are available from the vendors for now, I'm taking advantage of accumulating C&R and semi-auto firearms, lots of ammo and hi-cap magazines.

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The debate is what to do. I'm leaning toward cold-bluing again for this batch and maybe hot-blue, parkerize or duracoat the next batches.

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Usually these are in pitiful condition but lately they have been quite decent and some I don't even touch as they are in very good condition. Currently the best I've recieved lately have been from Classic Arms and AIM Surplus with the TGI stramp under the slide.

I got three more CZ-82 handguns recently. What is really nice about these is that they are in near excellent condition showing no wear and they come with decent OWB leather holsters. I had planned to refinish this new batch with the last batch, however, the finish is too good to strip off on these. In fact I may get some more even though I wasn't planning on it.

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It helps that the import marks are stamped on the underside of the slide (seen above bottom photo). These holsters are fairly decent as well.

- Black Blade

[AOW]

Another awesome report by Black Blade! I got no Maks or CZs but it's great to read up on them. Thanks!

[Black Blade]

UPDATE: I just finished up some work and came back into town so I decided to "reward" myself with a gun purchase. I kept getting outbid on some guns that I wanted I finally decided to add more CZ-82 guns. I hadn't picked up any recently (like the last year or so), so I checked out SOG offerings and decided "what the hell, why not". These just came in this morning even as my account at SOG still says "pending". Go figure.

These I just got are the latest batch and they look very nice. The mag release on one is a little stiff (easy fix) but the other is perfect. The grips appear to be in almost mint condition. They are CAI imports with the unfortunate billboard but the paint held up nicely through that abuse. There is a small chip in the paint on the right side of each gun that can be covered with some glossy black high temp paint or black fingernail polish (yeah, I have a niece in the Goth craze). Overall these are some of the best CZ-82 guns I've seen since the TGI imports a couple years ago.

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Who knows, I may pick up a few more sometime this year.