05-21-2013 - vz.58 Rifle Availability & Current Shipping Status (more...)
New arrivals
Advantages of Sa vz. 58 over AK-47 rifles
- All vz. 58 rifles possess a milled receiver; the vast majority of AK-47s utilize stamped sheet metal receivers and are not as rigid as the vz.58 receiver.
- Even with the milled receiver it is almost one pound lighter than a stamped AK-47.
- The bolt of the vz. 58 stays open after the last round in the magazine has been fired – the shooter immediately knows the firearm is empty and allows for quicker reloads.
- The vz. 58 can be reloaded with stripper clips while the magazine is inserted in the rifle.
- The vz. 58 has a more natural point of aim and is faster handling.
- The safety is more ergonomic making a faster first shot possible with the vz. 58. Unlike the AK safety, the vz. 58 safety can be operated by just a forefinger with the hand remaining on the pistol grip.
- vz.58 has no need for an ejection port dust cover as the receiver is completely enclosed. A cover (on the safety lever) must be used on the AK-47 to prevent debris from entering the receiver through the reciprocating charging handle slot.
- The ejection port is HUGE. There is no chance of an empty case getting stuck in the action of the vz. 58.
- The vz. 58 gas piston can be removed or exchanged without tools.
- The alloy magazine of the vz. 58 is half the weight of the steel AK-47 magazine.
- The vz. 58 is striker fired unlike the hammer fired AK-47. This reduces the number of parts and possible points of failure.
Advantages of Sa vz. 58 over AR-15 / M16 rifles
- vz.58 provides greater reliability than the gas system AR-15 / M16
- vz.58 has no need for an ejection port cover as the receiver is completely enclosed. An ejection port cover must be used on the AR-15 / M16 to prevent debris from entering the receiver.
- vz.58 utilizes a short stroke gas piston and is much more cost effective than the short stroke gas piston AR-15 / M16
- vz.58 is easier to field strip and clean than AR-15 / M16
- vz.58 is more compact than AR-15 / M16
Legendary Czech Firearms in the USA !
CzechPoint, Inc., located in Knoxville, Tennessee, is proud to be the primary distributor of the Sa vz. 58 line of rifles and the Sa vz. 61 Scorpion. The vz. 58 and vz. 61 are manufactured by Czech Small Arms (who purchased arms manufacturing branch of D-Technik in 2009) in the Moravian region of the Czech Republic, the birthplace and production area of these legendary firearms. The history of Czech craftsmanship is well known throughout the world and Czech Small Arms (CSA) maintains this fine tradition.
CzechPoint was specifically established to work closely with CSA. Our mission is to assist with product introduction, marketing, promotion, sales, and support of CSA firearms and accessories. In the future CzechPoint will expand the product line to include firearms, parts, and ammunition from other Czech manufacturers.
Czech Firearms Trivia
- Firearms production first started in the territories of Bohemia and Moravia 700 years ago and consisted of hand held firearms as well as canons.
- In the 15th and 16th centuries, Czech rifle makers were exporting large quantities of barrels to Portugal for final assembly and exportation overseas.
- As early as 1585, Emperor Rudolf II at Prague Castle organized shooting competitions that involved a moving target (dummy of a knight on a horse) - almost 400 years ahead of organized IPSC shooting!
- In the 17th and 18th centuries, Prague was one of the most important centers of rifle production. This was due to its ability to organize mass production.
- In the 1920s, the pillar of modern Czechoslovak small arms production was founded at three plants - Zbrojovka Brno, Česká Zbrojovka, and Škoda Plzen.
- Model translates to the Czech word, “vzor.” The abbreviation for vzor is “vz.” Some examples include: vz. 24 bolt action rifle, vz. 52 and vz. 52/57 semi automatic rifles, vz. 26 light machine gun, vz. 58 assault rifle, and vz. 61 submachine gun (machine pistol).
- Submachine gun translates to the Czech word, “Samopal.” The abbreviation for Samopal is “Sa.” Some examples include: Sa 23, Sa 25, Sa 24, and Sa 26 (9 mm and 7.62x25 mm submachine guns).
- The Sa 23 influenced the design of the Uzi submachine gun (developed by Uziel Gal).
- The Czechoslovak vz. 24 rifle (patterned after the Mauser Gewehr 98) was manufactured from 1924 through 1942 resulting in over 1,000,000 rifles produced.
- The famous Bren gun of World War II, used by the British and Canadian Armies, was developed from the Czechoslovak ZB vz. 26 light machine gun. Bren is an abbreviation of the words Brno Enfield.
- The ZB vz. 26 was used in large numbers by the German Waffen SS in 7.92 mm Mauser (used in the same role as the MG34).
- During the Cold War period, the Czechoslovaks developed and issued their own assault rifle, the Sa vz. 58, while other communist countries adopted Mikhail Kalashnikov’s AK-47 (later the AKM and the AK-74).
- The Sa vz. 58 uses a tilting bolt like that found in the SKS, StG44, FN FAL, and MAS-49 and MAS-49/56. The vz. 58 is striker fired, not unlike a Glock pistol.
- The Sa vz. 61 Skorpion was only produced in .32 acp (7.65 mm Browning). Additional vz. 61 Scorpion models were developed, but none went into serial production.
- Sa vz. 61 Skorpions have been used by communist countries, notorious regimes, terrorist groups, counter terrorist groups, and Special Forces.
- vz. 58 and vz. 61 firearms have been encountered during the Persian Gulf War and during the occupation of Iraq.
- The vz. 58 is currently carried by Czech military forces in Afghanistan.