As someone who has been buying and collecting guns since the mid 1970s it is my duty to tell you guys that we really are in the middle of a mini “golden age” of gun buying. Recent collectors always talk about how “if only” they had been there before the 86 MG ban, or the 89 Import ban or some other “perfect time” to buy guns. Well I got news for you, right now is that time…the brief period of time following the sunset of the Clinton Ban and right before the BIG ONE that is almost inevitable.
We have so many unique and interesting firearms available to us right now and in huge quantities (even with the current panic buying) and all at current BEFORE THE BAN market prices. And if you think guns are expensive now…just wait. And it probably won’t be very long.
So what does the smart collector buy? Well the real smart guys got to work in September of 2004 and started with the obvious choices like a quality AR-15 variant, a Kalashnikov and LOTS of high capacity magazines and a good supply of ammo. So what’s next…? Well some people are writing big checks for things like the FN SCAR and others are waiting on the Steyr AUG A3 and perhaps those two HK carbines if they manage to get them to market in time.
But what about the guys who don’t have $3,500 to spend on a rifle? Well you can make some good moves for a lot less. And there are some Czech imports that fit that bill nicely. Now maybe it’s just me and the fact that as a kid in the 70s I read a lot of “Soldier of Fortune” and “Warriors” magazines (this was in the olden days before Small Arms Review and SWAT magazine existed) so I already knew a lot about the VZ-61 Skorpion SMG and a bit about the VZ-58 but I honestly never thought I’d ever see one.
You see I grew up back before the wall came down when nobody ever even saw a real Kalashnikov and a Finnish Valmet was as close as you could get in this country as all Commie Block weapons were completely unimportable. It really wasn’t until right before the 89 import ban that the first genuine (mostly Chinese) AKs were imported and almost as soon as they were they were banned with the 89 import ban. The 922r AKs that followed are truly a marvel to any gun collector who began prior to the passage of FOPA 86.
Well Czechpoint USA has managed to bring in two Holy Grails for long time gun collectors like me. And these are GENUINE Czech produced, correct VZ-61s and VZ-58s. Now there have been some US made (and even some imported) Skorpion copies from a couple decades ago but these were usually Tec 9 quality junk that bore only a passing resemblance to the real thing. But not these, they are high quality imports that only recently began arriving and when (not if) we finally get the next ban these will begin to command very premium prices just like the Pre 89 Polytech imports that were also high quality but imported for a short time.
Well start out with the VZ-58 which many take as just a Czech Kalashnikov variant. But they are hardly the same rifle. First off the quality of Czech manufacturing is superior to most of the former Warsaw Pact weapon producers with only Poland and Hungary making weapons of similar quality and the VZ-58 is a distinct evolution of the Kalashnikov design.
Here are some key differences:
http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/products/vz-58-rifles/
Sa vz. 58 Comparison to AK-47 Type Rifle with Stamped Receiver
* All vz. 58 rifles possess a milled receiver; the vast majority of AK-47s are stamped.
* Even with the milled receiver it is almost one pound lighter than a stamped AK-47.
* CNC machining on a vz. 58 receiver takes 2 1/2 hours; a stamped AK-47 receiver takes seconds to produce.
* The bolt of the vz. 58 stays open after the last round in the magazine has been fired.
* 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.
* 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. (.42 lb. vs. .84 lb.)
* The vz. 58 is striker fired unlike the hammer fired AK-47. This reduces the number of parts and possible points of failure.
By the end of the1950s, the Sa vz. 58 military issued assault rifle had obtained the impressive combination of weight and length (6.42 lbs and 33.30 inches for fixed stock) to make this rifle the elite among military issued assault rifles of its class.
It remains the only assault rifle of its size that has achieved an empty weight of under 3 kilos.
And the MILLED VZ-58 is a lot handier and even lighter than most stamped (AKM) Kalashnikov rifles. Here are some additional features:
The open top cover makes FTE and similar jams almost impossible.
Note the high quality blue finish in this photo with decent lighting.
And even the “sporter” compliant muzzle is aesthetically pleasing and doesn’t have the “hacked off” look of most import compliance sporters. Keep in mind these are original Czech made guns not just MG kits built on a US made receiver. And there are many choices of configuration and most importantly…these are IN STOCK. No waiting several months to get your hands on one, they can be ordered now.
Now some will balk at the price, about $850 retail because they will compare them to a Romanian Kalashnikov. But one should keep in mind that these are not some WASR 10 conversion nightmare, and when compared to quality Kalashnkovs such as those produced by Arsenal Inc., they are actually cheaper in most cases, especially in the current frenzied market.
Now here is the good part, surplus 30 round magazines are only $13.50 and refinished magazines are only $21.50 and there are many parts and accessories available.
Moving on to my personal favorite, the VZ-61 Skorpion. Ever since my days of reading about international terrorists in SOF and Warriors I’ve wanted one of those neat little SMGs the bad guys always seemed to use. And since the foreign MG ban in the 68 GCA makes that pretty much impossible this is as close as a collector can get.
Now most folks will order one in pistol form as I did originally. And with an average retail of about $599.00 these are a really good deal.
http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/products/vz-61-scorpions/
You can then register it as a SBR on a Form 1 and send it to INRANGE C2 for the actual SBR conversion for a very fair price of $175.00
http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/products/vz-…1-scorpion-sbr/
You can read a very detailed history of the VZ-61 Skorpion here:
http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/history-of-the-sa-vz-61/
Some of the interesting points are the top ejection, which must truly be an experience in full auto. Note how the folding stock latches onto the front sight.
Here is a side view of the wire stock latched onto the front sight. Notice how the VZ-61 has the same high quality blue finish, but I should stress it isn’t this bright under normal lighting conditions.
Here is mine with the wire stock extended.
And here is the notch and groove lock up for the folding stock. Unlocking the stock is a simple matter of pinching the wire stock together and then folding it over the top to latch onto the front sight.
And to give you an idea of how truly compact this one is, here is a picture of a VZ-61 Skorpion next to a 30 round VZ-58 magazine.
20 round VZ-61 magazines are only $24.00 and many parts and accessories are available as well.
And finally a word of caution, CAI also makes a VZ-58 that “looks” like the one here but the difference in quality is dramatic and the difference in price is not much of a savings. Make sure any VZ-61 or VZ-58 you buy is a genuine Czech import that is manufactured by D. Technik. There are also some domestic receiver Skorpions out there but given the collectability of a true Czech import I wouldn’t bother with one.
