1st May : Sphinx AT-2000

Name     :     Sphinx AT-2000


AKA       :     The Improved CZ-75, The Swiss Block

AT-2000PS model shown

Caliber     :     9x21mm, 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 Smith & Wesson


Capacity   :     15 Rounds (9mm), 11 Rounds (.40)


Weight     :     36.25oz or 1030g (S Model)


Length     :     8in or 204mm (S Model)


Action      :     Browning Cam Locking, Double Action Semi Automatic


Origin       :     Switzerland


Introduced in 1992, the Sphinx AT-2000 is a service / sport pistol manufactured in Switzerland.  It originates from the model AT84 and AT88 pistols which were licensed copies of the CZ-75 pistol, they were made under the company name of ITM.  ITM went out of business in 1990 and in 1991 the company was renamed Sphinx Systems Ltd, which went on to try and improve the CZ-75 design with a focus on tight tolerances and high quality workmanship.  The resulting design was the model AT-2000S, a full sized pistol with an all steel construction making it somewhat indestructible.  


The model AT-2000 has three main variants, the 'S' model which is the full sized pistol, the model 'P' standing for police with a compact slide and frame, the model 'PS' which has the shortened slide and barrel with the full sized model 'S' frame.  All of these models have double action trigger systems and have a very precise and predicable trigger break.  For anyone who is familiar with the CZ-75 a very notable difference found when handling the AT-2000 is the shape, the AT-2000 is very square and flat, neglecting the rounding and curve found on the Czech pistol.  Also different from the CZ is the guide rod used in this design, it has a small bulge at the end of it that slots perfectly into the slide to ensure the side locks back firmly in the same position before the next shot to provide constancy.  The controls of this pistol are often ambidextrous making the pistol compatible for left handed shooters or weak hand shooting.


The AT-2000 is well known for exceptional accuracy, and an all over pleasant pistol to shoot with its clean single action break of 1.5kg.  Fitted by hand by master gunsmiths the slides are cut from solid steel as are most of the frames.  CZ-75 magazines do work in the AT-2000S and 'PS' models though they do not lock the slide to the rear when empty, as the follower is different.


INTERESTING FACT : Almost never seen in films, most likely due to the significant cost of this pistol it was prominently shown in the movie "Mission Impossible 2" carried by the villain Sean Ambrose.  


PRO's :   Accurate, Beautiful trigger, Top Quality, Top notch heritage, 


CON's :   Price tag


COOL FACTOR : 9/10

4th of April : VZ.52

Name     :   Ceska Zbrojovka  VZ.52  


AKA       :   CZ52 (incorrect name but sometimes referred to as)

Caliber    :   7.62x45mm and 7.62x39mm


Capacity  :   10 rounds


Weight    :   8.25lbs or 3.75kg


Length    :   39.1in or 993mm


Action     :   Forward Tipping Bolt, Gas Operated Semi-Automatic


Origin     :   Czechoslovakia




The VZ.52 was by all accounts nothing special, even at the time of its introduction to the Czechoslovakian Army in 1952.  It was the result of a need to produce a rifle firing an intermediate round, a trend that consumed the firearms world after World War 2, from lessons learnt about the effectiveness of the STG.44 Sturmgewehr.  The gas system in this rifle was inspired by the MKb.42 an early experimental version of what would become the STG.44 Sturmgewehr and the trigger system borrowed from the U.S. M1 Garand rifle.  Similar in appearance to the German KAR.43 and Russian SKS the VZ.52 is a very well made rifle, though the wooden stocks tend to degrade rather quickly. 


The rifle has a detachable box magazine, though when it was issued to troops  it only came with two magazines.  The idea being that in an emergency the soldier would be able to drop one magazine and insert a fresh one, other than an emergency the idea was to load the rifle via stripper clips inserted into groves on the front of the bolt carrier to charge the magazine attached below.


The VZ.52 was originally chambered in the 7.62x45mm round.  This round was developed independently from Russian research into the 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge that would be fielded in the SKS and AK-47 rifles.  The Czech 7.62x45mm cartridge was used from 1952 in both the VZ.52 and the ZB.530 machinegun until 1957.  In 1956 a standardization program was coming into effect throughout the Warsaw pact countries, this in turn saw the demise of the 7.62x45mm in favor of the Russian 7.62x39mm M43 round.  Thus in 1957 the Czech arsenals re-chambered VZ-52's to the Russian round with a new designation mark on the rifles indicating the change "VZ.52/57.


The end of the rifles use as the Czech standard infantry rifle came very soon after the caliber change over, in 1958 a new rifle the VZ.58 was produced similar in appearance to the AK-47 though mechanically very different.  When the VZ.52/57 was phased out of Czech service it went on to serve with third world nations throughout the world.  It was used by the Egyptians during the Suez Canal conflict.


On a personal note, I have found the VZ.52 a pleasant rifle to shoot as its weight reduces felt recoil allowing fast follow up shots.


INTERESTING FACT :  The VZ.52 ejects its spent casings to the left instead of the right.


PRO's  :   Low Recoil, reliable, nifty folding bayonet, Smooth action.


CON's  :   Original 7.62x45mm rounds have dried up. Bad Stocks


COOL FACTOR :  5/10