Czech modified Mosin action, 7.62x54, w/Meopta scope, standard issue Czech sniper rifle until replaced by the SVD Dragunov, these rifles also turned up in Viet Nam during that conflict. Adopted in 1954 it's believed to use reworked Soviet receivers w/all new Czech mfg parts, they were also reportedly made to use with one of the ComBloc machine gun rounds in 7.62x54r.
Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 52 of 52 Total. 943 Visits.
Vz54 snipers rifle w/action cover Well designed & comfortable stock, cut down for weight, heavy Czech mfg barrel, different bolt than Soviet PU's, Czech designed & mfg scope & mount, 98K Mauser style rear sight, front sight uses a removeable 98K style hood & side mounted sling.
View w/action cover on The action cover also doubles as a tool kit, all the accs are carried in the scope cover, see pics following.
Right side of buttstock
Wrist cutout The Czechs had a sniper rifle design competition & were working on a mauser based rifle in 8mm, when the Communists took firm control & the Czechs adopted Soviet calibres the Vz54 was developed & won the competition, it appears to be a "product improved" PU sniper utilizing some Mauser style accoutrements.
Action view right side The bolt handle is different than the Soviet PU (see this & following pics) & has a slot in the bottom, the bolt can be used as a tool to remove the 2 screws locking the scope/mount to the base!
Markings on Meopta scope The markings consist of the scope serial number, crossed swords (Czech military acceptance mkg) & 3 letter code (for the mfg), the Czechs continued the German style 3 letter codes for military mfg after the war.
Action view of scope
Vz54 scope/mount Inner view of the scope mount showing the 2 screws which mount it to the rifle, these screws have a large raised rib in the center which the slot in the bolt knob fits over.
Vz54 bolt View of the bolt w/a screw from the mount which has a screwdriver blade on it) sitting in the slot in the bottom of the bolt knob
Vz54 bolt knob slot Here you cansee the slot machined into the bottom of the bolt knob.
Vz54 R Action Cover On The cover pretty much wraps around the entire action & the leather buckle straps secure it firmly, the cover is quite large to fit the accessory pack, large rubber eyepiece & German G43 style lens covers (which unfortunately are both missing from this rifle).
Forend-rear sight side view Note the full wraparound rear section of the handguard & the Mauser style tangent rear sight.
Rear sight Upper view of rear sight showing the groove in the handguard.
Front band. Note the shortened forestock & handguard & completely different (from PU) front band, secured from right side w/a screw (ala Mauser) & carrying the sling swivel on the left.
Vz54 R Forend Fully exposed barrel
Vz54 Front sight Again note the differences in front sight, carried on a band surrounding the barrel & utilizing a Mauser style hood.
Vz54 front sight & hood Small hole on top for post adjustment.
Vz54 front sight from the back Note the K98K style sight hood & the hole in the top for adjusting the height of the front sight post
Left view of Forend Here you can see the side mounted front sling swivel & the standard Czech military sling, used w/all Czech military rifles from the Vz52, Vz52/57, Vz54, & Vz58, the sling is heavy web w/leather end tab & most are marked w/the crossed swords & dated.
Vz54 Barrel Mkg On the Vz54 the reciver is marked w/mfg code on left side & serial number, the serial number is also stamped on the left side of the barrel in front of the front band.
Left side view of forend
Action w/cover on, left side
Vz54 Scope Cover Mkg Crossed sword acceptance marking, date of 56 (1956), these markings will be found on almost every piece of Cold war military equipment including field gear, uniforms, hats, helmets etc.
Receiver marking
Scope Base detail On these rifles, receivers, barrels, mags, buttplates, stocks, bolts & scope mounts were numbered to the guns. An all matching Vz54 is a bit tough to find, most are found w/mismatched parts (matched guns are out there but less common than mismatched), this particular rifle has all the rifle parts correct & matching but the scope mount is a mismatch.
Action, left side Here's a view of the scope/mount, note the similiarity to the PU but it is in fact a totally different setup.
Vz54 mount screws Bottom view of the mount screws described previously
Vz54 L Scope Adj
Buttstock sling point Note the sling attachment point of a bar opposed to the original Soviet style sling slots in the wood, also the rifle number on the stock.
Buttstock marking
Left view w/action cover
left view
Vz54 scope accessory set This is a pic of the scope case, lens cover set, rubber eye piece & leatherette case which contains different lens filters. This is a web photo & is used for informational purposes, thanks.
Vz54 accessory set Another view, & another web photo for information only, thanks
Vz54 scope cover/case markings note the pocket containing the cleaning rod. Another web photo for information only, thanks
Vz54 Acc Lens Filters Web photo for information only, thanks
Vz54 AccT ools Web photo for information only, thanks
Vz54 top, Soviet 91/30 Pu bottom Here & following is a series of photos directly comparing the Czech Vz54 w/the Soviet 91/30 PU. The vz54 is a matching rifle except for the mount, which is the correct mount/scope for the gun, the 91/30 is a non-import 1944 Ishevsk PU, original sniper.
