Import Marks and Their Impact on Gun Values

Here at Pony Express Firearms, we see a lot of import marked guns. Today we’ll look at the Czech CZ52 pistol, and the difference a seemingly innocuous feature like an import mark can make on value.

CZ54 Pistol with No Import Marks

The CZ52 is a Czechoslovakian designed pistol, standardized for military use in 1952. Originally intended to fire the 9×19 Luger round, political pressure from the Soviet Union forced the adoption of this pistol in the standard Warsaw Pact 7.62x25mm caliber.

The Czech military used the CZ52 for decades, only being replaced in the early 1980’s by the vz82 in 9x18mm Makarov caliber. In all, approximately 200,000 CZ52 pistols were produced. These guns are very well made and use a unique roller locking system to lock the barrel and slide together. This same locking system is also found on the German MG42 machine gun. As such, they can handle extremely powerful loads. On the other hand, these guns sit somewhat high in the hand, are not particularly ergonomic, and some shooters find them to have very strong felt recoil, which is only exacerbated when using hot ammunition.

Today, the CZ52 is a popular pistol for the surplus military collector and shooter. With the influx of surplus and new production 7.62x25mm ammunition, as well as the extremely affordable price of these pistols, many thousands came to the United States in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. These guns can be readily identified by a US mandated import mark, which states country of origin, caliber, and importer’s name and address.

Import marks were mandated by the 1968 Gun Control Act, and must be placed on any gun manufactured after 1898 entering the US, regardless of value. As such, the vast majority of CZ52s encountered in America will be import marked. Prior to 2002, these markings could be put in inconspicuous places, with some importers even putting them under grips, under the slide, or in other obscure locations. In 2002, the ATF issued guidance rules specifically noting that import marks MUST be placed in a conspicuous location.

CZ54 Pistol with Import Marks

Unfortunately for those who collect imported guns, import marks became larger, and were often done in a hideous punch dot style. Gone were the days of the muted and sometimes lightly stamped import markings! For the collector, finding one of the earlier imported guns with light and hard to notice import marks is a nice bonus, but nothing that adds a great premium to a gun’s value (it is after all still import marked).

Sometimes though, a gun will show up with no import marks. For many collectors, it will command a premium, and will be a highly sought after item in their collection. Obviously when contemplating a purchase, the gun should be carefully examined for hidden import marks. At the same time, it’s worth checking the gun for matching serial numbers, as CZ52s will have their serial number repeated on the left side of the frame, the top of the slide, and the portion of the barrel visible through the ejection port. Also, check the firing pin to ensure it is intact, as these guns are very vulnerable to firing pin breakage from dry firing. As a courtesy, NEVER dry fire a CZ52 pistol that you don’t own.

CZ54 Pistol with No Import Marks

The gun illustrated here (right) has no import marks whatsoever. Even on detailed field stripping, none were found, nor is there any evidence of any marks having been applied and then later removed. The only markings evident are the Czech military crossed swords with two digit year of acceptance (1954).

Of course this begs the question of how it got into the US without any marks? We have heard some incredibly outlandish claims, all the way from these guns being brought into the US in diplomatic pouches during the Cold War, to Vietnam or Grenada bringbacks, to guns smuggled into the US from Canada (where import marks aren’t required). While romantic, these claims are just stories to make the gun more appealing to collectors. The real truth is that the gun probably was just missed when the guns were being marked, or perhaps an unscrupulous importer didn’t stamp them. Whatever the story, it’s just that – a story. Without documentation, you should pay no more than what you think a non import marked CZ52 is worth (and for many collectors, it’s worth a substantial premium.) Here again, the old adage “buy the gun, not the story” rings true!

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