I bought a CZ vz.52 today. I’m interested to know if there is a site somewhere (tried google, my fu is weak) where I can find a date of manufacture by serial number. I’m certain it isn’t one of the new-production ones I’ve seen on gunbroker.com (at least I think they are new-production), but I’d like to know for my own curiosity when it was made (I’m trying to collect Cold War-era ComBloc weapons).
Is there any other marking other than the serial number on it, something like “ZV” or “BZ” or “Vsetin” anywhere?
Also, do the markings actually identify it as a CZ vz.52, or does it appear to be a CZ vz.52 but is actually marked something like CZ 70? If it’s an original and not a later remake of the model, it’s from between 1952 and 1954. If there are any other markings that could tell us the exact factory it was made in that might help.
I’ll have to go down to the shop tomorrow and check it out. I’m in the 10 day waiting period right now. But I’ll write down any markings on it. I know on the right side forward of the trigger there is an “X54” and a barely-visible “7.62 TOK”, but that’s all I can remember.
I think that may be your answer right there. The 7.62 TOK just refers to the 7.62 load, of course but the 54 is probably your answer An original CZ vz.52 will have a crossed-sword stamp showing proof of acceptance by the then-Czechoslovakian military on the right side, and right in front of the trigger on the right, a two digit number showing date of manufacture. It appears your pistol was manufactured in 1954. 
Let me know if there are any other markings on it, we’ll see what else we can find out about it.
Excellent. Thanks for the help. I’ll let you know what other markings I find.
Do you own one? Today at the shop was the first time I had handled one in person and I was very impressed with the workmanship. Very sturdy little piece.
A couple of nice links I came across today:
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=191625
http://p102.ezboard.com/My-recent-purchase/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm15.showMessage?topicID=1519.topic
Nope, don’t own one, but I wouldn’t mind shooting one. I lived in Prague for a while and speak Czech passably well and I’ve read a little bit about Czech and Czechoslovakian firearms, so what I don’t know I can usually find or figure out. Apparently it’s a pretty powerful little beast. One writer questioned its usefulness as a self defense weapon becuase the 7.62 X 25 Tokarev load penetrated so deeply, 54" into duct-seal clay (one of the gun message board wits noted he must have really thick bad guys where he lives). That would apparently penetrate up to Type II body armor, but on your average assailant would likely zip right through.
I saw some ballistic gelatin tests (allegedly twice the density of the human body) in which it penetrated 16-18 inches. Due to the velocities I’ve seen quoted (up to 1600 fps in my Hornaday reloading manual) I wouldn’t even bet on level III armor against it without an additional trauma plate in there.
“pocket rifle”, indeed.