Well its technically a new gun, but actually just a replacement for my last one. My original VZ58 MARS had to go back to Caledonian Classic Arms as it started malfunctioning in a very naughty (but fun) way, however not fun enough to justify 5 years in the clink.
It was one of the first batch and didn’t have a chrome lined barrel, had the older style mechanism and was only available in green. Now the VZ58, IMO is one of the ugliest guns ever made but the green colour made it even worse, again IMO, but I made my peace with it.
When it needed to be upgraded/mended Scott at CCA very kindly organised the pick up and sent it back to CSA in the Czech Republic to be rebarrelled, update the mechanism and also be repainted BLACK.
The CSA factory are currently well behind with orders and after discussing my rifle with Scott at the Northern Shooting Show he suggested I might be better off just getting a brand new rifle! IF you can get ahold of Scott, and that’s a big ‘if’ at present*, he’s a top bloke and his customer service is excellent, worlds apart from my experience with another ‘release mechanism’ rifle maker…
*Scotts premises are in the middle of nowhere with very poor mobile signal and a farmer has apparently very helpfully ploughed up a 400m section of armoured phone line which BT aren’t particularly bothered about replacing given there’s less than a handful of buildings it supplies…Therefore he has to rely on an answer machine and emails that he only gets once he goes home.
Anyway, my brand spanking new VZ58 arrived this week and I have to say, I much prefer it in black what a surprise(!) The only downside is because of clashes of dates with PSG comps its going to be a good while before I actually get to shoot it! Well, unless I can persuade the owner of North Cotes Butts to let me use the tunnel for a while before an upcoming mini-rifle comp….
A couple of different configurations;
)