{{refimprove|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox weapon | image = Rifle vz. 54.jpg | name = vz. 54 | origin = Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, Czech Republic | service = 1954-1990s | used_by = Czechoslovakia<br>North Vietnam<br>East Germany<br>Police of the Czech Republic | wars = Vietnam War | designer = Otakar Galaš / Považské strojírny | design_date = 1951 | manufacturer = Czechoslovakia | production_date = 1951, 1954-1958<ref name="vhu" /> | number = 5,521<ref name="vhu">{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2000 |title=01 Odstřelovačská puška vz. 54 |url=https://www.vhu.cz/exhibit/01-odstrelovacska-puska-vz-54/ |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=Vojenský historický ústav |language=en}}</ref> | variants = vz. 54/91 | type = Bolt-action rifle | length = 1148 mm | weight = 4.63 kg (empty), 4.38 kg (fully equipped) | cartridge = 7.62×54mmR | feed = 5-round internal box magazine | rate = 15 rounds/min | action = Bolt-action | sights = Telescopic sight }}
'''vz. 54 ''' ({{Langx|cs|Odstřelovací puška vz. 54}}) is a Czechoslovak bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in 7.62×54mmR.
== Development == The sniper rifle was developed in Czechoslovakia between 1949 and 1951. Initially, the ZG 49 sn variant chambered in 7.92×64 mm was tested, but the final decision favored the 7.62×54mmR cartridge.<ref name="military-portal-vz54">{{Cite web |title=Odstřelovací puška vz.54 |url=https://www.military-portal.cz/clanek/odstrelovaci-puska-vz54 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072256/https://www.military-portal.cz/clanek/odstrelovaci-puska-vz54 |archive-date=2018-02-05 |access-date=2018-02-04 |website=military-portal.cz}}</ref> The second prototype was based on the Soviet Mosin-Nagant, from which the action was adopted. Selected bolt parts were optimized and the best barrels were chosen. The stock design incorporated features from pre-war vz. 24 rifle production.<ref name="rotrs">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mosinnagant.net/sniper%20section/snipertext1.asp |title=Rifles Of The Red Star |website=mosinnagant.net |access-date=2018-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209065106/http://www.mosinnagant.net/sniper%20section/snipertext1.asp |archive-date=2018-02-09}}</ref>
== Design == The stock with pistol grip was newly designed; the fore-end is relatively short, exposing the front half of the barrel. It has only one barrel band. The bent bolt handle was purpose-made, unlike the simply cranked ones found on Soviet Mosin sniper rifles. As a result, the stock has a cutout to accommodate the bolt handle.
The primary sight is a fixed Czech Meopta 2.5×6 telescopic sight with only 2.5× magnification (compared to 4× or 3.5× magnification in Soviet PE and PU scopes). The backup iron sights consist of a sliding rear notch adjustable from 50 to 1200 meters, paired with a front post.
== vz. 54/91 == In the 1990s, existing police vz. 54 rifles were modernized. They were fitted with new stocks featuring adjustable cheek rests and bipods. The original scopes were replaced with PSO-1 scopes (4× magnification) as used on the SVD.
== Users ==
* {{CSR}}: Used by Czechoslovak People's Army and police forces. Used by the army until being replaced by the SVD Dragunov in the 1970s.<ref name="rotrs" /> * {{VIE}}: Limited use during the Vietnam War. 1,460 rifles sent by Czechoslovakia between 1966 and 1968.<ref name="nam">{{Cite web |title=Odstřelovací puška vz.54 / NAM 64-75 |url=https://www.nam-valka.cz/zbrane/opu-vz54.html |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=www.nam-valka.cz}}</ref><ref name="francev" /> * {{USA}}: Few examples captured during the Vietnam War.<ref name="nam" /> * {{East Germany}}: Limited use.<ref name="francev">{{Cite book |last=Francev |first=Vladimír |title=Československé zbraně ve světě: v míru za války |date=2015 |publisher=Grada Publ |isbn=978-80-247-5314-0 |location=Praha}}.</ref> * Police of the Czech Republic: vz. 54/91 used by the Rapid Response Unit units in the 1990s.<ref name="rotrs" />
== External links == {{Commonscat|Vz. 54 rifle|vz. 54 sniper rifle}}
*{{Cite web |url=https://thinlineweapons.com/7.62x54r/7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRareVZ54.html |title=Czechoslovakian VZ54 Sniper |website=thinlineweapons.com |access-date=2018-02-04}} *{{Cite web |url=http://www.mosin-nagant.de/galass_gewehr.html |title=Galas's Rifle |website=mosin-nagant.de |access-date=2018-02-04 |archive-date=2017-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219164213/http://www.mosin-nagant.de/galass_gewehr.html |url-status=dead }} *{{Cite web |author=Ian McCollum |url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/czechoslovakia-recycles-mosins-the-vz-54-sniper/ |title=Czechoslovakia Recycles Mosins: The vz.54 Sniper |website=Forgotten Weapons |access-date=2023-01-01}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:7.62×54mmR rifles Category:Rifles of the Cold War Category:Sniper rifles of Czechoslovakia Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1951