Type Submachine gun In service 1980s-present Wars Iran-Iraq War | Place of origin Spain Used by See Users Designed 1984 | |
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The Star Z-84 is a Spanish selective-fire submachine gun originally manufactured by the now defunct Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.. The Z-84 is a sturdy well designed weapon that never saw high production due to politics. Originally manufactured for use by SCUBA divers, the Z-84 could be used right out of the water without any need to drain the working parts or magazine. (OTB capability)
Contents
Star S.A. developed the weapon after a successful run of submachine guns based on the German MP-40 design. Realizing they couldn't rebuild the same weapon over and over, they built the Z-84 completely from scratch using modern designs and engineering. At the time of the Z-84's design, Star was building and importing large numbers of cheap handguns into the US. The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban (now repealed), banned the importation of many of their designs. This proved disastrous for Star and by 1996 had driven them into bankruptcy. Less than 1000 Z-84 were manufactured before the company went bankrupt but many were sold on a testing basis to various countries in South and Central America.
Iranian Takavar commandos still use Z-84 as it is found to be reliable in amphibious warfare.
Early development
The Z-75 was Star's modern, 3rd generation, SMG chambered in 9mm Largo. It superficially resembled the UZI, and incorporated the modern features first seen on the Czechoslovakian Sa vz. 23, such as an overhanging bolt, to reduce overall length. The receiver was of stamped steel, with a square-section bolt riding on rails internally. It fired from an open bolt in the same method as the earlier weapons used, and had the same 20 cm (7.85 in) barrel length. It weighed 2.6 kg (5.75 lb) unloaded.
The Z-75 was a commercial development project that led to the almost identical Z-84 and the Z-75 never went on mass production.
Overview
The Z-84 is a 9mm Parabellum, blowback operated, selective-fire, capable of fully automatic firing, open bolt weapon which heavily derives from Z-75. Having very few moving parts, makes it a very simple weapon to operate and maintain. Made mostly of stamped and cast parts, little machining is needed to produce the weapon. It uses an "overhung" bolt meaning the bolt actually rides forward over the barrel for 3". This allows a shorter overall length while maintaining a long barrel for better accuracy. First pioneered in the Czechoslovakian Sa vz. 23 submachine gun, the overhung bolt had become a fixture in many of today's modern designed SMGs, being employed in firearms such as the Israeli UZI and Italian Beretta M12.
A sturdy folding stock helps the weapon gain accuracy when fired from the shoulder. The sights are protected by large steel ears and are adjustable. the rear sight is a diopter sight with 100 and 200 meter settings and the front is adjustable for windage and elevation..
Variants
There are two variants of the weapon:
- Standard variant: sometimes seen with a shorter barrel than the standard one (presumed an anomaly).
- G.C. variant: has a 215mm barrel, different iron sights (similar to that of CETME L) and was designed originally for Guardia Civil to fulfill their requirements.