Star Model Z84

Star Z-84

Cover of the Star Model Z-84 user manual.
Type Submachine gun
Place of origin  Spain
Service history
In service 1980s-present
Used by See Users
Wars Iran-Iraq War
Production history
Designed 1984
Manufacturer Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.
Produced 1984-present
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight

Short barrel: 3.10 kg (6.8 lb)
Standard barrel: 3.15 kg (6.9 lb)
25-round magazine:

  • Empty: 0.22 kg (0.49 lb)
  • Full: 0.532 kg (1.17 lb)

30-round magazine:

  • Empty: 0.24 kg (0.53 lb)
  • Full: 0.607 kg (1.34 lb)
Length

Standard barrel:

  • 465 mm (18.3 in) with stock retracted
  • 670 mm (26 in) with stock extended

Short barrel:

  • 410 mm (16 in) with stock retracted
  • 615 mm (24.2 in) with stock extended
Barrel length Standard barrel: 270 mm (11 in)
Short barrel: 215 mm (8.5 in)
Cartridge 9×19mm Parabellum
Caliber 9mm
Action Blowback-operated, open bolt, telescoping bolt
Rate of fire 600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 400 m/s
Effective firing range 150-200m
Feed system 25/30-round detachable box magazine
Sights Diopter-type iron sights

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)

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 The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban (now repealed), banned the importation of many of their designs.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:

  1. Standard variant: sometimes seen with a shorter barrel than the standard one (presumed an anomaly).
  2. 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.

Users

References

The Directory of the World's Weapons. p98: Blitz Editions. 1996. ISBN 1-85605-348-2. 

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