Star Model Z84

The Star Z-84 was 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, known as over-the-beach or OTB capability.

Star Z-84
Star Model Z-84
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of origin Spain
Service history
In service1980s–present
Used bySee Users
WarsIran–Iraq War
Production history
Designed1984
ManufacturerStar Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.
Produced1984–present
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
MassShort 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)
LengthStandard 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 lengthStandard barrel: 270 mm (11 in)
Short barrel: 215 mm (8.5 in)
Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
Caliber9mm
ActionBlowback-operated, open bolt, telescoping bolt
Rate of fire600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity400 metres per second (1,300 ft/s)
Effective firing range150–200m
Feed system25/30-round detachable box magazine
SightsDiopter-type iron sights

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 exporting large numbers of cheap handguns to the US. The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban (now repealed), banned the importation of many of their designs. This proved disastrous for Star and other Spanish gunmakers, and by 1996 had driven them into bankruptcy.

Fewer than 1,000 Z-84s 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 the 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 metal stock helps the weapon gain accuracy when fired from the shoulder, and has a safety switch on the trigger. 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 215 mm barrel, different iron sights (similar to that of CETME L) and was designed originally for Guardia Civil to fulfill their requirements.

Users

References
  1. Diez, Octavio (2000). Armament and Technology. Lema Publications, S.L. ISBN 84-8463-013-7.

The Directory of the World's Weapons. p98: Blitz Editions. 1996. ISBN 1-85605-348-2.CS1 maint: location (link)

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