Taipan Veteran: Ukraine vs Czech Republic Made Shorty?

[txaggie929]

So, I have a Veteran shorty .22 that I bought used, and my friend also recently bought a Veteran shorty .22 used as well. He just brought it to my house, as it's leaking, and I've got a friend who can fix it.

Just compared them side by side, and saw that mine is made in Ukraine (top one) and his is made in Czech Republic. My stock was rather underwhelming, with a horrible clear coat done, so it got a coat of textured paint. His stock is significantly nicer, with checkering on the grip. Also noticed that the rearmost bushing / fitting on the airtube is completely different.

Besides the stock, are there any major differences between them? Just curious.

 

[Guest]

You are likely the only person who has both to examine in one room.

 

[txaggie929]

All I can make is visual observations. Figured I'd ask for those who are more familiar with these if there were any major differences with internals, quality control of any type, etc. 

 

[Franklink]

I have a Czech Vet, and a Ukraine Vet. 

Very subtle differences. But nothing that matters. Trigger mechanicals are the same, shroud internals are the same. Both regulators produce consistent shot strings. Barrels are machined the same. Parts appear to be completely interchangeable between Czech and Ukraine Vets.

Lots of discussion about which have CZ versus LW barrels. But no markings on either to know for sure. 

The buttpads are a bit different between each one. 

My Ukraine Vet has a nicer finish on all the metal, more glossy and even across the whole gun. The Czech Vet has a more matte finish and some areas are more "matte" than other parts of the gun, even to having different matte levels on various parts of the airtube. 

Stocks are different. The UK Vet's stock has more of a hand-made feel/look to it, while the Czech Vet's laminate stock feels much more like a high volume stock producer's (Minelli). It seems like the inletting at the rear of the stock, right around the hammer tension adjust, is a little different on each one but I can't confirm that right now, as I'm away from them. 

I personally like the breech markings (outlined lettering) on the Ukraine Vet better than the filled in white lettering on the Czech one. The outlined lettering just looks classier to me. And the big giant CZ on the Czech one irks me, as I think they were trying to imply that they all have CZ barrels, which they don't. So I view that big ugly CZ as a little misleading/false advertising. 

Overall the Ukraine gun feels like it came out of a small shop, and the Czech gun feels more mass produced.

Again, nothing that matters. They both shoot to the same superb level that Vets are known for.

 

[Lowkey]

I know that the Ukraine version was the original first version, then came the Czech version . Also I am almost certain that the Ukraine .22 version was the only taipan that came with the CZ barrel.......

 

[rangur1]

I've had both versions. I was not able to determine any significant differences except I currently have 2 made in the czech republic. I believe they both have CZ barrels. Previously I had a Ukraine version that had a LW barrel , and it acted like it. Shot a specific size pellet clearly better than other head sizes. My current ones shoot a variety of ammo consistently. But in their overall operation , I felt they performed identical.

 

[tor47]

Think now the parts (except barrel) are made in ukraine, and the guns are assembled and tested in czech republic.

 

[Aiguns_enthusiast]

tor47 is correct but first Guns with the lowest serial number are made with better components