I saw this CZ75 pre-B model at a local guns show last week and almost made a trade deal on it for a Glock 19 but we were a little far apart on the cash part. Later I was kicking myself for quibbling over 50 bucks, but as luck would have it, the seller also runs a small local gun shop so I called him the other day and he fortunately still had it and made a cash deal for about $400 out the door.

What's interesting about this one is that it was made in 1985 and is non-import marked. From my research, it was likely purchased in Europe by a service member and then privately imported. There was a company that sold them through sporting goods stores on US bases and I've seen a couple similar ones sell recently on Gunbroker for around $1000, so I guess they are pretty collectible!

Nice. Mine has no import marks either. It is a transitional period Pre B, 1994, if memory serves. It was my main uspsa gun until I started shooting limited division 5-6 months ago.

The biggest downside to these early ones seems to be the magazine situation. It only came with one (serial-numbered to the gun which is cool), and new ones that work in pre-Bs are quite a bit more money than regular later ones.

Mine

No import marks, proofed 1984

some early models were imported, with the import mark on the barrel,
as in you have to lock the slide back to see they mark

the last early one I saw was marked that way, on the left side of the barrel

CZ75, used, no import marks, proofed in 1984. I also have the original cardboard box, two mags, target and Czech language owners manual.



CZ85, NIB, no import marks and proofed in 1988. I also have the original sleeved styrofoam box, two mags, target and owners manual.

Excellent. I have a CZ PO1 and a CZ 83.

BTW, nice find on that early CZ, bigwagon. They don't come around all that often.

As a lefty I really like the CZ85s. I passed one up a few months ago which is what had me on the lookout for another CZ. I need a set of grips like Para's!!

Those old grips are hard to find. I have an extra set, but they are priceless...

I bought my blued finish 1985 proofed CZ75 while living in Germany. SN 118xxx No import marks. Still have the original box all everything that came with it. It was NIB but not for long!
After returning, I also picked up a NIB 1984 black enameled finish one. SN 111xxx No import box. It too has the original box, etc.
These are the the most appealing looking CZ75s with the tear drop trigger guard, straight slide serrations and waffle style grips. @ OP: your grips are not original to that gun.

Please don't let Rally Vincent see this thread...



-Tom

My '84 CZ75 is blued, but has turned a nice dark bluish brown patina over the years. The '88 CZ85 has an enameled frame with a polished blue slide. I think these older models are the most appealing too.

A friend of mine recently bought an EAA 10mm. I was shocked when I told him nice CZ75 clone, he asked what I was talking about, EAA has been around a lot longer than CZ, if anything it was the other way around because EAA had been around for decades. I was floored, this guy has hundreds of guns, including a lot of historical guns both from the U.S. and abroad. Are the CZs really that much of a secret?

Nice score, I'd take a CZ75 over a glock 19 ANY day

quote:

Originally posted by bigwagon:
The biggest downside to these early ones seems to be the magazine situation. It only came with one (serial-numbered to the gun which is cool), and new ones that work in pre-Bs are quite a bit more money than regular later ones.

All the modern mags work with the "transitional" pre b's. The earlier pre b's may require some dremeling.

I bought one of these in '88 or '89 at the Nuremburg Rod & Gun Club; I was in the Army.

Decent enough, but a little crude compared to some of the other "wondernines" of it's day.

The magazines were so tightly fitted, it literally took all 5 fingers of your off-hand to remove the magazine. Maybe it wasn't designed to drop freely from the grip?

Also, the finish was.....like black Rustoleum! I ended up trading it and some cash for a Glock 19. Oh, and the grip screws were VERY soft metal; easily stripped out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hctr154,

And if you compare those to the extant versions you can see there was a LOT of "win" in that old design.

Bought my at Rhein-Mein AB in 1986, along with a German Banking Police PPK/S

quote:

The magazines were so tightly fitted, it literally took all 5 fingers of your off-hand to remove the magazine. Maybe it wasn't designed to drop freely from the grip?

It wasn't. This was common to European makers of the day. It actually has a magazine "brake" in it, a piece of sheet metal inside the frame that is bent to put pressure against the magazine body, somewhat like a leaf spring. The early all-plastic Glock magazines didn't drop free either.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,