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!
Posts: 2559 | Location: WI | Registered: December 29, 2012
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.
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Posts: 5383 | Location: MS | Registered: June 09, 2009
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.
Posts: 2559 | Location: WI | Registered: December 29, 2012
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!!
Posts: 2559 | Location: WI | Registered: December 29, 2012
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.
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Posts: 10567 | Location: Boyertown, PA USA | Registered: July 17, 2002
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.
Posts: 755 | Location: Texas | Registered: November 02, 2002
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?
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.
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Posts: 5383 | Location: MS | Registered: June 09, 2009
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,
Bought my at Rhein-Mein AB in 1986, along with a German Banking Police PPK/S
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Posts: 1982 | Location: DFW | Registered: December 17, 2007
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,
Posts: 29050 | Location: Johnson City, TN | Registered: April 28, 2012