Never owned a CZ .

Many years ago I worked a gunshop aoutside Detroit.

I dry-fired every pistols that came into the place.

Not ONE semi-auto could hold a candle to the CZ75 for feel-in-hand...but every time I broke the trigger, those CZ front sights bobbled.

quote:

Originally posted by cobrajet:
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?

Absolutely incorrect. CZ has been around much longer than EAA. The CZ75 was first. It was copied by Tanfoglio and EAA.

The CZ75 was released in1975.

I have looked at CZs a few times over the last year. Checked out new ones, but decided to hold out for a vintage model.

That's a nice find at a good price. Now you guys got me thinking that I really need one.

quote:

Originally posted by cobrajet:
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?

Per their own website, EAA (importer) has only been around since 1990.
CZ (BRNO) has been around since 1919.

CZ did not hold an international patent on the 75.
Additionally, they were never exported to countries that were not allowed to deal with communist countries.
A 'clone' market developed as a result with companies like Tanfoglio, Sphinx and IWI producing close copies.
If I recall, EAA gets (got) their 75 clones through Tanfoglio.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Steve 22X,

I believe the first CZ75s to be imported here were either in very late 1986 or early 1987 when Bauska Arms brought it a batch(don't know how many). Before that, if you wanted one bad enough, you could go through the "red tape" as they referred to it and get one into the US through Pragotade in Canada. I almost did exactly that in 1979 or 1980 but $600 was a lot of dollars then. Jeff Cooper's article in Guns & Ammo Magazine (February 1977 issue?) lit my CZ75 fire and it's still burning! By the way, if anyone has that article, I'd love to buy it or have a copy. Check my profile for email address. Thanks.

Picked this one up at the Rhine Maine Rod&Gun club in Germany back in 1987.

^^^ What's the date code on yours? Mine is dated 1985 (SN 118xxx) and it has the same tear drop shaped trigger guard as shown on the pistol pictured on your box. I see your trigger guard is the later more "rounded" style so they must have started that in late 1985, 86 or 87 as well as changing the box itself. My box is the earlier style.

CZ-USA still sells new Pre-B magazines. In addition, new Mec-Gar 75B mags often fit the Pre-B's. If need be, a few strokes of a file can modify the magwell to accept new CZ-75B mags. My 1991 Pre-B accepts the new Mec-Gars, but it came N.I.B. to me a few years ago with two mags, Styrofoam/cardboard sleeve and all papers. Need to post a pic.

Nice score!

quote:

Originally posted by kaschi:
^^^ What's the date code on yours? Mine is dated 1985 (SN 118xxx) and it has the same tear drop shaped trigger guard as shown on the pistol pictured on your box. I see your trigger guard is the later more "rounded" style so they must have started that in late 1985, 86 or 87 as well as changing the box itself. My box is the earlier style.

1986. SN 154XXX

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Thanks. Boy, they were really cranking 'em out at Ceska Zbrojovka. From my SN in 1985 til yours in 1986 they made at least 36,000 pistols. I suppose if mine was made at the beginning of 85 and yours at the end of 86 that would almost be 2 years. But that's still impressive for a factory that was using antiquated machinery from what I understand.

For comparison differences in the shapes of the trigger guards (egg-shaped vs rounded), there is a 1986 made one for sale on GB right now SN 152xxx with the earlier style. SFCUSARET's is also from 1986 with SN 154xxx. So, the change must have been in 1986 between sometime between those SNs. Just thought I'd pass this along in case anyone is interested.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

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.

Thanks for the info. Like I said, not a bad pistol for it's time.

I bought mine in 1989 through Pragotrade in Canada. Still have it, and love it!

I think you got a great deal. The CZ 75 is a great 9mm, and $400 for any good steel 9mm in good condition is a steal......

Many of you have probably read this.
But for those who haven't it's a real treat.

A treatise on the CZ75 from the late Stephen Camp, who is missed by handgunners very much.

https://hipowersandhandguns.com/CZ75.htm

quote:

Originally posted by sargespd:

quote:

Originally posted by cobrajet:
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?

Absolutely incorrect. CZ has been around much longer than EAA. The CZ75 was first. It was copied by Tanfoglio and EAA.

Isn't the Baby Desert Eagle/Jericho also a CZ75 clone?

I see some of the Turkish gun makers make CZ-75 clones now too.