Original Sphinx vs Current CZ - how do they fare?

May 17, 2018, 01:26 PM

Bought this a few years ago. It was only lightly used and came with one 14 round and one 10 round magazine. I bought a few more 10 round mags from the dealer (I'm sure they came with the gun when he bought it from the owner). I was sure I wouldn't be able to find any more. It came with box and papers. Seemed to be all but a safe queen.

However, I was lucky to find five more 14 rounders, although they came at a high price.

Anyone with experience with Sphinx and CZ care to opine whether CZs are of the same quality, fit, finish and accuracy as the Sphinx?

They have a very high reputation which, I believe, from what I've read is not entirely deserved. They were not without they issues and problems. Still, are current CZs up to the same standard?

May 17, 2018, 02:27 PM

12131

How does it shoot? And, what were the issues with these? I remember these from the early 90s and thought, "They look such quality, but man, they are expensive".

May 17, 2018, 02:45 PM

tha1000

I have no experience with the sphinx, but the CZ's can be phenomenal guns... but it most likely isn't that way off the shelf. That being said, they are fairly easy to get "right" with after market parts and elbow grease.

May 17, 2018, 03:04 PM

SIGWolf

quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
How does it shoot? And, what were the issues with these? I remember these from the early 90s and thought, "They look such quality, but man, they are expensive".

Very accurate, soft shooter and feels great, fits my hand extremely well. The trigger is excellent out of the box.

I think the problems were mostly with the full-size model and perhaps mostly with the .40 when it came out; cracked frames and slides.

I’d like to shoot a comparably sized CZ and see how the two feel side by side.

May 17, 2018, 03:20 PM

sagemind100

I have been shooting CZs for many years and own 'a bunch'... from the CZ-82-CZ-75B-CZ-P01, SP-01, etc...
and they are great pistols and a very good value.
About a year ago I purchased an SDP Compact for about $850 (CZ-75Bs are about $500+). The quality of the pistol is exceptional, both internals and exterior finish, and it was a flawless shoot. I have owned many, many pistols and I would have to say, for a 'stock' gun, the accuracy of the Sphinx would definitely be in the top 5%. For me, the 'hand-fit' was perfect and it was simply point-and-shoot.
If dollars are not an issue, I would get one. They are expensive, however, if you want ONE 9mm that's top-of-the-line, the SDP would be it. Honestly, shooting it next to a CZ-75B or P-01, which I have done many times... there is no comparison. The Sphinx IS a top-of-the-line pistol.

May 17, 2018, 04:03 PM

SIGWolf

quote:
Originally posted by sagemind100:
I have been shooting CZs for many years and own 'a bunch'... from the CZ-82-CZ-75B-CZ-P01, SP-01, etc...
and they are great pistols and a very good value.
About a year ago I purchased an SDP Compact for about $850 (CZ-75Bs are about $500+). The quality of the pistol is exceptional, both internals and exterior finish, and it was a flawless shoot. I have owned many, many pistols and I would have to say, for a 'stock' gun, the accuracy of the Sphinx would definitely be in the top 5%. For me, the 'hand-fit' was perfect and it was simply point-and-shoot.
If dollars are not an issue, I would get one. They are expensive, however, if you want ONE 9mm that's top-of-the-line, the SDP would be it. Honestly, shooting it next to a CZ-75B or P-01, which I have done many times... there is no comparison. The Sphinx IS a top-of-the-line pistol.

Thanks for the review! This one is the forefather of the SDP. I might look into the SDP as well.

May 17, 2018, 04:09 PM

Pickle Rick

Not familiar with the SDP. I do have a CZ 75B Stainless. It appears that some have reported issues with the finish of the guns interior mine looks great inside. I have been fortunate in that regard. Trigger isn't to bad either. In fact one of my better shooters and being all steel does aid in control for me.

May 17, 2018, 04:22 PM

PGT

The other issues with Sphinx guns were the overly tight chambers; SAAMI spec vs. the other one. Great for Swiss ammo but FTE's on US market ammo.

May 17, 2018, 06:10 PM

FishOn

I have a Sphinx subcompact Alpha, and it is very well made. Have about 800 rounds through it with zero problems. It is very accurate.

May 17, 2018, 06:19 PM

brianfede

I think you would have to compare to the CZ's from the custom shop. I own the Accu-Shadow and the SDP, they are, IMHO, phenomenal firearms for the money. I have played around with the Sphinx AT2000, beautiful gun, well fitted but for me it didn't do anything my Accu-shadow can't do. I will say I do prefer the looks of the AT2000 and appreciate the fact that it is rare but if you want a shooter and not a collectable the CZ is the way I would go. Just one man's opinion.

May 17, 2018, 06:48 PM

12131

quote:
Originally posted by SIGWolf:
quote:
Originally posted by sagemind100:
I have been shooting CZs for many years and own 'a bunch'... from the CZ-82-CZ-75B-CZ-P01, SP-01, etc...
and they are great pistols and a very good value.
About a year ago I purchased an SDP Compact for about $850 (CZ-75Bs are about $500+). The quality of the pistol is exceptional, both internals and exterior finish, and it was a flawless shoot. I have owned many, many pistols and I would have to say, for a 'stock' gun, the accuracy of the Sphinx would definitely be in the top 5%. For me, the 'hand-fit' was perfect and it was simply point-and-shoot.
If dollars are not an issue, I would get one. They are expensive, however, if you want ONE 9mm that's top-of-the-line, the SDP would be it. Honestly, shooting it next to a CZ-75B or P-01, which I have done many times... there is no comparison. The Sphinx IS a top-of-the-line pistol.

Thanks for the review! This one is the forefather of the SDP. I might look into the SDP as well.

The SDP is no descendant of the Sphinx. Completely different animals, although they are of similar sizes. SDP has decocker and rail. Sphinx has safety with cocked-and-locked carry, and no rail. If the Sphinx is as exceptional as its owners say, than any stock compact CZs will not be able to compare. The SDP, by the way, is NOT a "stock" gun. It is simply a P-01 that has been through CZ Custom with fancy trigger/action work, competition hammer, night sights, fancy grips, stainless guide rod. The resulting trigger is excellent, but not exceptional, however (yes, I did own one, see below). Maybe it's because I've been spoiled by the action works of Robert Burke, but that's how it is.

quote:
Originally posted by GotDogs:
Not familiar with the SDP. I do have a CZ 75B Stainless. It appears that some have reported issues with the finish of the guns interior mine looks great inside. I have been fortunate in that regard. Trigger isn't to bad either. In fact one of my better shooters and being all steel does aid in control for me.

I too, used to have the polished stainless CZ 75B, and the finish was fine.

But, I've had 5 compact CZs, and the interior finish (or lack thereof) is nothing to write home about. Here is an example, the SDP I sold recently, same pics I showed in the ad. I made it known that it was crappy finishing.

May 17, 2018, 08:09 PM

SIGWolf

quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
quote:
Originally posted by SIGWolf:
quote:
Originally posted by sagemind100:
I have been shooting CZs for many years and own 'a bunch'... from the CZ-82-CZ-75B-CZ-P01, SP-01, etc...
and they are great pistols and a very good value.
About a year ago I purchased an SDP Compact for about $850 (CZ-75Bs are about $500+). The quality of the pistol is exceptional, both internals and exterior finish, and it was a flawless shoot. I have owned many, many pistols and I would have to say, for a 'stock' gun, the accuracy of the Sphinx would definitely be in the top 5%. For me, the 'hand-fit' was perfect and it was simply point-and-shoot.
If dollars are not an issue, I would get one. They are expensive, however, if you want ONE 9mm that's top-of-the-line, the SDP would be it. Honestly, shooting it next to a CZ-75B or P-01, which I have done many times... there is no comparison. The Sphinx IS a top-of-the-line pistol.

Thanks for the review! This one is the forefather of the SDP. I might look into the SDP as well.

The SDP is no descendant of the Sphinx. Completely different animals, although they are of similar sizes. SDP has decocker and rail. Sphinx has safety with cocked-and-locked carry, and no rail. If the Sphinx is as exceptional as its owners say, than any stock compact CZs will not be able to compare. The SDP, by the way, is NOT a "stock" gun. It is simply a P-01 that has been through CZ Custom with fancy trigger/action work, competition hammer, night sights, fancy grips, stainless guide rod. The resulting trigger is excellent, but not exceptional, however (yes, I did own one, see below). Maybe it's because I've been spoiled by the action works of Robert Burke, but that's how it is.

quote:
Originally posted by GotDogs:
Not familiar with the SDP. I do have a CZ 75B Stainless. It appears that some have reported issues with the finish of the guns interior mine looks great inside. I have been fortunate in that regard. Trigger isn't to bad either. In fact one of my better shooters and being all steel does aid in control for me.

I too, used to have the polished stainless CZ 75B, and the finish was fine.

But, I've had 5 compact CZs, and the interior finish (or lack thereof) is nothing to write home about. Here is an example, the SDP I sold recently, same pics I showed in the ad. I made it known that it was crappy finishing.

I thought the SDP he was referring to was the Sphinx/Kriss SDP, not a CZ. I reread it and see I was mistaken, he was referring to a CZ rather than the Sphinx/Kriss SDP.

May 17, 2018, 08:19 PM

12131

Now that you mention it, I really have no idea which SDP he is talking about. But, my discussion is about the CZ SDP Compact, obviously.

May 17, 2018, 09:31 PM

Dakor

The Sphinx AT-2000 series was offered in DA/SA w/safety or decocker, as well as DAO. I owned the S and P versions at one point, and found them to be very accurate with one of the best triggers around. Unfortunately like PGT stated, many FTE occurred due to the overly tight chamber and I ended up selling mine for that reason. That and the pistol was brick heavy.

May 17, 2018, 09:42 PM

cas

While I love mine... I've owned a couple CZ's and handled many of them across the various lines, and they've never struck me as particularly impressive in terms of fit and finish.

May 18, 2018, 04:30 AM

SIGWolf

quote:
Originally posted by Dakor:
The Sphinx AT-2000 series was offered in DA/SA w/safety or decocker, as well as DAO. I owned the S and P versions at one point, and found them to be very accurate with one of the best triggers around. Unfortunately like PGT stated, many FTE occurred due to the overly tight chamber and I ended up selling mine for that reason. That and the pistol was brick heavy.

Being all metal, it is heavy. I haven't had any issues with FTEs at this point.

May 18, 2018, 09:46 AM

jjkroll32

Those and the CZ75 look so much better with the rounded trigger guard.

May 18, 2018, 09:58 AM

Tooky13

I’ve got the Sphinx SDP Compact Alpha Halo, the Sphinx SDP Subcompact and a number of CZs. As far as fit and finish goes, there is no comparison. The Sphinx is, far and away, above the CZ. Even my Shadow 2 Custom and Shadow Line don’t compare, in my opinion. The term SDP (Standard Duty Pistol) is a pretty generic term, so I can see where it could be confusing, as earlier posts have shown.

The ergonomics of the Sphinx is excellent. The Compact is on par with the CZ PCR as far as fitting the hand like a glove. The Compact is a joy to shoot. Smooth as silk with minimal kick and, with fiber optic front sight, easy to aim. The Subcompact is a little more snappy, which you would expect, as is the case with most subs.

I’ve had them about 3 years and never had a single issue with the Compact. Early on, as PGT mentioned, I had some FTE’s with the Subcompact. I spent time polishing the chamber and that cured the problem. Probably have 500-600 rounds through it since then with absolutely no issues. I do like to carry the Sub, as it’s 13 +1 rounds, and with an additional compact mag (15 rounds) as backup. They even take the CZ mags, so I could carry an SP-01 mag (17 rounds) if I wanted. They’re really great pistols… pricey, but if you figure what you put into a CZ to get them to a comparable level as a Sphinx, the cost isn’t that different.

Also, I’ve heard of other members having problems with support from Kriss, but that was a while ago. Hopefully they’ve improved over time. So far, I’ve had no reason to go back to them… knock on wood!

[IMG:top]

May 18, 2018, 11:00 AM

SIGWolf

quote:
Originally posted by Tooky13:
I’ve got the Sphinx SDP Compact Alpha Halo, the Sphinx SDP Subcompact and a number of CZs. As far as fit and finish goes, there is no comparison. The Sphinx is, far and away, above the CZ. Even my Shadow 2 Custom and Shadow Line don’t compare, in my opinion. The term SDP (Standard Duty Pistol) is a pretty generic term, so I can see where it could be confusing, as earlier posts have shown.

The ergonomics of the Sphinx is excellent. The Compact is on par with the CZ PCR as far as fitting the hand like a glove. The Compact is a joy to shoot. Smooth as silk with minimal kick and, with fiber optic front sight, easy to aim. The Subcompact is a little more snappy, which you would expect, as is the case with most subs.

I’ve had them about 3 years and never had a single issue with the Compact. Early on, as PGT mentioned, I had some FTE’s with the Subcompact. I spent time polishing the chamber and that cured the problem. Probably have 500-600 rounds through it since then with absolutely no issues. I do like to carry the Sub, as it’s 13 +1 rounds, and with an additional compact mag (15 rounds) as backup. They even take the CZ mags, so I could carry an SP-01 mag (17 rounds) if I wanted. They’re really great pistols… pricey, but if you figure what you put into a CZ to get them to a comparable level as a Sphinx, the cost isn’t that different.

Also, I’ve heard of other members having problems with support from Kriss, but that was a while ago. Hopefully they’ve improved over time. So far, I’ve had no reason to go back to them… knock on wood!

[IMG:top]

Very nice! Thanks for the input.