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The CZ-75 began development in the late 1960s as a commercial project. It was not intended for Czechoslovak military use, but instead for export sales to bring foreign currency into Czechoslovakia. It was designed by František Koucký with some elements form other pistols (like frame rails and camming lug from the SIG P210 and a magazine based on the Browning High Power) and a healthy dose of original creativity (including the trigger mechanism).The design was finalized in 1973, approved for production in 1976, and the first production models were ready in June 1977.
The first model of the pistol is quite distinctive, with frame rails much shorter than what we see on examples today. This is called the Short Rail or Slab Side model, and it comprised just the first 16,000 guns produced, with the last ones made very early in 1980. This frame design proved prone to cracking, and in 1980 a longer frame replaced it. A half-cock notch was also added to the hammer in 1980. A few additional points in the production timeline include:
1984: Heavy black enamel paint replaces bluing as the standard finish
1986: Slightly enlarged trigger guard, grip panel design changes
1987: Magazines cease being marked with serial numbers
1988: Serial numbering changes to from 6 digits to 1 letter and 4 digits
1989: Ring hammer replaces spot
1993: CZ-75B introduced with a firing pin block in the slide
In 1992 the communist government in Czechoslovakia fell, and the country split into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. CZ became a privately owned company, and a slew of new options on the CZ-75 were rapidly introduced – so we will leave those for a separate video.
Thanks to Royal Tiger Imports for providing me with the variety of early CZ-75 models necessary to make this video!
I’ve ofc known about guns like Sten, Sterling etc. but using paint as a finish in a handgun is, imo, very “interesting” solution, any other historical pre 00s guns that did the same ?
The Brits were painting Browning (Inglis-made, probably…) Hi Power pistols as far back as late WWII, from what I remember reading. Also, German WWII production P38 pistols were painted, as well.
When refinishing guns the French invariably enameled them. Owen SMGs are seen in camo paint.
Thanks for the history.
I’ve been >this< close to picking up something in the CZ-75 family for ages. A classic design. But I'm at that phase now where I need to lower inventory.
The short frame pistols originally had forged frames and were fine. The cracking started with the cast frames they started using at the very end of 1978 production. 1800 forged frame guns were made in 1977 and about 5800 in 1978 before they switched to cast. So the grail CZ75 is one of these 7600 to maybe 7650 earliest pistols with short rails and forged frames.
That’s also the same story I heard when I bought my Short-Rail some time ago.
Mine is a 1978 with serial number 160xx (yeah, I’m a Gunsmith Cats fan, and Vincent’s guns have -among others- serial numbers 16001 & 16672).
So I think I should be fine regarding the type of machining and steel used in mine, even if it’s probably close to the limit for this range. Any further infos on that ?
BTW, they made 6047 guns in 78, so (according to your numbers) probably around 200-250 are the “bad” cast-frame…
I also read somewhere that this particular model used Poldi Steel, but that will need to be confirmed or denied by someone more knowledgeable…
The most accurate information I could find about Short-Rail casting comes from the CZFirearms forum, which I’d like to quote :
“The following information is culled from the Pazdera book, CZ 75 Pribeh cesky legendy (published late 2020) – Most of the frames for the short rails were forged.
CZ started moving to investment casting of the frames in 1978 but had made only 200 at year-end. With cast frame production capacity of only about 200 a month, the company sought to add capacity from another source.
Negotiations on production of pistols outside of Czechoslovakia had already started in 1977 between Merkuria (Czechoslovak exporter) and the Spanish company, Alfa in Eiba.
An agreement was concluded in 1979 to produce the cast frames. In March, 1979, tests on Spanish cast frames revealed cracks that were also observed on Uhersky Brod cast frames. It resulted in the decision to beef up the frame and slide for the second generation design.
With this design change which took some time to implement, the first modified Spanish frames arrived in January 1980 and the design change was implemented into UB production in the Spring of 1980. While this co-operation did not meet expectations (quality and delivery issues slowed down production), it did help CZ significantly increase production in the early 80s.
By the mid-80s, CZ had ceased to use the Spanish source.
This would seem to indicate: The cracking issue observed was related to the cast frame production that started at the very end of 1978. Spanish frames were probably not used in short rail production since they didn’t arrive until January 1980 after the design change.
There are some 1980 proofed short-rails from UB as the design change was not fully implemented until Spring 1980 (see next chapter). No mention is made of the disposition/status of the fewer cast frame pistols produced before the cracking issue was discovered in early 1979 nor of any reports of mass failures nor recalls (different era of geopolitics).”
Feel free to add more informations =)