CZ 75

The CZ 75 is a popular semi-automatic pistol manufactured in the Czech Republic and first introduced in 1975 by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (CZUB) in a 9 mm Parabellum caliber.

By: marvin Posted: April 20, 2007

The pistol is one of the original wonder nines featuring great accuracy, sturdy, superb reliability, double-column magazine, high-capacity, and sturdy all-steel construction.

Design

The CZ 75 is a locked breech, short recoil operated pistol. Most models have the capability of being fired double or single action and come equipped with a frame-mounted manual safety. Some recent CZ 75 models have a decocking lever in place of the standard manual safety. Beginning in the late 80s, all CZ 75s are now constructed with firing pin blocks, marked by the letter B (as in CZ 75B). There are some distinguishing features which set it apart from the pack. Unlike most other semi-auto pistols, (and similar to its predecessor the SIG P210), the CZ 75 slide rides inside the frame rails rather than outside. This innovation provides a very tight slide-to-frame fit as well as very good barrel lock-up and consequently, a very accurate pistol upon purchase. The pistol was also one of the first high capacity 9mm pistols that came standard with a manual safety, after the Browning Hi-Power. The manual safety allows the CZ-75 to be carried with the hammer back, ready for immediate fire just by switching the safety off. This configuration is known as condition one. The pistol is unusual because 9mm pistols rarely have a manual safety, most of them having safety-decocker combos.

Colonel Jeff Cooper, long-time proponent of the Colt 1911, praised the CZ 75 as the best-designed double-action autoloader available on the market. The pistol has become one of the most popular pistols ever produced in its class. As Česká Zbrojovka is quick to point out, the weapon is in service with "more Militaries, Governments, Security and Police agencies than any other pistol in the world."

Production

Originally designed specifically for export, the CZ 75 entered mass production in 1976. The CZ 75 was not initially widely available in the United States until 1993, when Action Arms began importing it. CZ-USA is now the sole/primary distributor of the pistol in the United States of America.

Clones

JSL(Hereford) Ltd Spitfire
Dornaus and Dixon Bren Ten
IMI Jericho 941
ITM AT-88
Tanfoglio TZ-75, T-90, and T-95
Norinco NZ-75
Sphinx Sphinx M2000
Springfield P9
Sarsilmaz M2000
Renato Gamba G90
EAA Witness Elite Gold
Canik55 Pirhana, Shark
Armalite AR-24

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