The Original CZ Forum
CZ PISTOL CLUBS => CZ85, 85B, & 85 Combat => Topic started by: zhuk on November 19, 2018, 06:00:27 PM
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Hello everyone,
Bit of background before my newbie question here. I'm a longtime S&W M&P IPSC shooter, and have been considering trying out "the dark side" lol and thinking about an all steel gun. Production Division here in Australia is dominated almost 99% by people with Shadows either 1 or 2 but they do not fit my (smallish) hand at all. So I'm currently looking/waiting to find a CZ85 being a lefty (Combats are completely unavailable here) so it's possibly a very long waiting game...but I have found one.
The ad doesn't mention it but I am reasonably sure there is meant to be a RH slide stop...could anyone confirm this re the pic? And apologies for the obvious questions: it is fixed sights where you cannot add an aftermarket without milling the slide (and also completely unadjustable for windage - as the M&P is, with a hammer lol) so I believe? I am also unsure if the mag release is able to be reversed, and google has been no help so far.
Many thanks in advance.
(https://i.imgur.com/gBIqMTM.jpg)
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It looks like an older Pre-B. The year of manufacture should be located to the rear of the ejection port on the slide. I am thinking that some the older 85's only came with ambi safetys but i am not 100% on it. Another forum member should be along shortly to correct me if i am mistaken. The newer 85B models have ambi safetys, slide release and a swapable mag release.
If the mag button is round it is not swapable. If the mag button is key hole shaped it is swapable. You will need to look at the left side of the pistol to confirm this.
Have you tried a Shadow with thin grips installed. I ask because the SP-01 Shadow is not much bigger at the grip than a 75/85.
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I've seen CZ85's for sale (on the internet) without the right side slide release. CZ man. If they can make something different and call it the same thing they seem ready/willing/able to do it.
Would having the frame drilled on the right side to allow the installation of the right side slide release be "legal" in the country and the matches you shoot?
You can buy the right side slide release (I've bought one from CZ USA) from CZ. The same spring that holds the left side slide release in place will hold the right side slide release, too. Just needs a larger hole on the right side (the OD of the slide release on that side is 0.25" - I'll have to check my notes I made when I was converting a CZ75 Compact into a CZ85 Compact clone.) Might need the left side slide release, too, if the one installed in our pistol isn't made to mate with and allow correct movement of the right side lever to release the slide.
Yeah, OD of the right side slide release measured 0.250".
I did this one myself with a drill press and lots of measuring of parts (and a small amount of fear I'd screw it up, but the excitement over rode the fear. Neat little Compact. Carrying it for a couple years (every day) put some surface wear on the controls and the front/sides of the slide from going in/out of the holster a couple times each day. I may get it refinished next year. Something much more durable than the factory black coating.
Good luck with yours, if you buy it.
(https://i.imgur.com/NnkAHzWl.jpg?1)
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Thanks very much everyone for the replies! :)
It looks like an older Pre-B. The year of manufacture should be located to the rear of the ejection port on the slide. I am thinking that some the older 85's only came with ambi safetys but i am not 100% on it. Another forum member should be along shortly to correct me if i am mistaken. The newer 85B models have ambi safetys, slide release and a swapable mag release.
If the mag button is round it is not swapable. If the mag button is key hole shaped it is swapable. You will need to look at the left side of the pistol to confirm this.
Have you tried a Shadow with thin grips installed. I ask because the SP-01 Shadow is not much bigger at the grup than a 75/85.
Hi Tok36 (like the name, I have a 1936 Tokarev, as it happens lol)
OK, I got onto the dealer today and asked about the possible missing slide lever, explained every photo I'd seen online:
(https://d1llupjagpjgxp.cloudfront.net/qcgQZ1az8O0mFHBNaoK9k6yTj-I=/fit-in/1500x1500/gunsales/images/listings/uY2zhctlfum8IihA6UAxLs1fL7AaVHF7/o_1asmlodb3js8kvn1qhq1c9fjgee.JPG)
confirmed it ought to be present - he got the gun out and did admit that there were some marks around that pin, so its likely there was one fitted once. They are obtainable here http://www.czcustom.com.au/handgun-3/-cz-oem/cz-oem-slide-stop-85-85-combat-right-side-64?sort=p.price&order=DESC&limit=50 (http://www.czcustom.com.au/handgun-3/-cz-oem/cz-oem-slide-stop-85-85-combat-right-side-64?sort=p.price&order=DESC&limit=50)
Re the mag release, I asked for a LH slide photo and alas it is round and so not reversible...I'm not sure if the original 85s were. One other strange thing is the LH slide release...looks nothing like any others I've seen lol
(https://i.imgur.com/NgQnhMW.jpg)
The other local gun I'm going by (sold in Sep 2016, which shows you how rare they are here, see below) has a completely different lever, although also a round mag release. The sights on the 2016 gun appear to be straight fixed whereas in the pic I was sent today whatever rear sight it has seems to have been dovetailed into the slide...if so that's out for Production, but still, curiouser and curioser. Unless that's another weird variant lol
https://ssaagunsales.com/listing/11572 (https://ssaagunsales.com/listing/11572)
(https://d1llupjagpjgxp.cloudfront.net/KTyTsBdPnFsynJU7aLhNUt8GAHA=/fit-in/720x610/gunsales/images/listings/uY2zhctlfum8IihA6UAxLs1fL7AaVHF7/o_1asmlo2lhnoqom7ca5v2m116ea.JPG)
And hey, I understand completely what you mean re the Shadow..it would definitely solve all availability issues. But they really don't feel right even with slimmer grips (which I did handle once), but tbh I really just don't like the look of them (plus their ubiquity lol)
There is also one CZ 75 with adjustable sights on offer at my local gun shop, and by coincidence I'm picking up a transferred rifle there very soon (if the permit to acquire ever turns up lol) Unfortunately a no in anyt case go with no RH safety, but may as well have a feel of it in any case :)
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The pistol with the odd/unusual slide release also has a rare style of rear sight on it. Not many CZ's made with that sight. If you get it, don't lose the parts while detail stripping it.
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I believe that's a Tanfoglio slide stop. I've seen several surplus 75's fitted with them.
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I've seen CZ85's for sale (on the internet) without the right side slide release. CZ man. If they can make something different and call it the same thing they seem ready/willing/able to do it.
Would having the frame drilled on the right side to allow the installation of the right side slide release be "legal" in the country and the matches you shoot?
You can buy the right side slide release (I've bought one from CZ USA) from CZ. The same spring that holds the left side slide release in place will hold the right side slide release, too. Just needs a larger hole on the right side (the OD of the slide release on that side is 0.25" - I'll have to check my notes I made when I was converting a CZ75 Compact into a CZ85 Compact clone.) Might need the left side slide release, too, if the one installed in our pistol isn't made to mate with and allow correct movement of the right side lever to release the slide.
Yeah, OD of the right side slide release measured 0.250".
I did this one myself with a drill press and lots of measuring of parts (and a small amount of fear I'd screw it up, but the excitement over rode the fear. Neat little Compact. Carrying it for a couple years (every day) put some surface wear on the controls and the front/sides of the slide from going in/out of the holster a couple times each day. I may get it refinished next year. Something much more durable than the factory black coating.
Good luck with yours, if you buy it.
(https://i.imgur.com/NnkAHzWl.jpg?1)
Nice looking compact, mate!
Of course we can't have them because why would you bother when the only legal genuine reason for ownership is target shooting ::) not getting political lol
Re the slide lever. If the dealer reckons there are marks around that pin, indicating there was once a slide release in place...hmmmmm now I dunno what to think. And as you can see in my last post the left side lever looks completely unlike the so called 'usual' type as well (also available http://www.czcustom.com.au/handgun-3/-cz-oem/cz-oem-safety-left-cz-75-85-sp-01-29?sort=p.price&order=DESC&limit=50) Does seem like a bit of a mixmaster huh!
I'd look for a 75b, but I've only seen two here, both the new model bead blasted stainless which I'm not a fan of, and 1400 bucks is not what I'd want to pay either when you gotta factor in an added 6 mags plus holster. Just looked up gunbroker. . . and yeah, that was probably a mistake :o lol
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The pistol with the odd/unusual slide release also has a rare style of rear sight on it. Not many CZ's made with that sight. If you get it, don't lose the parts while detail stripping it.
Right, thanks for the info...so it's 'OEM', so to speak! that is interesting. It looks somewhat adjustable with that screw, to my mind.
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I believe that's a Tanfoglio slide stop. I've seen several surplus 75's fitted with them.
Ha that wouldn't surprise me, also interesting thanks for that Earl. Guessing a standard slide stop would be a simple drop in then...going by the necessity of oem parts only for Production rules.
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Should be, as long as the previous owner fitted the slide stop to the frame and not the other way around. I don't know if the Tanfoglio slide stop drops in or not.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
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That gun is old enough where it's likely going to be milled for the old-style right hand stop stop lever. You can't buy replacements any longer. It will need to be drilled out to accept the new style slide stop lever.
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Looking at my Pre-B CZ85 which does have the right-hand slide stop, I think that if the pin sticking out the right side of the frame protrudes 0.25" (I measured mine) AND has a notch closer to the slide which would act to keep the slide stop lever captive, that what you have could be fitted with a right-hand slide stop.
Of course mine is a 1987 and has the rounded trigger guard. Your photo shows the squared-off trigger guard so it must be a good deal later.
Side note--I wish that I had studied this sub-board more closely before looking for magazines for it (the auction that I won didn't come with any). I mistakenly bought some "old" used CZ75 mags at last weekend's gun show, only to find out that the Pre-B needs the special Pre-B magazines (now on order with CZ-USA).
Of course now I have a couple of more mags that fit some of my other CZs, but I do regret not doing my homework.
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The pistols have a small diameter "spring" that inserts (very short leg) into a hole in the frame on the right side, inside the frame (you can see it with the slide off). The long leg of the spring goes under a pin in the frame (right side of the frame, again) and puts pressure down into a slot/groove in the top of the slide stop shaft. When you remove the slide stop you can see a little groove where the flattened end meets the round shaft.
The right side slide release uses that same spring to hold it in the frame. The hollow section/shaft of the right side lever fits over the left side slide release shaft but has a slot cut in the top of it. That slot allows the spring to set down through the hollow shaft of the right side lever to fit into the groove in the left side lever and hold both levers in place.
The left side lever is removed by lining up the notches in the slide/frame on the left side and pushing it out with something (I used the hard plastic magazine base/floor plate) so your can remove the slide/barrel/recoils spring and clean/inspect/lube.
The right side lever can be removed, if you feel the need) by rotating it around to the point where the spring is forced out of the slot in the hollow shaft and rides up onto the solid portion of the shaft. Then you can just pull the right side lever out of the frame as the spring isn't holding it in place any longer. The right side lever can be a pain to get pack in as it isn't beveled on the end to make it pop past that spring easier.
When I rebuilt my Pre B CZ85 I ordered new left and right side slide release levers. I talked to CZ Custom and was told that sometime in the past the right side lever was upgraded due to breakage of the hollow shaft. The metal was too thin and some were breaking/cracking. The fix was to make the hollow shaft walls thicker (same ID, larger OD) which required the hole in the frame to be larger. I elected to stick with the original at the time (having done my CZ85 Compact clone project, now I'd go ahead and drill the frame out myself, but at the time I just didn't want to do that). If mine ever breaks I'll have to make the frame hole larger.
The newer style right side lever will work fine with the older style left side lever and they didn't change those, they are still the same piece (if I understand what I think I heard while talking with CZ Custom).
If the pistol you're looking at had a right side lever and it is now missing you'll be able to tell as there will be a big gap between the frame hole and the left side lever shaft due to the missing right side lever.
Good luck with it.
Oh, couple of other things about some of the Pre B pistols. Magazines - not all Pre B's can use modern magazines. There are some threads on the forum here about modifying the internal areas of the mag. well to allow modern magazines to insert just fine. Yours, being a transition model, may not have that issue.
Another thing is the barrels. Again, a transition model may not have the issue, but my Pre B would not accept a modern replacement barrel. The barrel and slide were made different. I had to open up the inside (near the front of the rails - it's all internal so you wouldn't even realize it - been refinished, too) of the slide near the muzzle end to allow a modern barrel to fit/function. My original barrel was pitted pretty badly in the chamber and barrel sections so I figured I'd better replace it.
I think the Pre B's are neat. I wouldn't want a CZ75 Pre B as some of them are impossible to get safeties/parts for the safeties for these days. But the 85's use all the parts the newer 85's use except that right side safety lever (well, all the parts but the front sight and the barrel bushing, but that's another story).
Again, good luck with it. I like mine.
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Apologies for the late reply everyone, and many thanks for your replies.
That gun is old enough where it's likely going to be milled for the old-style right hand stop stop lever. You can't buy replacements any longer. It will need to be drilled out to accept the new style slide stop lever.
Maybe yes, you could well be right afultz. I managed to get to my local gun shop yesterday (miraculously my rifle PTA turned up) and had a look at a SAO 75 model for sale, and also a brand new bead blasted stainless 85b....and interestingly neither of them had RH stop levers...not sure what to think of that tbh. Apart from the fact that apparently you can do without them lol
Looking at my Pre-B CZ85 which does have the right-hand slide stop, I think that if the pin sticking out the right side of the frame protrudes 0.25" (I measured mine) AND has a notch closer to the slide which would act to keep the slide stop lever captive, that what you have could be fitted with a right-hand slide stop.
Of course mine is a 1987 and has the rounded trigger guard. Your photo shows the squared-off trigger guard so it must be a good deal later.
Side note--I wish that I had studied this sub-board more closely before looking for magazines for it (the auction that I won didn't come with any). I mistakenly bought some "old" used CZ75 mags at last weekend's gun show, only to find out that the Pre-B needs the special Pre-B magazines (now on order with CZ-USA).
Of course now I have a couple of more mags that fit some of my other CZs, but I do regret not doing my homework.
G'day rdcinhou :)
(as an aside, just looking at your sig, you seem to own CZs in the same way that I own Mosin Nagants ;D lol)
OK; I got another reply email from the shop, which didn't necessarily answer my specific questions about the rear sight and if it could be removed lol but I got another couple of photos. You mention a "notch"....would this be one to the right of the stop pin here:
(https://i.imgur.com/ax4qgtm.jpg)
Another photo, LH side
(https://i.imgur.com/POLBjZg.jpg)
Interesting that you mention magazines as well...so the preB requires its own mags? That definitely would be a dealbreaker as I need another 6 on top of the one supplied. The shop are selling "75/85" mags so looks like I'll have to ring them to check (email seems a bit pointless lol) As well as the drop-free factor, which I will ask (not expecting them to if I've read correctly) but I believe a Combat mag brake can be installed which will allow that.
(https://i.imgur.com/StdWA8J.jpg)
The gun also appears to have a red fibre optic installed (? lol) so at least its a newer replaceable sight and not an original staked one (again, if I've read correctly).
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The pistols have a small diameter "spring" that inserts (very short leg) into a hole in the frame on the right side, inside the frame (you can see it with the slide off). The long leg of the spring goes under a pin in the frame (right side of the frame, again) and puts pressure down into a slot/groove in the top of the slide stop shaft. When you remove the slide stop you can see a little groove where the flattened end meets the round shaft.
The right side slide release uses that same spring to hold it in the frame. The hollow section/shaft of the right side lever fits over the left side slide release shaft but has a slot cut in the top of it. That slot allows the spring to set down through the hollow shaft of the right side lever to fit into the groove in the left side lever and hold both levers in place.
The left side lever is removed by lining up the notches in the slide/frame on the left side and pushing it out with something (I used the hard plastic magazine base/floor plate) so your can remove the slide/barrel/recoils spring and clean/inspect/lube.
The right side lever can be removed, if you feel the need) by rotating it around to the point where the spring is forced out of the slot in the hollow shaft and rides up onto the solid portion of the shaft. Then you can just pull the right side lever out of the frame as the spring isn't holding it in place any longer. The right side lever can be a pain to get pack in as it isn't beveled on the end to make it pop past that spring easier.
When I rebuilt my Pre B CZ85 I ordered new left and right side slide release levers. I talked to CZ Custom and was told that sometime in the past the right side lever was upgraded due to breakage of the hollow shaft. The metal was too thin and some were breaking/cracking. The fix was to make the hollow shaft walls thicker (same ID, larger OD) which required the hole in the frame to be larger. I elected to stick with the original at the time (having done my CZ85 Compact clone project, now I'd go ahead and drill the frame out myself, but at the time I just didn't want to do that). If mine ever breaks I'll have to make the frame hole larger.
The newer style right side lever will work fine with the older style left side lever and they didn't change those, they are still the same piece (if I understand what I think I heard while talking with CZ Custom).
If the pistol you're looking at had a right side lever and it is now missing you'll be able to tell as there will be a big gap between the frame hole and the left side lever shaft due to the missing right side lever.
Good luck with it.
Oh, couple of other things about some of the Pre B pistols. Magazines - not all Pre B's can use modern magazines. There are some threads on the forum here about modifying the internal areas of the mag. well to allow modern magazines to insert just fine. Yours, being a transition model, may not have that issue.
Another thing is the barrels. Again, a transition model may not have the issue, but my Pre B would not accept a modern replacement barrel. The barrel and slide were made different. I had to open up the inside (near the front of the rails - it's all internal so you wouldn't even realize it - been refinished, too) of the slide near the muzzle end to allow a modern barrel to fit/function. My original barrel was pitted pretty badly in the chamber and barrel sections so I figured I'd better replace it.
I think the Pre B's are neat. I wouldn't want a CZ75 Pre B as some of them are impossible to get safeties/parts for the safeties for these days. But the 85's use all the parts the newer 85's use except that right side safety lever (well, all the parts but the front sight and the barrel bushing, but that's another story).
Again, good luck with it. I like mine.
M1A4ME, many thanks for the informative and detailed reply :)
From the new photos I got today, it does look like there was originally a lever; there is definitely a gap visible above the lever shaft. If the hole would need to be enlarged for a new lever, I'm not sure how that stacks up rule-wise although slide modifications are geared more specifically at milling for sights and lightening cuts, I kinda doubt just bring bringing something back to spec would fall into that category.
I will definitely have to ask re the mag issue and whether this gun makes it width-wise. If it appears to be a transition model (thanks for that info), might just be lucky on that.
Re barrels, in that case I'd guess that this would be a modern configuration as it measures 127mm, made to confirm to our (wholly pointless ::)) 120mm min bbl length laws.
So the only thing I'm really unsure about is the rear sight...if it's particularly old/rare. And I still don't know what the screws designate, apart from just holding it in the dovetail, presuming it would not be adjustable. But I'd like to know if it can be removed...most pre-B sights I've seen online appear to be the service fixed variety with no dovetailing.
Cheers for all the brilliant replies everyone; much appreciated.
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I don't have one with that rear sight. But, it looks like a FAL type windage adjustment set up.
On a FAL, if you need to move the rear sight to the left, you loosen/turn the left side screw slightly. Then you tighten down the right side screw. It will move the rear sight to the left as it tightens and then lock it in place (against the left screw) once tightened/torqued (won't take a lot of torque, it's a screw not a bolt).
Do the opposite to move the rear sight to the right.
As far as opening up the right side of the frame goes, once it's done you won't be able to see it. The hole is still smaller in diameter than the width of the slide stop, so you won't see the hole. A referee/judge, whatever they call them, would have to be suspicious, know the frame hole diameter of the old Pre B models and then measure the hole. Like the internal mag. well mod. to allow the use of modern magazines, you'll never see it with the right side slide stop in place.
Wait, I may have numbers from my project. Darn. I didn't record the frame hole diameter on the right side for the slide stop. I did measure and record the right side slide stop OD from my Pre B CZ85. It was 0.2275" according to my calipers. The OD of the modern right side slide stop is 0.2500". Not much difference, just enough to make the modern piece more robust.
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Interesting, thanks for the info. An FAL-style sight, huh? My best mate (who still keenly feels the loss of his L1A1 service rifle, being unable to own an SLR as a civvie) will be amused to hear that!
Re the right slide stop - taking on board your comments and measurements, plus reading how some pre-B frames haven't faired too well long-term with the drilling out process...would it be possible to just add a bushing and do without the lever altogether? To be honest, even though the M&P is fully ambi, I do tend to drop the slide with my trigger finger on the left lever in any case.
Also got back to the shop today, the one mag the gun comes with drops free, so that augers well. It'll be about 3 weeks until they get the motherlode of 75/85 mags in so that would be the final check...if it's a transitional model as you point out, could be lucky if they all fit/drop OK. Possibly being 10 rounders that might help.
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Good luck with the magazines.
I have hear of people making/installing bushings (some people don't like the right side slide release or the right side safety). I've even read some people will grind off the protruding part of the slide release shaft on the right side so it doesn't stick out past the side of the frame.
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Cheers mate. It may or (possibly not) sell before the mag question is resolved but will wait and see.
So there would be nothing detrimental to takedown in grinding down the protruding lever? Hmmmmm!
I also quite like this mod lol
Update, so I basically bought a SS CZ75B and shelved my (Pre B) CZ85,
After retiring now have time in my life to address the issue and get the CZ85 back up and running.
Just disassembled both guns and compared slide stops, besides the 85 stop being longer the pins are the same diameter...
Only the right side frame hole on the (Pre B) CZ85 is larger and that is the dilemma ...
When I called CZ they said it involved drilling the left side frame hole but that would require using a slide stop with a larger pin,
Checked CZ's website but could find no such animal ...
After noticing that a .22lr casing is the exact diameter needed inside and out made a bushing in about an hour,
Inserted a fired .22lr case into frame with the primer side facing out and pushed all the way flush with the frame, Next just trimmed it to length inside the frame with a Dremel tool, drilled the hole from the right side then sanded the face smooth...After that pushed it out and cut the spring groove,
VIOLA the CZ85 is up and running again !
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=77899.msg666197#msg666197 (https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=77899.msg666197#msg666197)
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That does sound like a neat/quick and cheap fix.
But, it might make it harder to get the left side slide stop out.
The way the frame is made on the right side there are two sections with a slot (for the spring that holds the slide stop in place) in the middle. The internal section of frame is wider than the external section and does not need to be drilled completely through to allow the use of the modern slide lock lever.
And, there is not difference in the left side slide safety stops - it's the right side that was modified to have a larger outside diameter to increase the wall thickness and strength the part.
I didn't say anything earlier about the frame cracking from being drilled (I'm not a gunsmith/gun designer) resulting in cracking of the frame. The part you drill through to allow the use of the modern right side slide stop is not very thick anyway and the internal section soaks up a lot of the "shock/stress" the barrel lug imparts to the slide lock.
Picture of the CZ 75 Compact I modified for CZ85 controls. On the right side you can see the divided section of the frame. It has a cut in it to allow the retaining spring to sit down in the cut/groove and fit into the slot in the right side slide release and the groove in the left side slide release shaft. That right side slide release is not so wide (the hollow section that slides over the left side slide release shaft) that it requires drilling of that internal frame section completely through, maybe a small amount??? I don't remember for sure, that project was a couple years ago. The fact that a CZ85 will function normally without the right side slide release lever tells me (someone else may disagree) that the left side slide release shaft is full supported by that thicker internal section of the frame. To paraphrase that old Teddy Roosevelt saying - The stress stops here (that internal section of frame).
(https://i.imgur.com/oZwaTVWl.jpg?1)
If I were going to use a piece of .22 brass for a bushing, I'd cut the rim off (so the left side slider release shaft could still stick through the bushing/frame enough to be able to push it out/loose with a magazine floorplate (all mine have plastic bases on them so there's no chance of scratching the new finish). You could still cut the slot in the case wall so the retaining spring could hold the bushing and the left side slide release in place and cut the bushing down so it was flush with the outside of the frame. The retaining spring would still hold it in place when the left side slide release was removed.
No matter which route you go, good luck with it. While my old Pre B CZ85 is not the most accurate CZ I have (several shoot better groups) it has the most history with it (even if it looks bright and shiny now) and I will someday pass it on to one of my sons. It isn't a collector item (replaced parts and refinish) but it's a good shooter. And stout as hell.
Stout? You ask? How many times have you seen those pictures on the internet of destroyed plastic/polymer framed pistols when a case head gives way from high pressure/weak brass? I've seen several. Let me share a picture of my CZ85 after a case/rim completely blew off the walls of the case. The rim ejected and fell on the table, the next round failed to chamber, I tipped the pistol over, racked the slide back to clear the jammed round and it fell on the table. When I let the slide go the next round also failed to chamber. That's when I stopped to see (closer look) what was going on. I had to take the barrel out to get my fingernails on the case wall edge sticking out of the chamber to pull it out. The top rounds in the magazine and the feed ramp on the barrel, breechface on the slide were really black/dirty. I put the pistol back together and went on shooting it. No visible damage, to the CZ85. Built like a tank.
(https://i.imgur.com/aTPZIVCl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uSf8rtNl.jpg)
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that funky dogleg slide stop is not OEM.
Its off a tangfoglio, TA90 type
if you got it, i would give CZ a call and let them know about its issues. they maybe able to fix it for you.
the early 85s had a thinner right side slide stop and they were prone to breakage. my first 85 did so and they just reamed it out for the newer larger unit.
to me i wouldnt micky mouse it unless that the last option, but its your toy.
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M14ME, mate thanks a lot for the detailed info and going to the trouble of dragging up the pics for me, I really appreciate it. And that is NUTS how your gun held up! :o Certainly speaks volumes for Czech workmanship!
Right...there's been a bit of a development heh
I've been in touch with CZ's official importer here (also a personal friend & fellow IPSC shooter) and he's advised it's just not worth it altogether, alas. He thinks the front is staked and the rear sight would need to be replaced...think 110% added prices compared to what you guys pay in the US (which is the case for anything gun related here) If the ejector or other parts break he said "we don?t and can?t get any" so I'm afraid its kinda a lost cause unfortunately :(
So it seems I'll just sit on the man stash lol and maybe one of these days a Combat might show up somewhere...I know they were a limited edition in any case and the likelihood of any more than a handful making it out here would be slight - we are such a tiny market (of the 5% of adults who have firearm licenses here, about 98% of those are for longarms) And as an illustration, I was waiting 18 months for an HS2000 - XD to you - from Croatia, but twice Australia's entire shipment of 50 guns was postponed as Springfield USA had ordered 50,000 Lol
Gives you some idea....but still you never know, huh!
In the meantime, looks like I won't be deserting the M&P and the Tupperware Nation any time soon...sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news. All you guys have been brilliant contributing to this thread with so much info and time just to help a rank newbie from the other side of the world. Hell I would buy you all a few rounds of (aussie-strength lol) beers if only I could ;D
Who knows, I may get lucky and be back here...with such a great forum, it would be an honour if I could.
Cheers everyone, and many thanks again :)