The Original CZ Forum
CZ PISTOL CLUBS => CZ85, 85B, & 85 Combat => Topic started by: Dieselknekt on March 28, 2021, 09:34:44 PM
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Hello,
I need some help identifying a CZ 85. It belonged to my father-in-law, and I got it after he passed away. I am curious as to which type of CZ 85 it actually is. It would be useful to know before getting spare parts and accessories such as sights. The right hand slide stop is broken, for example, and I understand they came in two sizes depending on which type of CZ 85 the pistol is?
The serial number is A1456. It has an ambidextrous safety and slide release, a side-adjustable rear sight and no notch for the front sight. The triggerguard is rounded at the bottom but flat in front. The hammer is a spur hammer.
Czub.cz refused to give me any information, and since I can't ask my father-in-law I thought I would ask here. Which type of CZ85 have I gotten my hands on?
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Can't be certain without pictures, but it sounds like an early 85 Combat. The old sized slide release is no longer available so you'll have to have the hole in the frame machined to the larger size. I believe all the left side stops are the same. That rear sight is unobtainable, and very valuable, so be very careful with it.
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welcome,
its been said....
Pictures are worth a thousand words.....
good luck
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The earlier CZ85's (called Pre B pistols as they had no firing pin block safety). The trigger guard was rounded in the front. The front sight was staked through the top of the slide (like a 1911) and through the barrel bushing. Spur hammer. The right side slide lock/release lever is smaller in diameter than the later models and was prone to breaking (I was told by someone who should know).
Getting the frame modified to use the later right side release lever shouldn't be too hard. A gunsmith shouldn't have any issues doing it.
You know, some CZ85's were made/sold without a right side slide lock/release lever. If you had a picture of yours it would be easy to say for sure. I've seen several for sale without the lever. I think they look funny/odd as I was used to mine already. But CZ did make some like that. If it was one of those, there won't be a really visible gap between the slide release pin/shaft and the frame. Or can you see the broken piece sticking out of the frame?
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indeed pictures says it all, the combat also has no firing pin block(but is clearly says cz85combat on the left side), the rear sight can be swapped for an adjustable one so that doesnt say anything.
strange the CZ factory doesnt want to help you, did you contact cz usa or cz in europe ?
in 2003 the serial number would be somewhere arround H12XX for a 85 combat
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strange the CZ factory doesnt want to help you, did you contact cz usa or cz in europe ?
If it's an early one it probably was not imported by CZ-USA. If it's not stamped CZ-USA they won't have any info on it. Pictures would help quite a bit.
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That A14586 SN is likely from 1990 which the OP can verify by checking the 2-digit year in the oval above the extractor. Prior years’ serial numbers were five digits starting with a zero.
CZ did not roll mark the specific Model 85 nomenclature on the slides for the three original offerings, Standard, Lux and Combat. Lux and Combat had fully adjustable sights and the Combat also had the squared front trigger guard. From 1989, all models came with the squared front guard. The designation of 85 Combat and 85B came later with the intro of the firing pin block system. I’m guessing that CZUB does not normally delve into production history before 1993 when it was privatized.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Thank you for your help and guidance.
Since making my first post, I have managed to get ahold of a replacement slide stop.
I have also realized that I am an idiot, and that the rear sight is indeed fully adjustable, and not only sideways.
We have also managed to find an old range bag that belonged to my FIL, which contained a different set of sights that don't seem to fit.
The oval is marked "89", which helps identifying the age.
It was CZ Europe I contaced, and they apparently won't release any information except when it is a matter of an official police inquiry.
Here are some photos I took, the last one showing the pistol with the right side lever removed:
(https://i.imgur.com/o9K7Cwz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4weurM6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uhhvXcU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gptVPRq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yNiVSKP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZdhxKLF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MSHwSw9.jpg)
(Apologies for the huge pictures, I can't figure out how to make the photos smaller in resolution... Imgur album here: https://imgur.com/a/amxhgSm (https://imgur.com/a/amxhgSm))
Thank you for the help! I like to consider myself savvy with computers, but it has been a long while since last I dabbled with HTML and messageboards...
After having looked around a bit in the forums, it seems like there have been many types of 75s and 85s throughout the years, so I still feel a bit lost.
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I think you broke the internet.
Because the pictures were so big, I couldn’t tell much except the yeah and serial number.
Your pistol was made in 1989. I have an 1986 with a serial number of 00128.
My trigger housing is round and doesn’t have the serrations on the front strap.
I’m trying to add a picture, but like I said, you broke the internet.
(http://)
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welcome back.
re the pic size.
dont know how computer savvy you are but heres 1 of many hints.
if you try to email them to yourself, some email programs will ask you want to "resize" them. there are also other software or apps what will "resize" the photos for you too.
good luck
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The photos are fine though, when using the Tapatalk app on a phone/tablet. Very nice looking older 85. My guess is that when CZUB made the combat trigger guard standard on all the 85 models in 1989, there was probably no longer a need for the Lux model. It then had the same features as the Combat. It appears they also introduced the new SN scheme of Axxxx in 1989. I don’t recall seeing that type of adjustable rear sights being used on the CZ 75 pistols.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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The photos are fine though, when using the Tapatalk app on a phone/tablet. Very nice looking older 85. My guess is that when CZUB made the combat trigger guard standard on all the 85 models in 1989, there was probably no longer a need for the Lux model. It then had the same features as the Combat. It appears they also introduced the new SN scheme of Axxxx in 1989. I don’t recall seeing that type of adjustable rear sights being used on the CZ 75 pistols.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Thats one of the older cz85 models.
You dont see them that often.
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(https://imgur.com/kgQkd3B)
Still trying, internet still broken
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Thank you for your help and guidance.
Since making my first post, I have managed to get ahold of a replacement slide stop.
I have also realized that I am an idiot, and that the rear sight is indeed fully adjustable, and not only sideways.
We have also managed to find an old range bag that belonged to my FIL, which contained a different set of sights that don't seem to fit.
The oval is marked "89", which helps identifying the age.
It was CZ Europe I contaced, and they apparently won't release any information except when it is a matter of an official police inquiry.
Here are some photos I took, the last one showing the pistol with the right side lever removed:
(https://i.imgur.com/o9K7Cwz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4weurM6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uhhvXcU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gptVPRq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yNiVSKP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZdhxKLF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MSHwSw9.jpg)
(Apologies for the huge pictures, I can't figure out how to make the photos smaller in resolution... Imgur album here: https://imgur.com/a/amxhgSm (https://imgur.com/a/amxhgSm))
After having looked around a bit in the forums, it seems like there have been many types of 75s and 85s throughout the years, so I still feel a bit lost.
Quote my post and look at what I did with your links. It's really pretty simple, and makes seeing the pics much easier.
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Thank you, I have corrected the image tags now.
So, if I would want to change the sights or the trigger or whatever, any aftermarket parts made for the CZ 85 would fit?
The sights that we found in his range bag didn't seem to fit, that is why I am asking...
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the front sight always needs to be custom fit, you have to sand it down for a good fit.
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The problem we had was that the width of the dovetail cutout for the rear sight didn't match up to the actual width of the new sight.
How about mags, would any CZ 75 or 85 mags work, or would they have to be of a certain model?
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I use shadow2 mags in it, it gives you +2 and they are cheap and easy to get
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The more recent Combat models use a different dovetail cut than a standard 75/85 model. It's a Shadow cut, IIRC. The Kadet uses the same cut. I honestly don't know if those earlier models were the same.
That pistol looks more like a standard 75/85.