The Original CZ Forum

CZ PISTOL CLUBS => Compact CZ 75s => Topic started by: Epguy80 on April 11, 2018, 11:49:17 PM

Title: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 11, 2018, 11:49:17 PM
I had been wanting one of the new 99041's, but I wanted a decocker. I remembered surplus ones turn up every once in a while. I was lucky enough to snag one off of Gunbroker last week. I haven't gotten it yet, but I've purchased an Israeli surplus P-01 with the weird incomplete rail from CDI before and that was one of my favorite guns ever. It looked like it was in worse shape than the one I'm waiting to get to my FFL. I've seen Psyop's and Puddintame's 75D steel frames and they look amazing. I don't have the tools or the skills necessary to do that kind of work. My question is can I take it to a local gunsmith or should I send it out to CZC or CGW? I think I might want the beavertail recontoured at least and maybe the trigger guard undercut. I definitely want the old lanyard post ground off so I can put new grips.
Title: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Psyop96 on April 12, 2018, 12:11:33 AM
Finding a local gunsmith that one can trust or have had an excellent experience with before might be a daunting task for the task at hand if you want a thorough overhaul to include internal parts replacement and frame refinishing. Going the CZC or CGW route provides a reliable one-stop option although the turn around time can be quite long, especially in the case of CGW. Some of the work is contracted out to specialists.

The lanyard loop, if it?s the side mounted kind, is usually just part of the pin that retains the main spring plug and easily swapped out for a normal pin. If it?s in the bottom, then you?ll need a main spring plug without the loop built into it. These surplus steel frame D Compacts are a great platform for building some beautiful pistols. Looking forward to the day you can show us the transformation of your pistol.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: SP01bob on April 12, 2018, 12:27:02 AM
I had been wanting one of the new 99041's, but I wanted a decocker. I remembered surplus ones turn up every once in a while. I was lucky enough to snag one off of Gunbroker last week. I haven't gotten it yet, but I've purchased an Israeli surplus P-01 with the weird incomplete rail from CDI before and that was one of my favorite guns ever. It looked like it was in worse shape than the one I'm waiting to get to my FFL. I've seen Psyop's and Puddintame's 75D steel frames and they look amazing. I don't have the tools or the skills necessary to do that kind of work. My question is can I take it to a local gunsmith or should I send it out to CZC or CGW? I think I might want the beavertail recontoured at least and maybe the trigger guard undercut. I definitely want the old lanyard post ground off so I can put new grips.
I never knew the 99041 came in a decocker model.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 12, 2018, 12:43:04 AM

I never knew the 99041 came in a decocker model.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

It doesn't or I'd have bought that instead. I like the ability to run a gun mounted light sometimes. These 75D compacts are sometimes referred to as 75BD compacts on forums. I have no idea of the actual SKU or proper name designation. It has a regular compact slide rather than the PCR slide with the LCI and funky sight cut. The frame is the same, but made of steel rather than aluminum. It does not have the extended magazine release. It has a side mounted pistol lanyard loop. There are no serrations on the front or back of the grip. The decocker lever is also slightly bigger than a PCR/P-01. Mine also has the old 85C combat trigger. They're older guns for sure, mine is a '99 vintage. All this info is according to the auction listing pictures.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: SP01bob on April 12, 2018, 12:55:39 AM

I never knew the 99041 came in a decocker model.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

It doesn't or I'd have bought that instead. I like the ability to run a gun mounted light sometimes. These 75D compacts are sometimes referred to as 75BD compacts on forums. I have no idea of the actual SKU or proper name designation. It has a regular compact slide rather than the PCR slide with the LCI and funky sight cut. The frame is the same, but made of steel rather than aluminum. It does not have the extended magazine release. It has a side mounted pistol lanyard loop. There are no serrations on the front or back of the grip. The decocker lever is also slightly bigger than a PCR/P-01. Mine also has the old 85C combat trigger. They're older guns for sure, mine is a '99 vintage. All this info is according to the auction listing pictures.
Sounds good, and this is a steel model?

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 12, 2018, 12:56:11 AM
Finding a local gunsmith that one can trust or have had an excellent experience with before might be a daunting task for the task at hand if you want a thorough overhaul to include internal parts replacement and frame refinishing. Going the CZC or CGW route provides a reliable one-stop option although the turn around time can be quite long, especially in the case of CGW. Some of the work is contracted out to specialists.

The lanyard loop, if it?s the side mounted kind, is usually just part of the pin that retains the main spring plug and easily swapped out for a normal pin. If it?s in the bottom, then you?ll need a main spring plug without the loop built into it. These surplus steel frame D Compacts are a great platform for building some beautiful pistols. Looking forward to the day you can show us the transformation of your pistol.

Thanks for the tip on the lanyard loop. Glad I don't need to grind that off. I should be able to replace that. I'm just not confident enough to mess around with the internals. I can completely disassemble my S&W 3rd gens, but I'm a bit wary of the CZ lockwork.

As for the other work, I'm going to swing it by a local place called Drake's Fine Sporting Arms. They do really great restoration work on antique rifles and other general firearm repair work. If they tell me they can do it, I'll leave it there. I just wasn't sure if it was better to send off to a CZ specialist.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 12, 2018, 01:09:34 AM
Sounds good, and this is a steel model?

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Yes. Sometimes sellers list the frame as being Poldi Steel. I'm assuming that's the name of the company that produced the steel. You can see a picture of Psyop69's in the dedicated 75 Compact picture thread at the top of this forum. He posted a picture of three of his, it is the one in the middle. IIRC Scarlett Pistol also has one or had one. I saw Puddintame's in his recent holster sale thread, the holster was sold, so I'm not sure if it's still up or not. CDI Sales sometimes gets a bunch of them and will post on Gunbroker. He's listed two that I know of in the past couple of months. Before that there was I think maybe four or five simultaneously a couple of years ago. I didn't check very often to be honest. I just know they're uncommon enough that there isn't much posted about them online.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: SP01bob on April 12, 2018, 07:51:28 AM
Yeah, I would love to have one!!

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Mutt208 on April 16, 2018, 01:37:26 AM
Why would you not just settle for the 99041 or the 99021? You can just drop the hammer manually and its literally the same as a decocker.. This is how I carry mine so that first pull is da. I luckily found a 99021 recently and am never looking back!
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 16, 2018, 09:00:19 AM
Why would you not just settle for the 99041 or the 99021? You can just drop the hammer manually and its literally the same as a decocker.. This is how I carry mine so that first pull is da. I luckily found a 99021 recently and am never looking back!

Because I didn't want the rail.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 16, 2018, 09:10:08 AM
Update on the pistol now that I've actually gotten it in my hands. I don't need to send it out. One of my usual gunsmiths/firearms instructors agrees. The outside is just as you'd expect for a surplus trade-in. However there is no rust anywhere and the surface marks are just as you'd expect for something that was holstered and handled extensively. Inside the gun is different story. The pull is great as is with DA averaging just over 11# and buttery smooth. SA averages just over 4# with a reset almost as short as a reset kit. Our best guess is that the previous owner loved dry fire practice. All in all, I'd say a great deal at $450 (gun, shipping, and transfer) after I put on the Dawson sights I had bought for my 2017 Phantom.  ;D
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Psyop96 on April 16, 2018, 10:46:53 AM
Congrats! Sounds like you got a good one. Mine shot very well in its original condition. It wouldn?t have needed much beyond a lighter mainspring for a lighter DA and the sights changed out if I had wanted to keep the original condition. One 99021/99041 feature that might be desirable or useful to some is the upswept beaver tail.
Let?s see some photos!
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Chicago Dude on April 16, 2018, 09:34:20 PM
Congrats! Sounds like you got a good one. Mine shot very well in its original condition. It wouldn?t have needed much beyond a lighter mainspring for a lighter DA and the sights changed out if I had wanted to keep the original condition. One 99021/99041 feature that might be desirable or useful to some is the upswept beaver tail.
Let?s see some photos!

My 41

(https://i.imgur.com/0jRz5OR.jpg)
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 16, 2018, 11:19:23 PM
Congrats! Sounds like you got a good one. Mine shot very well in its original condition. It wouldn?t have needed much beyond a lighter mainspring for a lighter DA and the sights changed out if I had wanted to keep the original condition. One 99021/99041 feature that might be desirable or useful to some is the upswept beaver tail.
Let?s see some photos!

How light would you have gone for a mainspring? I was considering having the beavertail reshaped. I do like the upswept one in my Phantom. It may be easier to just get an SDP though.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 16, 2018, 11:27:33 PM
Congrats! Sounds like you got a good one. Mine shot very well in its original condition. It wouldn?t have needed much beyond a lighter mainspring for a lighter DA and the sights changed out if I had wanted to keep the original condition. One 99021/99041 feature that might be desirable or useful to some is the upswept beaver tail.
Let?s see some photos!

How light would you have gone for a mainspring? I was considering having the beavertail reshaped. I do like the upswept one in my Phantom. It may be easier to just get an SDP though.
Here you go.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180417/fbc72d8331e691f245183589ae6144a2.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180417/f90573b639bdf72ee64997ff18891b24.jpg)

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: puddintame on April 16, 2018, 11:55:41 PM
the surface wear on yours is much better than mine was. I had the seller send mine directly to CGW for pro pack and refinish. although I paid a bit less for mine. it still ran $1000. to much? maybe. maybe not. all subjective
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Psyop96 on April 17, 2018, 12:05:36 AM
Echoing puddintame, that looks like a better than average finish for these surplus pistols. And the upgrade and refinish (and beaver tail reshape) will run costs up there. However, you?ll have a custom-to-you pistol. For a non-defensive pistol, the #13 mainspring with extended firing pin from CGW should do nicely.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 17, 2018, 03:07:06 PM
the surface wear on yours is much better than mine was. I had the seller send mine directly to CGW for pro pack and refinish. although I paid a bit less for mine. it still ran $1000. to much? maybe. maybe not. all subjective

I don't think so at all. Hell I've considered dropping $1400+ on a S&W PC Shorty 9 until I realized how much more I'd get going the CZ surplus refit route or even a current offering from CZC or CGW, plus I wouldn't have to scavenge the web for parts.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 19, 2018, 12:34:59 AM
Echoing puddintame, that looks like a better than average finish for these surplus pistols. And the upgrade and refinish (and beaver tail reshape) will run costs up there. However, you?ll have a custom-to-you pistol. For a non-defensive pistol, the #13 mainspring with extended firing pin from CGW should do nicely.

CGW #15 mainspring for a defensive pistol?
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Jiva on April 19, 2018, 02:21:58 PM

CGW #15 mainspring for a defensive pistol?

14# in mine :D
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Chicago Dude on April 19, 2018, 03:00:39 PM

CGW #15 mainspring for a defensive pistol?

14# in mine :D

# 13 in mine  8)
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Underwhere on April 20, 2018, 09:55:03 AM
I had been wanting one of the new 99041's, but I wanted a decocker. I remembered surplus ones turn up every once in a while. I was lucky enough to snag one off of Gunbroker last week. I haven't gotten it yet, but I've purchased an Israeli surplus P-01 with the weird incomplete rail from CDI before and that was one of my favorite guns ever. It looked like it was in worse shape than the one I'm waiting to get to my FFL. I've seen Psyop's and Puddintame's 75D steel frames and they look amazing. I don't have the tools or the skills necessary to do that kind of work. My question is can I take it to a local gunsmith or should I send it out to CZC or CGW? I think I might want the beavertail recontoured at least and maybe the trigger guard undercut. I definitely want the old lanyard post ground off so I can put new grips.

I'm literally doing this project in the gunsmithing forum. It's been quite the undertaking.
http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96277.0

I've never used CZC but they seem to keep people happy. I'm very happy with CGW (I do my own work but use their parts).
If I didn't do work myself I'd send the gun to CGW. I've seen local gunsmiths F things up. Not worth it in my opinion. The CGW guys really know their stuff.

As far as beavertail modifications and refinishing. Totally in agreement with you on the beavertail. I hate the old stubby ones but love the newer more upswept ones. I'm not sure who would do the beavertail modifications but CGW uses another company for refinishing and from the looks of it they do an amazing job.

I'm currently still modifying my frame and shaping everything.
After that the CGW parts will go in. I ended up getting the Pro kit. With the extended firing pin they provide a 13# hammer spring so you won't have issues with ignition.

Because my Compact 75 is 17 years old and very very well used I decided to replace some other parts for kicks as well. (excuse the horrible color coding)


(http://i65.tinypic.com/11ab9yd.jpg)
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 20, 2018, 10:49:41 AM
I'm literally doing this project in the gunsmithing forum. It's been quite the undertaking.
http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96277.0

I just looked at your thread. So what you're saying is that I'm going to have to learn to live with that beavertail. Got it.  ;D It's not actually terrible. I just like the feel of the upswept beavertails slightly more. My S&W 3rd Gen 40's all have the same stubby beavertail, so it's not like I can't learn to love it too.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Underwhere on April 20, 2018, 11:11:24 AM
I'm literally doing this project in the gunsmithing forum. It's been quite the undertaking.
http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96277.0

I just looked at your thread. So what you're saying is that I'm going to have to learn to live with that beavertail. Got it.  ;D It's not actually terrible. I just like the feel of the upswept beavertails slightly more. My S&W 3rd Gen 40's all have the same stubby beavertail, so it's not like I can't learn to love it too.

Or find a good welder. Shouldn't be too hard for them.
I've contemplated buying a 1911 grip safety and transplanting it. That would make it much easier.

I have 3 CZ's where I'm modifying the beavertail even though it may not be the easiest thing to do.
Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 20, 2018, 11:25:42 AM
The welding a 1911 beavertail is an idea too. There's a local shop that makes custom 1911's and Glocks that I was advised to call by another gunshop.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on April 27, 2018, 11:09:53 PM
Here's what I've got so far, I may leave this one as it is configured. I had the Dawson night sights from CGW installed by a gunsmith. I just finished putting in the 15# mainspring (holy hell was that a few minutes of work), extended firing pin with spring, FP retaining pin, and reduced power FP block plunger spring from CGW. I added a 14# recoil spring and the aluminum diamond grips from CZ Custom. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180428/3bd491b426cfb70bfb414315fbfc6c80.jpg)

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: CZ 75D steel frame
Post by: Epguy80 on May 15, 2018, 07:55:15 PM
Well it's me again. Finally got out to the range with it. Is it weird that the trigger is still giving me that sting? Also I had trouble with it in SA, but DA was right where I wanted to send it POA every time, even decocking every shot.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk