CZ 97-B Slide Crack

[Catellus]

Hi guys, Greetings from the Philippines.

I have been checking the forums for the past few months now and I have to say that I learned a lot by just reading thru the different post.

I got my brand new 97 last year and it?s really a sweet piece to shoot and an accurate and reliable one at that.

When I went back home from a pleasant range session last night I proceeded in disassembling the pistol for cleaning just like always, but when I was wiping off the excess WD40 from the slide I felt some sort of a rough spot on the part that separates the barrel bushing and the recoil spring housing.

Curious I went to inspect it thinking it?s just some sort of stuck debris, but I was surprised to see something that looks like a crack on the slide.

Reference pictures:

http://imgur.com/g6n01rA

http://imgur.com/CPNU4a4

At first I was telling myself that there is no way that it can be a crack since frame cracks on CZ?s are unheard off. I also love the gun so much and even got a CCW permit for it so I can carry it every day, so yeah I am actually in denial when I first saw what?s going on. Nonetheless I asked a few people with good pair of eyes to take a look at it and they all said that they think it?s really a crack.

For additional information the gun was never fed +P ammo and nothing was modified on the slide except having the front and rear sights being changed, changing the recoil spring, and changing the firing pin?s retention pin. For the frame the only thing done was polishing the trigger mechanism to eliminate the creep, replacing a broken trigger return spring and putting on a Hogue wrap around rubber grip for better feel on the hands. I regularly practice with the gun at least once a week and I think it already shot close to 7,000 rounds.

I am not sure if other people also experienced this on their 97, because I already tried doing a search and the only thing that I found referencing a cracked 97 was posted on the link below from a different forum but that one is with the frame not the slide.

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=5&f=37&t=87728

There also seems to be nothing wrong with either my guns barrel bushing or the recoil spring housing upon inspection so I?m really wondering why that part of the frame would suddenly become cracked.

I got the gun from CZ?s distributor here in the Philippines so I plan to let them have a look at it maybe this coming Monday and see what they have to say. But please feel free to comment on the matter.

Regards,

Brian

[schmeky]

Brian,

I would not worry about it.  That area is not really stressed and is a non-issue.  When we bore the slides for the 1911 match barrel bushing, sometimes this area will be more readily visible. 

I'm not even sure it's a crack, more like a casting mold parting line.  CZ slides are cast. 

[terry mc]

Brian,
If CZ will warranty it, that is great.
However if not consider Schmeky's advice.
Since you are a new, you may not know of Schmeky, he is the owner of Cajun Gun Works and the resident expert on CZ97's.
His work on the 97's are what lead to my wanting one in the first place.
He has built mine and many others on here.
Just an FYI.

[Catellus]

Hi David,

Thanks so much for the advise I really appreciate it. If you say its fine I am very confident that I can take your word for it.

Man I am just so happy that I can stop worrying about the bleep thing and get back to shooting it. Honestly if you or any of the experts in this forum told me that it's something bad I really don't know what to do, so I am just glad it's nothing.

You may not remember, but I emailed you for this same gun before to check if you do ship your upgrade parts to the Philippines. Anyway if ever Cajun Gun Works would begin catering to international customers in the future, you can bet that I would be happy to place an order.

Regards,

Brian

[terry mc]

Brian,
You made me curious, so I tore my 97B-E down.
I have the same exact mark on mine.
It is straight and looks to be part of the casting.

Mine is visible even though most of this area has been machined for the enhanced bushing.
I think you are safe.

[Catellus]

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the input and for taking time to check on your gun. That mark is actually not showing (At least as far as I can recall) on my gun before I saw it last night that is why I got really worried that the casting may have cracked considering that the metal on the particular area in question is kind of thin.

Honestly I am really hoping to get some good advice from people like you on this forum before even considering going to the distributor on Monday.

The thing is this is my first gun, and I really loved this particular one and don't want to hear the distributor telling me that they'll be taking it back to have it replaced with another one cause that will really break my heart. Well I got myself an SP01 a few months after I got the 97 (Talk about a CZ fever I am now eyeing on getting a Scorpion ) but like they said you can really never replace the nostalgia that the first one has.

Good thing you and Schmeky had chimed in and confirmed it was nothing so I guess I wont even bother going on Monday anymore.

In regards to the Cajun Gun Works stuff I have to say that you guys are pretty lucky out there since you can go ahead and send your guns in for custom work or order some of the upgrades online while I just stare at them from my PC while drooling 

Nonetheless I guess I am lucky too because if I decide to go for it I can get the Scorpion EVO 3 S1 with the buttstock and all without worrying about the ATF.

Regards,

Brian

[terry mc]

I am even more fortunate as in addition to CGW, I have CZ Custom local in town where I live.

But I do with I had the luxury of doing the butt stock that is nice for you.

[Catellus]

Hi Terry,

That?s great to hear, makes me wonder what would have been if I have access to CGW and have CZC on my neighborhood. Hell I would probably be broke all the time trying to get all the upgrades and custom work done, but at least I would have a great looking piece  .

Just shot her again this afternoon and no hiccup as always, so I?m just glad there is really nothing to worry about.

I actually plan to have a tritium fiber optic sight made for my 97 since nobody sells that here for the CZ models. I just have to find someone that would be willing to do it for me, and I will make a new post about it once it?s done so anyone interested can check it out. I?m not really an expert but I hope to contribute in my own little way.

Again thanks for the input that you and Schmeky gave, it really helped in clearing things up for me.

Regards,

Brian

[Chris B]

I just checked my 2010, it has the same mark.  Interesting.