mismatched serial numbers cz70

[ulmapache]

Ok, probably been hammered to death already, but here goes. What do I have? Represented as a CZ70... Barrel and slide..122xxx   Frame...cz7000xxx  Grips CZ70 style. Will order some grips from Marschal, and have the thing reblued, or maybe cerakoted....if she shoots as well as my CZ27, all pimped out in shiny chrome/nickel (she came to me that way from a CID evidence locker)...a tack driver... Holster would be an Uncle Mikes size 1.

[rdcinhou]

My 1972 CZ70 has matching S/Ns beginning with "J".

Of all my CZs, it is my least favorite to shoot--the squared-off plastic piece that fits in the web of your hand doesn't distribute the recoil force very well, so it ends up hurting your hand after a couple of dozen rounds.

Be sure to NEVER dry-fire your CZ70.  The firing pins are of a design that lend themselves to breaking.

Still it is one of the cooler-looking CZ designs!

[ulmapache]

LOL!!!! Anyway...didn't state what I was asking very well. What I'm asking about is this...Is my pistol a reworked 50, or just a 70 with mismatched numbers? And thx for the heads up on the dry firing...

[rdcinhou]

In the book "Know Your Czechoslovakian Pistols" (R. J. Berger, 1989) there is only one page of text on the CZ-50/70:

Here are some excerpts:

"Serial numbers for the vz 50 started at 650001, which was a continuation of the terminated vz 27 pistol. Pistols manufactured at the Strakonice Factory end in the 740000 range."

"Production started in 1950, and lasted until 1952, when priority was given to production of the new Czechoslovak Army pistol, the vz 52.  After completion of the vz 52 contract, all pistol production was discontinued at the ?esk? Zbrojovka Factory and transferred to the Factory Presne Strojirenstvi in Uhersky Brod."

"After a lapse of four years, production of the vz 50 was resumed at Uhersky Brod in 1957.  Serial numbers of the vz 50 pistols made at Uhersky Brod are an unreliable guide to quantities made.  A system of five digits, with or without a letter prefix, is used.  However, not all letters were used, and the five-digit number will change its letter prefix in the middle of a series."

That's about all the guidance on serial numbers given in this book.

[ulmapache]

Ja, I've read that elsewhere...now....where does this 7000xxx fit in? 7 million and change...I looked very carefully to make sure that the "7" was not an "F"...

[ulmapache]

Seems that there are 2 different serial numbers on the frame...122xxx on the slide and frame visible thru the ejection port..and the CZ7000xxx on the grip portion of the frame...which one is used for ID'ing? . Mfg date '72 Trying to find out of this is a rebuilt 50, or an original 70. Still haven't run any rounds thru her yet...

[rdcinhou]

Before I forget, a couple of items:

1. There is an HLE e-book on the model 70.  This thread tells about it.  I didn't buy this one, but I did by their e-book for my CZ45.

     http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=74061.msg527064#msg527064

2. Try to use only European ammunition in your CZ 70.  Evidently there can be ejector problems due to small differences in the rim indentions.  I prefer Sellier & Bellot.

3. NEVER try to use hollow-points. Since they are shorter than normal rounds you WILL experience "rim-lock".  When I bought my CZ70, the LGS sold me an assortment of .32 ACP ammo including some hollow-points.  Turns out that rim-lock is a problem in many .32 ACP guns when trying to use hollow-points.  Here is a link to the AMMO & HANDLOADING section on what people have tried: http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=25029.msg131610#msg131610

4. Comparing markings and locations on my CZ70:
   a. Serial numbers (J802xx) are on the right-hand side of the slide (just below and to the left of the ejection port)
       and on the frame/barrel assembly (visible through the ejection port).
   b. Import marking are on the right-hand side of the frame just above the trigger and just below the slide
       serial number.  Mine says "CDI SWAN VT".
   c. Model identification "VZOR 70 CAL 7.65" (line 1), "MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA" (line 2) appears on the
       left-hand side of the slide just above the trigger.
   d. CZ logo (C with caret inside circle, with Z inside of C) appears on the left-hand side of the slide just
       before the hammer.
   e. Acceptance mark (lion with crown) and year (72) appear on the left-hand side of the slide, above the
       slanted cocking serrations.

5. If you haven't shot the gun yet, you may be surprised to learn that the DA trigger pull has a catalog value of 23 lbs.  One review that I read said that "it is closer to 100 lbs than it is to 23 lbs".  I had a gunsmith polish my trigger stalk which reduced the DA pull but I haven't measured it to obtain a value.  As I use hand exercisers (for grip and finger strength) and this isn't my carry weapon, I don't mind a high DA trigger pull.

[ulmapache]

Good info...however, I can find no reference to the numbers on my particular cz... 120xxx on frame barrel visible thru ejection port, and on slide under port, and the numbers CZ7000xxx on the frontstrap area of the frame. Importer is CAI Georgia Vt Maybe I'm missing something...
Ja, that DA is a hard pull, worse than my '83.... I'll carry the same way...one in the chamber, hammer down, and if/when I have to use it, thumb the hammer back, and go at it single action. Probably faster that way than trying to squeeze a shot off in DA...LOL!!! Have a 27...that one is a tackdriver, and will eat anything thrown in the mag. American, Euro, Russian, doesn't matter...like Mikey..he likes it! BTW...have you seen any after market/OEM barrels like the ones that were made for suppressed 70s?

[ulmapache]

Ok, got part of my question answered...in an old post! Anyway, now, the burning question is this: What is the CZ7000xxx serial number from? Is this a CIA Vermont importers number? Or something ele...

[eastman]

Some mil-surp imports get a new serial number added when imported. Might have been what happened to yours. My vz70 has a six-digit S/N starting with 203 (1975 date).

[Igrlik]

...Anyway, now, the burning question is this: What is the CZ7000xxx serial number from? Is this a CIA Vermont importers number? Or something ele...

Could be importers identification of weapon - CZ70 - and own internal number 00xxx ?

[ulmapache]

Ja, that's what I'm thinking....might shoot  an email to CIA and see if they can supply any info. Put a few rounds thru...ja, what an awful trigger. Keyholed the first couple of rounds, (wonder what that was all about) then settled down to shoot acceptable (mostly in the black on 100 yard NRA smallbore target) groups at 10 meters.. But OMG...that trigger has to go!!! Even SA it's rough, and DA...forget it.