Author Topic: 1975 - 1979  (Read 5823 times)

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Offline Psyop96

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1975 - 1979
« on: April 27, 2019, 06:21:04 PM »
    **Last modified May 2023 for change in 1978 observed serial range**

    Many thanks to Forum member Blackwatch for the heavy contribution on photos and information shown here. Classic12 has also offered the photos of superb specimens from his collection; these will be included in the near future.

    On the bottom of this post is a link to a discussion thread going back over a decade on this forum regarding the Short-Rails. The Spanish produced cast frames mentioned in the old thread are addressed at the bottom of this post.

    Special attribution/source data:
    One of the most comprehensive sources of information on not just the CZ 75 but also the company and the various firearms it has produced is the “Legenda jménem CZ” book by David Pazdera. Published in 2016 with an update in 2017. It is written in Czech language thus requiring the use of translation apps which may not always be accurate and my rudimentary knowledge of the language that makes for a slow application of the knowledge from the book to here.

    Edit (Jan 2021) His latest book, "CZ 75 Pribeh ceske legendy” (Story of a Czech legend written in Czech) was released in Dec 2020 and contains even more detailed information than his past works. Some of the information will be added or updated to the data here.

    He also co-authored with Jan Skramoussky the “Zrozeni Legendy” book (2005) that focuses on the development of the CZ 75 from original concept of a small defensive, single-stack pistol to a large, double stack magazine fed pistol; from single-action to double-action system, and even a top extractor/ejection port design to the current right-side ejection.

    1975:
    • SN 00001-00005 were the first five of a group serving as samples and validation models. SN 00001 was kept at the factory and currently resides in the company's historical collection at the factory. It bears neither the usual proof mark nor year and has a one of a kind aluminum "waffle grips". Plastic grips were the norm from February 1975. SN 00002, 00003 and 00005 were used extensively for testing with distance accuracy being an issue for a while. Interestingly, none of the pistols beside the very first one stayed with the company after their testing.
    • 54 pistols were produced in the 4th quarter using a SN range starting with 01002 to 01099 (not all consecutively numbered) .....

    1976:
    • Production - 18 (testing/validation). 
    • March 1976 - approved and released for mass production.
    •  
    • April 1976 saw the first detailed review of the CZ 75 in the German magazine DWJ (Deutches Waffen Journal) featuring pistol 01002. 

    •  


    1977:
    First year of mass production. Serial number range started at 10001 (DP-p). Standard finish is blued. Commenced on 1  June, 1977, the first batch of 200 were produced by the end of August and a further 1,600 by year’s end (Zrozrni Legendy - Pazdera/Skramoussky).
    • Left side: Old logo Model 75 with cal. 9 PARA. Made in Czechoslovakia on one line. Two marks on top front of trigger guard look like two widely spread Ws on top of each other. Sometimes there is a third mark (F shaped?) visible on top of this mark. Magazine release is circular with straight ridgelines running from 11:00-5:00 on the front part covering approximately 3/4 of the button (non-reversible due to different and irregular shape on right side).
    • Right side: N-Lion proof next to two-digit year on flat surface above extractor. N-Lion proof and SN on barrel. SN on both slide and frame, aligned over each other and just ahead of the higher fillet/beveled portion of slide and frame. On the top front of the trigger guard is the N-Lion proof mark on a flat surface. Back side of magazine release is irregularly shape.
    • Grips: Plastic waffles with one-slotted screws. Other common grips are medium or dark brown, tall, wooden grips with checkered palm area and left grip with cut out under safety lever.
    • Misc.: Magazine hand etched with last three of SN on bottom rear. Does not have “half cocked” hammer capability (exceptions are unknown).
    • Exceptions: Fully adjustable rear sights with tall front sight; black trigger.
    • Observed serial number range: 103xx - 120xx.
       **Notable change.




    1978:
    Standard finish is blued but there are other finishes that appear as hard chrome/brushed stainless/duo-tone. Unable to ascertain which are factory original finishes. Units produced - 6,047 (DP-p)
    • Left side: Same.
    • Right side: Same.
    • Grips: Same as before.
    • Misc.:
    • Exceptions: Same as before with adjustable sights; over-travel screws on some triggers.
    • Observed serial number range: 122xx - 164xx. Edit 05.23. Revised highest observed serial number is Polish-based 184xx  reported by member timmy75.
       **Notable change.


    1979:
    Same as prior year. Units produced - 6,650 (DP-p)
    • Left side:
    • Right side:
    • Grips:
    • Misc.:
    • Exceptions : the odd duo tone finish with matte chrome frame and blued slide.
    • Observed serial number range: 186xx - 215xx. First orange-black box observed.
       **Notable change.



    The Spanish Frames 1979:

    The following information is culled from the Pazdera book, CZ 75 Pribeh cesky legendy (published late 2020) -
    Most of the frames for the short rails were forged. CZ started moving to investment casting of the frames in 1978 but had made only 200 at year-end. With cast frame production capacity of only about 200 a month, the company sought to add capacity from another source. Negotiations on production of pistols outside of Czechoslovakia had already started in 1977 between Merkuria (Czechoslovak exporter) and the Spanish company, Alfa in Eiba. An agreement was concluded in 1979 to produce the cast frames. In March, 1979, tests on Spanish cast frames revealed cracks that were also observed on Uhersky Brod cast frames. It resulted in the decision to beef up the frame and slide for the second generation design. With this design change which took some time to implement, the first modified Spanish frames arrived in January 1980 and the design change was implemented into UB production in the Spring of 1980. While this co-operation did not meet expectations (quality and delivery issues slowed down production), it did help CZ significantly increase production in the early 80s.  By the mid-80s, CZ had ceased to use the Spanish source.

    This would seem to indicate: The cracking issue observed was related to the cast frame production that started at the very end of 1978. Spanish frames were probably not used in short rail production since they didn't arrive until January 1980 after the design change. There are some 1980 proofed short-rails from UB as the design change was not fully implemented until Spring 1980 (see next chapter). No mention is made of the disposition/status of the fewer cast frame pistols produced before the cracking issue was discovered in early 1979 nor of any reports of mass failures nor recalls (different era of geopolitics).


    • As an FYI - Link to forum discussion started in 2009:

    https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=21656[/list][/list][/list]
    « Last Edit: May 06, 2023, 10:17:44 AM by Psyop96 »