** Last modified Mar 2022**...in progress Many thanks to Forum member Blackwatch for the heavy contribution on photos and information shown here.
Significant developments during the decade of the 1980s:
- the overall design is changed from the “Short-rail” to the longer, beefed-up slide and frame of the “Pre-B”.
- investment cast frames become the standard.
- the CZ 85 is introduced in 1985 with ambi slide-stop release and safety. Many external elements of the future CZ 75 “Transitional” and CZ 75B models are introduced with the CZ 85 line. A separate information section on the CZ 85 can be found on the bottom of this write-up on the decade of the 80s.
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1980 (Part One):A watershed year - last Short-Rail and first Pre-B. Production - 9,000 units (DP-p)
Primarily blued finishes observed in small sample of Short-Rails.
- Left side: old logo MODEL 75 cal.9 para roll mark. 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. However, the Ws roll mark is not on the gun with the highest SN (258xx) seen to date. 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 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 an irregular shape.
- Grips: Plastic waffles with one-slotted screws. Similar wooden grips as seen in prior Short-Rail years; medium or dark brown (some glossy), tall, wooden grips with checkered palm area or smooth and left grip with cut out under safety lever.
- Misc.: Magazine hand etched with last three of SN on bottom rear (a feature last seen in 1987). **Half-cocked hammer capability introduced in 1Q1980 per Cold War Pistols of Czechoslovakia (James D. Brown) and Pribeh ceske legendy (David Pazdera). This design change was made after two separate incidences of inadvertent discharge caused from partial cocking of the hammer caught by material in holsters in West Germany in 1979 (DP-p).
- Exceptions: None observed in small sample.
- Observed serial number range: 255XX - 258XX
**Notable change.
Both pistols shown here have the “half-cocked” capability as is evident by the hammer position in the upper photo.
The highest SN of a Short-Rail seen to date, 258xx.
1980 (Part Two):** Pre-B introduced with elongated wider section on slide and frame with fluting.
See 1975-1979 chapter regarding the extension of the slide and frame.[/u][/color] Prevalent finish appears to be blued with plum patina on some samples; also observed are what appear to be parkerized finishes but unable to determine if original finish. One sample seen has the black paint that became the standard finish in 1984.
- Left side: Roll marks and magazine release are unchanged. **The “WW” marking on the upper front of trigger guard is absent on most observed samples (note...there are later exceptions with the “WW” marking recurring in some 87-88 makes).
- Right side: No change to markings above extractor, on barrel and trigger guard. SN marked on both slide (before fillet/bevel) and frame (on flute); aligned over each other.
- Grips: Plastic “waffles” with 1-slot screws are standard. Also seen are the medium and dark brown, tall, wooden grips with checkered palm area or smooth and left grip with cut out under safety lever (similar to previous Short-rails).
- Misc.: Supplied with two magazines roughly hand etched with last three of SN on bottom rear. This feature is a continuance from the Short-rail and was last seen in 1987).
- Exceptions: Adjustable rear sight with side-mounted screw on both sides for windage (rear sight looks similar to fixed sights); raised front ramp sights accompany some adjustable rear sights. One pistol observed on European website has ring hammer and squared-off trigger guard (perhaps modern modifications). Consistent with CZ inconsistency, the “half-cocked” hammer capability will have exceptions.
- Observed serial number range: 261XX - 332XX
**Notable change
This pistol (28xxx) lacks the “half-cocked” hammer.
Questions remain - What is the last serial number (25XXX or 26XXX?) used on a Short-Rail? Did the serial numbering for the production Pre-B begin with 26000?
The serial numbers on these two 1980 Short-Rail and Pre-B pistols differ by under 600 (photo note - screws used for the grips should be one-slotted type to be historically correct).
1981:Prevalent finish is blued.
- Left side: No changes.
- Right side: Two small changes. N-Lion proof and 2-digit year on **oval stamped above extractor (this format lasted until around 2006). N-Lion proof on the top front of trigger guard is housed inside a **circular stamping.
- Grips : Unchanged; waffles and wooden samples similar to prior years.
- Misc.: 3-digit SN etched magazines continue to be supplied.
- Exceptions : same adjustable rear sight with windage screws and raised front ramp sights as seen in prior years
- Observed serial number range: 364XX - 427XX
**Notable change
1982:Prevalent finish is blued.
- Left side: Most safety levers have **2-holes instead of previous 1-hole (a new, larger one added ahead of the original hole on the ridge) although there are still 1-hole safeties in 1982.
- Right side: No changes.
- Grips: No changes with the usual wooden options.
- Misc.: 3-digit SN etched magazines continued.
- Exceptions: previously seen adjustable rear sights with windage screws.
- Observed serial number range: 475XX - 651XX.
**Notable change.
1983:Prevalent finish is blued, some with plum patina occurring.
- Left side: Sometime in 1983, Made in Czechoslovakia changed to **a larger font and marked in **two lines so there is a mix of one line and two lines markings in 1983 production. This change took place between SN 81xxx and 85xxx. The 2-hole safety levers appear to have become the standard.
- Right side: Unchanged.
- Grips: Unchanged with waffles and med-dark brown wooden grips.
- Misc.: Magazines and container box same as prior year
- Exceptions: 7.65mm Browning marked barrel with 9 mm Para marked slide (Italian-based gun)
- Observed serial number range: 734XX - 90XXX.
**Notable change.
1984:**Standard finish appears to be painted enamel not known for durability. **Trigger guards mostly tend to have very curvy upsweep in the front section.
- Left side: BAUSKA Kalispell MT. silver-white inked import marks prevalent on slide muzzle of USA models.
- Right side: No change.
- Grips: Mostly waffles with some **checkered plastic grips with old CZ logo (cannot verify if these are original to the pistols). Med-dark wooden grips continue with some samples.
- Misc.: Magazines and container box same as prior year.
- Exceptions: Ambi-safety version (SN 105XXX)
- Observed serial number range: 979XX - 1155XX.
**Notable change/characteristic
1985:Standard finish is painted; also seen - polished blue, phosphate, duo-tone and nickel. Trigger guards are mostly more rounded to permit more trigger area space and, as a result, less upswept than the 1984s (with some exceptions).
- Left side: Unchanged. Bauska import marks continue to be seen along with CAI, LSY Defense.
- Right side: Unchanged
- Grips: Waffle is standard with the usual wooden options.
- Misc.: Magazines should still have etched SN. Orange-black cardboard box.
- Exceptions: Ambi-safety on SN 130xxx.
- Observed serial number range: 1171XX - 1329XX.
**Notable change.
1986:Standard painted finish with also satin nickel, phosphate and high polished blue. **Trigger guard was enlarged although many smaller ones continue to show up. Import marks include CAI and Interarms.
- Left side: Unchanged.
- Right side: Unchanged.
- Grips: Checkered plastic grips with old logo is prevalent although some waffles still seen.
- Misc.: **Teal-light gray sleeve over polystyrene type container (marked exported by Merkuria Praha or some mported by High Standard)
- Exceptions: none observed.
- Observed serial number range: 1331xx - 1543xx.
**Notable change.
1987:Standard painted finish with also satin nickel, phosphate and blue.
- Left side: Unchanged.
- Right side: Unchanged.
- Grips: Checkered plastic grips with old logo is prevalent although waffle still observed.
- Misc.: Two samples observed with etched last-three of SN on magazines.
- Exceptions: WW marks observed on upper front of right trigger guard for SN 157xxx (see 1980). A very small number of 1-hole safety lever appear near the end of the 1987 production. A 1987 pistol (European-based) did not have a half-cocked rest position when fired at a range session (unable to ascertain whether it left the factory like that).
- Observed serial number range: 1549xx - 1720xx.
**Notable change.
1988:Standard painted finish. The sample of observed pistols is small (10).
- Left side: **Reverted back to 1-hole safety.
- Right side: Unchanged.
- Grips: Checkered plastic grips with old logo is prevalent. Waffle grips seen on A80xx.
- Misc.: Hammer - often difficult to ascertain between the older wide hammer and newer **thin hammer appearing in 1988 based on photos. **Dimples added on rear sight and a long middle groove on the front sight ramp.
- Exceptions: WW marks observed on upper front of right trigger guard for SN 177xxx (last seen in 1980).
- Observed serial number range: 1779xx - 182xxx and then **new serial number scheme adopted: A28xx - B00xx.
**Notable change.
Refurbished 1988 (before and after; colors and grips not kept original); this one has an unusually upswept trigger guard shape for the year.
Comparison of 1987 and 1988 rear sights and hammers.
Front sights up to 1987 and 1988 change.
1989Standard painted finish with also satin nickel, blued, stainless steel, phosphate, duo tone, chrome, gold plated accents. Importers include Interarms, LSY Defense.
- Left side: Unchanged.
- Right side: Unchanged.
- Grips: Checkered plastic with old logo; checkered and smooth wooden; plastic with right thumb rest.
- Misc.: Modifications that are part of the current design begin to appear on a few pistols (see Exceptions).
- Exceptions: Unfluted frame C27xx (European gun). Earliest ring hammer D18xx. Trigger pin hole enlarged and horizontally serrated slide top - B43xx.
- Observed serial number range: B19xx - D21xx.
**Notable changes.
Wrapping up the 1980s.
A trio of Pre-Bs that represent the period from 1981 - 1987 before more changes in 1988.
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CZ 85The CZ 85 was designed to be an improvement over the CZ 75 and became the starting point for the modernization of the CZ 75, eventually resulting in the unification of both designs with the ambi-controls becoming the primary differences between these two models. The glare-reduction, ribbed top of the slide, larger and differently shaped slide stop/release and safety catch, the “combat” trigger guard (initially only on the Combat variant), and slanted rear slide serrations are all elements of the CZ 85 that were eventually added to the CZ 75 to make the “Transitional” CZ 75 pistols during the early 1990s.
- Production commenced 14 June 1985.
- Produced in three variations, Standard, Combat and Lux although there are no external roll marks to distinguish each model. The “Combat” name was actually meant as designated for sports shooting.
- Standard - fixed ramp style front (originally staked on all models) and rear sights with rounded trigger guard like the CZ 75 of the era.
- Combat - fixed ramp style front sight with elevation-windage adjustable rear sight (initially turret shaped), squared-off, front “combat” trigger guard and adjustable over travel trigger. The windage adjustment screw for the rear sight was located on the top of the slide’s rear serrations, looking almost like the future firing pin block pin.
- Lux - fixed ramp style front sight with elevation-windage adjustable rear sight (initially turret shaped), rounded trigger guard like the CZ 75 and adjustable over travel trigger.
- The rounded trigger guard shape was dropped around 1989 and all three models used the “combat” style trigger guard henceforth.
- Although there are samples of early 85 pistols with “Cal. 9 para” roll mark on the slide, the CZ 85 started the use of “Cal. 9 Luger” on the slide that became the current roll mark with the appearance of the CZ 75 B.
- Around 1994 (?), the firing pin block was introduced to create basically a two variant model with the CZ 85B having the pin block and the CZ 85 Combat with fully adjustable rear sight and without the firing pin block. The ring hammer is seen on some samples as early as 1992.
- During the late 90s and as part of the Czech national police tender for updated 9mm pistols, there was limited production of CZ 85 BD, CZ 85 Semi-compact and CZ 85 D Compact models. Many of the surplus 85s can be seen without the right-side slide stop/release lever.
- Finishes during the production years included the standard black lacquer, glossy blue, satin nickel, and dual tone.
- Lowest observed SN is a four-digit 001xx. Last observed with this SN scheme is 081xx in 1988. In 1989, a new alphanumeric SN scheme is introduced and comprised of four-digits preceded by a letter. The first observed number is A14xx. By 2004, all CZ firearms started using one uniform SN scheme with a letter pre-fix (starting with “A”) plus six-digits in sequential order.
- Discontinued in 2016.
- Deep acknowledgement and thanks to the Pazdera book, “Legenda jmenem CZ” for much of the historical information contained here.
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