**Last modified Jan 2023**The format will change here to focus only on highlights as most of us will be more familiar with current production.
Notable changes:
*New serial number scheme introduced starting with “A” followed by six digits. This is applied across all production regardless of model. This ends the use of a unique numbering scheme for each model (eg., CZ75, CZ85, CZ83, etc.).
*Proof and year marks relocated along with new CIP proof and additional roll marks on frame. Exported firearms begin to have new proof marks while dropping the CIP and Czech specific proof marks.
- It is often asked whether the Czech military used the CZ 75B/BD pistols during the post-communist era. At the bottom of this page is a link to a Czech Army document in PDF to indicate it was considered a standard arm but only used by special and military police units.
2000:- Double action only models in 9 mm and .40 S&W are brought into the USA in limited quantities. Per the Pazdera book, only 100 each in 9mm and .40 S&W were brought into the USA.
- A small quantity of surplus pistols with BD Police on the slide are offered up for sale
- The BDs still use the small decocker lever but will soon have it replaced by a larger one that is the current standard across metal framed decocker models.
- Production of the single-action CZ 75 B SA begins with introduction in 2001. Variants in 9x21 mm, .40S&W and without the firing pin block were developed but never released for production.
- Observed serial number range for 9x19mm pistols: APxxx - AVxxx.
DAO model. Sights and internals updated with CGW reach-reduction.
2001:- Example of factory SAO pistol with rubber grips, upswept beaver tail and 10 rounds-limit magazine
2004:- New serial numbering scheme started with the letter “A” followed by six digits. This serial numbering is now shared across all models and not just with the CZ 75 B. Some of the non-75 pistols produced during 2004 used their own scheme until the changeover.
- Per the Pazdera book, Legenda jmenem CZ, the CZ 75 SP-01 / CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical started production in 2004 after the marketing department came up with specs for a large capacity, high reliability, exceptional accuracy and robust pistol for police and military special forces in 2002. Prototypes were built in 2003. A few changes were made for production such as dropping the ambi-slide stop/release and revising the shape of the rail.
2006:.
- Appears to be the last year in which the proof and year are marked on an oval-shaped dimple above the extractor. The oval will still be featured but bears no markings inside. The year proof will move on to the slide ahead of the ejection port.
- In 2005, the CZ 75 SP-01 was used as the base for a sport shooters pistol without the firing pin block (consulted with Angus H, Adam Tyc and other experts in the firearms field). The CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow was introduced in 2006.
2008:- The oval above the extractor is dropped although exceptions show up. The N-Lion proof mark inside the dimple on the right side of the trigger guard also appears to have ceased being used although the dimple in blank form continues.
2011:- An early CZ 75 SP-01 Phantom (Czech Army) with Czech military proof. Would originally have been assigned to the rapid deployment brigade in 2012. In Spring 2020, the Czech military signed a new firearms contract for over 20,000 P-10 series pistols for its inventory by 2025. Although a large contract for Phantoms was signed and delivered during 2015-2016 as the standard firearm of the Czech military, it appears that the Phantom will eventually become secondary to the P-10 series.
2013:- The Shadow Line pistols are introduced in 2013. A further development of the sport shooting concept, three models are refined as CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Line, CZ 75 Shadow Line and CZ 75 Compact Shadow Line. Notable external features are a different hammer, no firing pin block, ambidextrous safeties, different sights and aluminum grips marked as Shadow Line. Nickel-plated magazines are supplied. These are intended for the European market but some are brought into the US market on occasion. A link to an article by David Pazdera (Legenda jmenem CZ) can be found below.
http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2206
2014:- First CIP specific proof mark appear on CZUB firearms.
2017:- Additional proof mark that is non-CIP shows up on pistols for export to non-CIP market (eg., USA).
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2020:- At some point with the Exxxxxx serial numbers, the country of origin on the frame was modified to "Made in Czech Republic, CZ" and added the logo in front of it.
- Exports to USA (non- CIP member) begin to drop the Czech lion and CIP proof marks with just the triangular one with C over CZ instead (see 2017 photo above).
One can surmise it being an effort to reduce the demand on CIP proof capacity for firearms intended for export to non-CIP markets, especially for the size of the USA market that has surged and now account for 2/3rds of the CZ Group’s sales.
Service with the Czech military:Only with special and military police units although from observations and discussions, the Glock 17 is still the primary side arm of the airborne and military police units. Some B models were delivered to the Czech army in 1998. The BD model was only delivered to the military police in 2006. These had the front serrations, one-piece, rubber Hogue grips with finger grooves, magazines with rubber base plates, tritium sights and lanyard loop. Some of those features can be seen in the 2017 photo below that was taken at a Czech military display.
The Phantom was introduced into the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade in 2012 but only became the standard pistol with a contract for 5,500 SP-01 Phantoms approved in late 2015. However, a larger contract for 21,000 of the P-10 family of pistols was let in April 2020 and seems to indicate it’ll supersede the Phantom as the primary sidearm. See link below for 2007 document (Czech language).
http://www.army.cz/assets/files/9334/zbrane_definit.pdfCzech Army military police with CZ 75B(D?), 2017.
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