75 pre-B markings

[pilot1950]

Gentlemen,

Would appreciate your feedback on these markings on a recently acquired 75 pre-B.  I guess I can convince myself that the numbers are (92) with the (2) being poorly stamped.  What's the marking to the left?  Looks like a capital letter (N) with a bug crawling on it !!  ;-))  Maybe this is a standard marking that I've just not seen.

As you can tell, I'm new to the CZ's but completely hooked, so thought I'd throw this out to those who have been here a long time.  Thanks for a great site.  I've already learned a lot.

Can't seem to post a picture (maybe I'm too new here) so here's a photobucket link to the pic.

http://s233.photobucket.com/user/pilot1950/library/CZ75%20Pre-B

[Sheepdog]

Yes,

92=year the gun was made. The "2'' was just poorly stamped. It happens.

The other is actually a lion super imposed over the letter "N". It's simply a Czech proof mark. The lion has long standed as a symbol of the Czech Republic and it's former iterations.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Czech_Republic And the "N" means it was test fired with nitro powders (modern, smokeless powder). Which is most smokeless, modern gunpowder is "N"itrocellulose enriched.

Significance of proof marks:
http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/testing-firearms-proof-test.html

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You can drop the check in the mail.

[Radom]

Yep.  The second digit on both of my Type A pistols are also poorly struck.  Probably a coincidence, but if anyone else has noticed this I would appreciate the feedback. 

In particular, the Bauska import would be difficult to read if I hadn't known it had to be a "6" or "7," just because of the importer.  I've always called it an '86, just because whatever that second digit is, I can't imagine it's a 7!   

[Psyop96]

Seen the same with the 4 on an 84 Bauska. The serial no. suggests it is an 84. As a side note, the Czechs write the number 1 in a fashion that looks like an odd 7 to us but they don't use that style with the serial numbers.

[Radom]

Seen the same with the 4 on an 84 Bauska. The serial no. suggests it is an 84. As a side note, the Czechs write the number 1 in a fashion that looks like an odd 7 to us but they don't use that style with the serial numbers.

Do you know the date ranges on the Bauska imports?  Everything I had read lead me to believe that they were all '86-'87.  What I have always assumed had to be a "6" could really be a "5."  I was aware of the 1/7 misidentification issue, but again I thought that any Bauska would have to be a "7" rather than a "1." 

[Psyop96]

Unfortunately, I haven't been able find anything concrete either on the date range for the Bauskas. This 84 has a serial in the 11xxxx range.

[Radom]

Unfortunately, I haven't been able find anything concrete either on the date range for the Bauskas. This 84 has a serial in the 11xxxx range.

Thread Drift Alert:  I also haven't been able to confirm that the BATF fined Bauska out of existence.  Any info on that? 

[pilot1950]

Thanks Sheepdog.  Would never have guessed that to be a lion LOL !!  I learned something today.

Yes,

92=year the gun was made. The "2'' was just poorly stamped. It happens.

The other is actually a lion super imposed over the letter "N". It's simply a Czech proof mark. The lion has long standed as a symbol of the Czech Republic and it's former iterations.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Czech_Republic And the "N" means it was test fired with nitro powders (modern, smokeless powder). Which is most smokeless, modern gunpowder is "N"itrocellulose enriched.

Significance of proof marks:
http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/testing-firearms-proof-test.html

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You can drop the check in the mail.

[Sheepdog]

You're welcome.

In your defense. It doesn't look much like a lion.