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Author Topic: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?  (Read 4799 times)

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Offline ottergt

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Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« on: March 21, 2015, 10:37:55 PM »
Hi everyone...I was hoping you could help me find out more info on the 1987 CZ85 I just picked up (014xx).  I was perusing the Unadvertised Specials from Century, and found a "CZ85 - 2 Tone - VG condition".  No pics, but I decided to roll the dice on it.  What I found when I opened the box was this:







It has some wear, but seems to function OK (haven't fired it yet).  The frame is is pretty bright but is not polished SS (magnet sticks to it).  I wasn't expecting so much bling  8).   I assume the Pachmyers are an add-on.   Not sure if the sight is factory or not. 

I read this article, http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=14699  which mentions a CZ85 Lux...I was not able to find any pics of one though after a bit of Googling.

Is this a Lux?  What finish would've been offered in '87 by the factory?  Is the adjustable sight original?  Or does this 85 just have a lot of mods by the previous owner?  Does CZ restart serial numbers every model year, or do they continue sequentially year to year?  Other than the Century import stamp, I didn't see any other obvious extra markings.  Haven't cleaned it yet, but the DA pull is smooth as butter. 

Anyway, thanks for any help you can provide!

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Otter

2013 P-01 OD Green
1987 CZ85 2-Tone
Scorpion EVO3 S1
VZ61 Skorpion
1990 CZ82
1987 CZ82
VZ2008 rifles (folding stock versions)

Offline 357MAGNOLE

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2015, 10:45:06 PM »
I have only recently started my love affair with CZ... But I am sure someone will come along shortly....

To me it looks like a franken gun... but I think it looks like a functioning piece of art.

Edit* Quick google images search brings up 2 tone CZ 85's
« Last Edit: March 21, 2015, 10:49:52 PM by 357MAGNOLE »
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Offline Tok36

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2015, 10:59:42 PM »
Neat, i would be happy to find that it a box. ;D As stated above, i am sure a forum member knowledgeable in older CZ's will come along and help clear things up.

Gratz on the cool CZ85.
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Offline cntrydawwwg

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Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2015, 11:02:50 PM »
Hmmm. Very purdy[emoji41] I'm not sure, could be a lux. I can't tell from the pics for sure but, if it has an adjustable trigger .......
Adjustable trigger    Check
Adjustable rear sights.   Check
Round trigger guard.      Check
    Grips are after market. I love mine.
    The sights, are they LPA? The factory adjustable sights were LPA.  If they are after market then I'd guess it's a standard 85. Or, the sights have been changed from the LPA. Guess that doesn't help much.
      Not sure about the finish, it looks chrome or nickel. I believe two tones were offered in satin nickel but I'm not positive. Sorry. A call to CZ USA with the serial number may get you more info. And I'm sure someone will be able to answer your questions.
     This link talks about the different finishes.
 http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=14709.0
   Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Edited for mistakes.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2015, 12:13:18 PM by cntrydawwwg »
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Offline steel

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2015, 09:32:38 AM »
The sights look like Millets.


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Offline ottergt

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2015, 10:39:05 AM »
Quote from: cntrydawwwg on March 21, 2015, 11:02:50 PM
Hmmm. Very purdy[emoji41] I'm not sure, could be a lux. I can't tell from the pics for sure but, if it has an adjustable trigger .......
Adjustable trigger    Check
Adjustable rear sights.   Check
Round trigger guard.      Check
    Grips are after market. I love mine.
    The sights, are they LPA? The factory adjustable sights were LPA.  If they are after market then I'd guess it's a standard 85.
      Not sure about the finish, it looks chrome or nickel. I believe two tones were offered in satin nickel but I'm not positive. Sorry. A call to CZ USA with the serial number may get you more info. And I'm sure someone will be able to answer your questions.
     This link talks about the different finishes.
 http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=14709.0
   Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Edited for mistakes.

Is there anyway to id LPA sights from markings?  Useless it's marked on the bottom (requiring removal), I haven't found any mfr name on them.  Could be Millet, as Steel mentioned. 

I'll have to look inside a little better re: the adjustable trigger.  From the history article I mentioned I was under the impression that all CZ85s from that era had and adjustable  triggers.

-Otter
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Otter

2013 P-01 OD Green
1987 CZ85 2-Tone
Scorpion EVO3 S1
VZ61 Skorpion
1990 CZ82
1987 CZ82
VZ2008 rifles (folding stock versions)

Offline ottergt

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2015, 10:46:49 AM »
« Last Edit: March 22, 2015, 11:22:58 AM by ottergt »
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Otter

2013 P-01 OD Green
1987 CZ85 2-Tone
Scorpion EVO3 S1
VZ61 Skorpion
1990 CZ82
1987 CZ82
VZ2008 rifles (folding stock versions)

Offline painter

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2015, 11:14:39 AM »
LPA makes a sight for the old style models if that sight becomes an issue.
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Offline cntrydawwwg

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2015, 12:11:40 PM »
And I just re read the posting by Radom and you're correct. They all had adjustable triggers.
    CZ USA or CZ UB still might be able to tell how that pistol started life out of the factory.   Just because it has an aftermarket sight now, doesn't mean it didn't start out with an LPA on it.
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Offline 357MAGNOLE

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2015, 12:38:48 PM »
Agree with cntrydawg. I'm intrigued to know the history
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CZ 455 Varmit Evolution .22 LR
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Offline Psyop96

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2015, 01:25:06 PM »
Is the front sight staked-in like the original ramp sights of the era? Those serial numbers are sequential year to year. There's a photo of a 1987 pistol with serial no. 01353 in a reference book that I have on Cold War Czechoslovak pistols. Nice to see these older 85s.
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Offline ottergt

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2015, 05:31:15 PM »
Psyop96 -

Just curious, what is the finish on the 85 in the pic from your reference book?  (And what book might that be?) 

The front sight is staked on, no dovetail cut.

I'll be contacting CZ and hopefully they can shed a little light on this gun!  I emailed CZ-USA about something else a while ago and never got a reply, so I'm not holding my breath.
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Otter

2013 P-01 OD Green
1987 CZ85 2-Tone
Scorpion EVO3 S1
VZ61 Skorpion
1990 CZ82
1987 CZ82
VZ2008 rifles (folding stock versions)

Offline Tok36

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2015, 06:24:51 PM »
Quote from: ottergt on March 22, 2015, 05:31:15 PM
Psyop96 -

Just curious, what is the finish on the 85 in the pic from your reference book?  (And what book might that be?) 

The front sight is staked on, no dovetail cut.

I'll be contacting CZ and hopefully they can shed a little light on this gun!  I emailed CZ-USA about something else a while ago and never got a reply, so I'm not holding my breath.

I would suggest calling CZ USA by phone. They are a small shop and get bogged down with emails sometimes.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2015, 05:34:46 PM by Tok36 »
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Offline Psyop96

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2015, 05:22:30 PM »
Cold War Pistols of Czechoslovakia by James D. Brown. The finish appears to be the standard polycoat of the time. Grips appear to be the fully checkered plastic ones of the period as are the sights.
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Offline ottergt

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Re: Vintage CZ85...What did I just buy?
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2015, 06:06:33 PM »
Well, I got a prompt email reply from CZ-USA:

"Hello.  First and foremost not a CZ USA product,  it is clearly a Century Arms import.  So I cannot tell you anything about it?"

I get that it was a longshot, and that my CZ product existed long before CZ-USA existed...but I think the tone was a little  inappropriate.   >:(
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Otter

2013 P-01 OD Green
1987 CZ85 2-Tone
Scorpion EVO3 S1
VZ61 Skorpion
1990 CZ82
1987 CZ82
VZ2008 rifles (folding stock versions)
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