Author Topic: All blue 85 Combat  (Read 5526 times)

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Offline Flip18

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All blue 85 Combat
« on: August 10, 2018, 08:50:09 AM »
Hello....I have an all blue 85 Combat that I purchased new in 2004. Thinking of doing some things to it, most easily visible will be sights.
Is the blue to scarce to modify? Should I just leave her alone? I have made such mistakes before...?


Thanks for info/opinions.

Offline larryflew

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2018, 09:32:45 AM »
All the "glossy blue" CZ models are hard to find.  IMO they are the best looking of the CZ finishes and wish they where still offered.
When did it change from "We the people" to "screw the people"?

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Larry

Minnesota shooter
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NRA life since the 70's
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Offline DeanD

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2018, 06:52:19 PM »
I would find a polymer finished one to modify.  The blued one is worth a LOT more and very hard to find.

Offline bang bang

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2018, 12:27:55 PM »
heres the thing.  Its your toy.  who cares what you do to it.  Unless you are worried about OPO?

many people take a rare toy and putz around with it.  Many people will feel its not right, but there are those that feel, if its mine, i can do what i want.

IF you want to sell it later, you can.  But consider if you want to putz with it and you want to get the most money out of it, then you may want to sell it now and get a used or newer gun to putz with.   If the quality of your work is top notch then some wont care what you do, but some people walk on water in their own minds too.  you state you have made that mistake before.  I would hope you learned from it?

If you are going to do have a competent gunsmith work on it, then you should be fine.   Just a note even a competent gunsmith and screw up too.  its happened.  But one other thing to consider is that if all you are going to do is to swap out sights, then i would keep the OEM and when you decide to sell that gun, just put it in the box so the new owner can decide if they want it OEM its available to swap back.  But if you start to make physicall mods where its not OEM, then dont expect to get top $$$ for it.  I go by if it can be put back as OTS, then its not a big deal to me what mods were done.  But once you start going beyond that, then to me and how i collect guns, its lost its value.


Offline DeanD

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2018, 10:37:36 PM »
Although I would hesitate to alter a polished blue one I don't think any CZ-75 or 85 will have a huge collectible dollar value.  If the work is well done it could be better than stock.  I have a rare German Frankonia customized 1985 CZ-75 that is altered all to hell, adjustable revolver rear sight, hard-chromed frame, etc. and it is actually worth a LOT of money because it is rare in it's current form and a hell of a shooter. 

The Guardian

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2018, 10:50:18 PM »
Hello....I have an all blue 85 Combat that I purchased new in 2004. Thinking of doing some things to it, most easily visible will be sights.
Is the blue to scarce to modify? Should I just leave her alone? I have made such mistakes before...?

Thanks for info/opinions.

Can't really tell from your post what, ".....do some things to it", means in its entirety.  That said if the bluing is nice I would keep it......but if its seen better days then anything goes.  As far as CZ's go, blued ones in really nice condition are more difficult to come by, hence more desirable......that doesn't necessarily translate into a windfall of added value, though a bit of added value is reasonable to expect.

Offline Walt Sherrill

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2018, 07:35:28 PM »
I owned a couple of gloss-blued 85 Combats back in the early late 90s or early 2000s.  While the high-gloss guns are, in fact, quite gorgeous, like all gloss-blue guns, they can show every minor mark or scratch, and keeping them nice takes more work than I was (and AM) willing to provide. 

I still have my original satin nickel CZ-85 Combat, bought in '97 or '98, and it's probably got more than 10K rounds down the barrel, and it looks almost like the day I got it.  You just have to clean the satin nickel finish once in a great while with Flitz polish (which was what CZ-USA recommended back then.)

Offline Flip18

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2018, 08:45:23 AM »
You are definitely correct on the blue needing a lot of love. But nothing looks as nice IMO. Have countless rnds shot, and the edges and such are starting to show wear. Also in and out of a holster years back. Adds character.

Offline Walt Sherrill

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2018, 09:27:10 AM »
High Gloss Blue is certainly handsome,  but high maintenance.  The Satin Nickel is arguably almost as handsome, but not nearly so difficult to maintain.   (Small, handling "boo-boos" don't show up.  I've had this gun for almost 20 years, and there's  still not any kind of serious mark or scratch to be seen in the finish.   (A matte stainless would be my next choice, but even that can be marked pretty easily.



A high gloss stainless can be a pain, too.  Here's a Sphinx 2000P (cCompact)  I had some years ago... It doesn't show as SHINEY as it was in this photo, but it was a bit like a High Gloss Blue gun:


Offline bang bang

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2018, 02:27:43 AM »
You are definitely correct on the blue needing a lot of love. But nothing looks as nice IMO. Have countless rnds shot, and the edges and such are starting to show wear. Also in and out of a holster years back. Adds character.

Honest wear is fine in my book.  Abuse isnt.  But an abused toy can be modded without much guilt.

I personally love blue, but when it comes to finishes, SS is what i like next.  Its a PIA if you scratch it, but again, honest wear.  My first CZ is more or less what you have but not the combat version.  The grip straps are thinning, but again, honest wear.   I still take it out from time to time since its my 1st CZ and its one that will never be sold.


Offline Walt Sherrill

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Re: All blue 85 Combat
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2018, 11:09:48 AM »
Quote from: bang bang
I personally love blue, but when it comes to finishes, SS is what i like next.  Its a PIA if you scratch it, but again, honest wear.  My first CZ is more or less what you have but not the combat version.  The grip straps are thinning, but again, honest wear.   I still take it out from time to time since its my 1st CZ and its one that will never be sold.

After having owned several highly polished stainless or nickel-plated handguns (a Python and a Sphinx P2000 among them), I much prefer the CZ Satin Nickel finish.   I've had my Satin Nickel 85 Combat since the late 90's and it still looks pretty much like new. (I also had a Satin Nickel 75 Compact, but traded it away after a year or so.)   
 
CZ's Satin Nickel is a very durable finish and very low upkeep -- maybe a little Flitz once in a great while when the finish will darken just a little in the areas where your hand is regularly in contact. Flitz cleans THAT up mostly through chemical action -- so there's less abrasion than most polishes.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2018, 02:04:46 PM by Walt Sherrill »