CZ 75: Information from Answers.com

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CZ 75
A late version of the original CZ 75.
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia Czech Republic
Service history
In service	1976–present
Used by	Czech police and other agencies listed herein.
Production history
Designer	Josef and František Koucký
Designed	1975
Manufacturer	Česká Zbrojovka
Produced	1976–present
Number built	1,000,000⁺ (Oct. 12 2007) ^[1]
Variants	see Variants
Specifications
Weight	1.12 kg (2.47 lb)
Length	206 mm (8.1 in)
Barrel length	120 mm (4.7 in)

Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum .40 S&W
Action	short recoil, tilting barrel
Rate of fire	semi-automatic
Feed system	detachable box magazine
Sights	Front blade, rear square notch

CZ P-01
The CZ P-01
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Czech Republic
Service history
Used by	Czech police
Production history
Designed	1999
Manufacturer	Ceska Zbrojovka
Produced	2002-
Number built	?
Specifications
Weight	0.77 kg (1.7 lb) with empty magazine
Length	184 mm (7.2 in)
Barrel length	98.5 mm (3.9 in)
Width	35 mm (1.4 in)
Height	128 mm (5.3 in)

Caliber	9x19mm Parabellum
Action	short recoil, tilting barrel
Rate of fire	semi-automatic
Feed system	detachable box magazine
Sights	Front blade, rear square notch

The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (CZUB) in the Czech Republic. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original wonder nines featuring a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel.

1 Design details
2 Production
3 Variants
- 3.1 Clones and variants by other manufacturers
4 Service use
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

Design details

The CZ 75 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. Most models have the capability of being fired in both single and double action modes, and feature a frame-mounted manual safety. Some recent models have a decocking lever that doubles as a manual safety. Starting in the late 1980s, all CZ 75s have been made with firing pin blocks, designated by the letter B (as in CZ 75B). Unlike most other semi-auto pistols, the slide rides inside the frame rails rather than outside, similar to the SIG P210. This provides a tight slide-to-frame fit and a very efficient barrel lock-up, which contribute to good accuracy. The CZ 75 was also one of the first high capacity 9mm pistols with a manual safety similar to that of the Model 1935 Browning Hi-Power. This allows the CZ 75 to be carried with the hammer back and a round chambered, ready for use simply by switching the safety off --- a configuration known as condition one. It is somewhat unusual for double-action pistols to have this "cocked and locked" type of safety; most have a combination safety/decocking lever.

Both frame and slide consist of high-quality castings. The 6-groove barrel has traditional land-and-groove rifling with a higher-than-standard rate of twist (1 in 9.7).

Jeff Cooper, a long-time advocate of the Colt 1911, hailed the CZ 75 as the best-designed double-action autoloader available at the time. Because of his endorsement, the design became the basis for the Bren Ten pistol. Česká Zbrojovka claims the CZ 75 is in service with "more Governments, Militaries, Police, and Security agencies than any other pistol in the world."^[2]

Production

Originally designed for export, the CZ 75 entered mass production in 1976. It was not widely available in the U.S. until 1993, when Action Arms began importing it. CZ-USA is now the sole distributor in the United States.

Variants

CZ variants of the CZ 75 include:

CZ 75: The original CZ 75, easily identified by the curved trigger guard and spur hammer, and short slide rails.
CZ 75: Late version, easily identified by longer slide rails, to make up for loss of accuracy due to change in metal composition.
CZ 75B: Second-generation CZ 75 with internal firing pin safety, squared and serrated trigger guard, and ring hammer.
CZ 85: A completely ambidextrous CZ 75 variant.
CZ 85B: Second-generation version of the CZ 85.
CZ 75 Compact: A standard CZ 75 with a slightly shortened grip and 3.9 inch barrel. There is now a version available chambered for the .40 S&W.
CZ 75 PČR Compact: Very compact - similar to the P-01 in size, but lacks an M3 rail frame and features a smaller muzzle point and snag free sights. A popular choice for a carry weapon, known for its inherent accuracy and weight distribution.
CZ 75B SA: A CZ 75 which has a single action trigger mechanism and a drop free magazine. It is available chambered for 9 mm or .40 S&W.
CZ 75 P-01: A CZ 75 Compact variant intended for law enforcement use, with an aluminum alloy frame, decocker and under-barrel accessory rail. It is the new weapon of choice for the Czech National Police. It is one of the few (if not only) NATO classified handguns that is available to the public without modifications. It received NATO certification after undergoing extensive testing. Its NATO Stock Number (NSN) is 1005-16-000-8619. ^[3]

File:CZ-75 SP-01.jpg

CZ-75 SP-01 with extended-capacity magazine

File:CZ-75 SP-01 front side view.jpg

The SP-01 has an integral 1913 accessory rail

CZ 75 P-07 DUTY: The CZ P-07 DUTY is a compact, polymer-framed CZ 75 variant notable for having a redesigned trigger mechanism. The redesign has reduced the number of parts as well as improved the trigger pull. Chambered in 9mm Luger, the CZ P-07 DUTY also includes the ability to change the manual safety to a decocking lever and vice versa through an exchange of parts.
CZ 75 SP-01/SP-01 Tactical: Similar to the P-01 with accessory rail, but with all-steel construction and utilizing the full-size frame and slide as well as incorporating extended-capacity 19 round magazines. It is available with an ambidextrous manual safety (SP-01) or with an ambidextrous decocker (SP-01 Tactical). Used in the 2005 IPSC World Shoot XIV by World Champions Adam Tyc and Angus Hobdell (1st and 3rd place respectively in the production division).^[4]
CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow: New generation of CZ 75 SP-01 pistol especially adapted according to suggestions as proposed by users from Law Enforcement, Military and Police communities worldwide, with an additional input from the Team CZ shooters Angus Hobdell and Adam Tyc. Based on the SP-01, it has no firing pin block resulting in improved trigger travel. It also features a slightly reshaped grip and safety, a “weaker” recoil spring for easier loading, and fiber optic front sight and tactical “Novak style” rear sight.^[5]
CZ 75 SP-01 Phantom: The SP-01 Phantom is a variant of the CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical pistol and has a polymer frame with accessory rail, and a forged steel slide with a weight saving scalloped profile. Two Interchangeable grip rear strap inserts are included with the Phantom to accommodate users with different sized hands. The pistol is further outfitted with a decocking lever.
CZ 75 Compact: Version similar to P-01 with accessory rail, but utilizing a steel instead of alloy frame. In place of P-01's decocker is an ambidextrous manual safety. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
CZ 75 Standard IPSC: A CZ 75 variant designed specifically for IPSC competition with extended grip, single-action trigger, heavy-duty free-falling magazines, and an enlarged magazine well. Now replaced by the CZ 75 Tactical Sport, available in 9x19mm (20 rounds) or .40 S&W (16 rounds).
CZ 75 Champion: A competition version designed for Open Class IPSC competition, with three port compensator, adjustable trigger, extended magazine release, ambidextrous safeties, fully adjustable sights and two-tone finish, with blued slide and satin nickel frame.

File:CZ 2075D Rami r.jpg

The CZ 2075 RAMI subcompact variant designed for concealed carry.

CZ 2075 RAMI: A subcompact version of the CZ 75 intended for concealed carry. Features a 3-inch barrel, aluminum frame and low-profile sights. Available in 9x19mm or .40 S&W, with standard magazine capacities of 10 (9 mm) and 8 (.40 S&W) rounds, respectively. An optional 14-round magazine is available for the 9 mm version.
CZ 75BD: A variant of the now-common CZ 75B (B standing for firing pin Block) with a decocker replacing the traditional manual safety. (D stands for Decocker). This variant is quickly becoming the most common of the CZ 75B models, due to the additional safety the decocker safety provides.
CZ 75 Kadet: A .22 LR calibre version of the CZ 75, available as a complete gun or as a slide/barrel assembly and magazine kit to fit onto a standard CZ 75B frame.
CZ 75 FULL AUTO: A selective-fire variant introduced in 1992 intended for law enforcement and military use. One distinguishing characteristic of earlier models is its longer compensated barrel although later models may have a standard barrel. An extra magazine can be attached to the front to act as a makeshift foregrip.

Clones and variants by other manufacturers

The CZ 75 was and is cloned or its design was and is used by several manufacturers of semi-automatic pistols.

ArmaLite AR-24
Armscor MAP1 & MAPP1
Bren Ten
Canik55 Piranha, Shark
Dornaus and Dixon Bren Ten
EAA Witness Elite Gold
FAMAE FN-750
IMI Jericho 941
ITM AT-84 and AT-88
JSL(Hereford) Ltd Spitfire
Military Industry Corporation Marra and Lado
Norinco NZ-75
Renato Gamba G90
Sarsilmaz M2000
Sphinx Systems Sphinx 2000 and Sphinx 3000
Springfield P9
Tanfoglio TZ-75, T-90 and T-95
Vltor Bren Ten

Service use

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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)

Česká Zbrojovka claims the CZ 75 and variants are in service with "more Governments, Militaries, Police, and Security agencies than any other pistol in the world". It is known to be in service with:

Czech Republic: Police (P-01 variant introduced in 1999)
Chile: Army (manufactured locally by FAMAE as the FN-750, bearing great resemblance with the Chinese-made Norinco clones and with the early Italian Tanfoglio TA-90)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea: (백두산권총, "Baek-Du San pistol", named after the "White-Headed Mountain" on the borders with China)
People's Republic of China: Norinco has produced a copy of the CZ-75
Finland: Customs authorities
Honduras: Policia Nacional Preventiva
Iran: Army (possibly clones made in China by Norinco)
Lithuania: Police
Poland: Military Police (Żandarmeria Wojskowa), Police
Slovenia: Police
Sudan: Army and Police (manufactured locally under license by the Military Industries Corporation, as the full-size "Marra" in 9mm and the compact-size "Lado" in .32 ACP caliber)
Turkey: Police (several clones manufactured locally by factories affiliated with MKEK)
United States: various Police forces