CZ 75
The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Czech firearm manufacturer ČZUB. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original "wonder nines" and features a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel. It is widely distributed throughout the world and is the most common handgun in the Czech Republic.
History
Development of CZ 75
The armament industry was an important part of the interwar Czechoslovak economy and made up a large part of the country's exports. However following the 1948 communist coup d'état, all heavy industry was nationalized and was cut off from its Western export market behind the Iron Curtain. While most other Warsaw Pact countries became dependent on armaments imports from the Soviet Union, most of the Czechoslovak weaponry remained domestic.Following the Second World War, brothers Josef and František Koucký participated to some extent on designing all of CZUB's post-war weapons. Kouckýs signed their designs together, using only the surname, making it impossible to determine which one of them developed particular ideas.
By 1969, František Koucký was freshly retired, however the company offered him a job on designing a new 9×19mm Parabellum pistol. Unlike during his previous work, this time he had a complete freedom in designing the whole gun from scratch. The design he developed was in many ways new and innovative.
Although the model was developed for export purposes, Koucký's domestic patents regarding the design were classified as "secret patents". Effectively, nobody could learn about their existence, but also nobody could register the same design in Czechoslovakia. At the same time Koucký as well as the company were prohibited from filing for patent protection abroad. Consequently, a large number of other manufacturers began offering pistols based on CZ 75 design.
CZ 75 "short rail"
The first CZ 75 models manufactured between 1975 and 1979 were made of forged steel, with a hammer and a hand-finish due to the low cost of labor in socialist Czechoslovakia.In 2026, CZ announced the release of a new version of the CZ75 short rail, called the CZ 75 Legend, which retains the look and short rail design of the original.
Spanish frames
In order to increase its production of CZ75s at a lower cost in order to export them, the Česká Zbrojovka company looked for alternative sources of supply for the manufacture of steel frames for the pistol in the late 1970s. Negotiations on the production of pistols outside Czechoslovakia had already begun in 1977 between Merkuria and the Spanish company Alfa in Eibar. An agreement was reached in 1979 with Alfa to produce cast frames in order to increase production, at the cost of a significant reduction in finishing and lower quality steel compared to the "short rail" models forged in Czechoslovakia.In March 1979, tests on these Spanish cast frames revealed cracks. This resulted in the decision to strengthen the frame and slide for the second generation design due to lower quality steel, thus changing the appearance of the pistol at the rail level, making it longer.
The first cast and manufactured carcasses arrived in Spain in January 1980. Although this cooperation did not meet expectations, it helped CZ to increase its production considerably in the early 1980s. By the mid-1980s, however, CZ had stopped using the Spanish source.
Not satisfied with the Spanish frames, the CZ company managed to perfect their own manufacturing process on a larger scale, developing their own in-house casting facilities, and new guns from this point on were machined from cast frames, a method they still use today.
The pistol was not sold in Czechoslovakia until 1985, when it became popular among sport shooters. It was adopted by the Czech armed forces only after the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
Development of sport variants of CZ 75
The increasing popularity of the IPSC competitions in the Czech Republic led to the inception of CZUB's factory team in 1992. Initially, the sport shooters were using CZ 75s and CZ 85s. Stanislav Křižík designed a new version called CZ 75 Champion already in 1992. This version had a SA trigger, a muzzle brake and adjustable weights. 150 weapons were initially made in 9×19mm Parabellum,.40 S&W and 9×21mm. The design was further modified, however its main shortcoming of the same capacity as the standard CZ 75 magazines remained.The CZ 75 ST and CZ 75 M were introduced in 1998. These had a different frame from standard versions allowing for more modifications. While the ST had become very successful, M was not initially designed for use with red-dot sights, the use of which led to limited lifespan of its frame.
The popular ST version was further developed mostly with aim of prolonging its lifespan, which led to introduction of CZ 75 TS in 2005. It uses a longer barrel and has also a higher weight compared to the standard model. High-capacity magazines may use either 20 of the 9mm rounds or 17 of the.40 rounds. As of 2013, the model is used by the CZUB's factory shooters in the IPSC Standard division, with a custom-made version CZ 75 Tactical Sports Open being also available.
In 2009, the sale of CZ 75 TS Czechmate began. The model is a development of the CZ 75 TS Open, available in 9×19mm Parabellum and 9×21mm with magazine capacity of 20 or 26 rounds. As standard, the gun is sold with US made C-More Systems' red-dot sight. CZUB claims that its factory shooter Martin Kameníček had shot 150,000 rounds through the gun in five years, in which time he only needed to change the barrel once in order to maintain precision.
Design details
The CZ 75 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses the Browning linkless cam locking system similar to that used in the Browning Hi-Power pistol, where the barrel and slide are locked together on firing, using locking lugs milled into the barrel mating with recesses in the roof of the slide. An enclosed cam track integral with the barrel is actuated by the slide release lever's transverse pin. After the first few millimetres of the recoil stroke, the barrel is cammed downwards at the rear, enabling the slide to continue the recoil stroke and eject the spent cartridge.The CZ 75 was one of the first Wonder Nine handguns; most models have double-action/single action triggers and feature a frame-mounted manual safety. This allows the CZ 75 to be carried with the hammer cocked with safety applied and a round chambered, ready for use simply by switching the safety off, a configuration known as condition 1. The hammer must be dropped manually by pulling the trigger while lowering the hammer with the firer's thumb under control to uncock the hammer for a double-action first shot. Once lowered in this manner, a double-action first shot can be achieved in a similar manner to other double-action pistols without actuating any controls. Subsequent shots will be single-action unless the hammer is again manually lowered. Some recent models have a decocking lever that doubles as a manual safety.
The CZ 75's slide rides inside its frame rails rather than outside, similar to the SIG P210. The original models produced from 1975 to 1980 featured a distinctively shorter, 115mm long slide rails. The frames on these first model or "short rail" pistols were forged. Starting in 1980, CZUB modified the design by lengthening the slide rails to 140mm, transitioned to lower cost cast frames, and introduced a "half-cock" safety notch on the hammer to prevent it from inadvertently striking the firing pin during manual manipulation. These changes resulted in the basic mold of all subsequent CZ 75 models.
Starting in the mid-1990s, the CZ 75 was updated to the B model, chiefly with the addition of a firing pin block. Almost all CZ 75 models produced after this time, excepting some competition models, employ this safety feature.
Variants
75 Steel Full Size
;CZ 75 "First Model" or "Short Rail": The original CZ 75, produced from 1975 to 1980 and distinctly marked by the shorter slide rails, forged frame, and lack of a half-cocked hammer position. Total production around 20,000.;CZ 75 "Pre-B": Produced from 1980 to 1993, introduced longer slide rails, cast frame, and half-cocked hammer.
;CZ 75 B: Second-generation CZ 75, produced from 1993 onward. Upgraded with an internal firing pin safety, squared and serrated trigger guard, and ring hammer.
;CZ 75 BD: A variant of the now-common CZ 75 B with a decocker replacing the traditional manual safety.
;CZ-75B SA: A CZ-75 which has a single action trigger mechanism. It was available chambered for 9mm or.40 S&W. Discontinued in 2018.
;CZ 75 BD Police: Variant of the CZ 75 BD equipped with loaded chamber indicator, reversible magazine catch, lanyard ring, checkered front and back strap of the grip and serrated trigger as standard. Most Police models have "Police" stamped on the slide. A smaller amount exclude "Police" but have front slide serrations.
;CZ 75 B Stainless: Stainless steel version of the CZ 75 B. Available in a high gloss and matte stainless finish. Also available in the new/limited edition. All stainless models feature ambidextrous safeties. High gloss and matte models were discontinued in late 2019 / early 2020.
;CZ 75 B Omega : A version of the CZ 75 B with a factory-reworked trigger group, the "Omega" system, introduced with the P-07. It is available chambered for 9 mm or.40 S&W. It has a manual safety that is not ambidextrous.
;CZ 75 B Omega Convertible : An updated version of the previous CZ 75 B Omega. It features a decocker that can be easily converted to a manual safety with the included kit. The decocker and the safety are both ambidextrous.
75 Compact
;CZ 75 Compact: A standard CZ 75 with a slightly shortened grip and 3.75-inch barrel. There is a version available chambered for the.40 S&W cartridge.;CZ 75 D PČR Compact: Very compact – similar to the P-01 in size, with an aluminum alloy frame also but lacks an M3 rail frame and features a smaller muzzle point and snag free sights.
;CZ 75 Semi-Compact: Combines the frame, grip and capacity of the full size CZ 75 with the shortened barrel and slide of the CZ 75 Compact.
;CZ P-01: A CZ 75 Compact variant intended for law enforcement use, with a decocker and under-barrel accessory rail. Original models feature aluminum frames, but some models have steel frames. It became the standard weapon of the Czech National Police in 2002, replacing older CZ 75s. It received NATO certification after undergoing extensive testing. Its NATO Stock Number is 1005-16-000-8619.
;CZ P-01 Omega Convertible: A version of the CZ P-01 with the new Omega trigger system. It features a decocker that can be easily converted to a manual safety with the included kit. The decocker and the safety are both ambidextrous.
;CZ P-06: Same as the P-01 but in.40 S&W
;CZ 40-B/Colt Z-40: Collaboration between Colt/CZ. 1911 style frame made by Colt to use a CZ style slide chambered in.40 S&W. Was the basis of design for the RAMI 2075 series.
;CZ 40-P: After the CZ-40B/Colt Z-40 project fell apart CZ used the left over slides and fit them to P-01 frames and sold as the CZ 40-P in.40 S&W. A small amount of CZ 40-P guns still have the CZ 40-B roll marks.