CZ-85

I just got this beauty, a 1989 CZ-85 with the parkerized finish. The CZ-85 is the same gun as the CZ-75, but it has ambidextrous safety and slide release, and I am a southpaw. It has a really nice trigger for a DA auto, and even the DA pull is as good as some of my revolvers. It's built like a tank, come to think about it, it may be built from old melted down panzers. I got it on GB, from CDIsales. They handle a lot of surplus and currently have quite a bit of Israeli LE guns, which this is likely one. They take quite a few pics of their guns, so you can get a good idea of what you're getting. One bad thing is on their pics, the computer doesn't replicate the color of the arms well, this gun looked blue-grey, but I knew what color it would be. Black guns look deep navy blue. I'd recommend them, they want their customers happy. Next week: my surplus Jericho.

I purchased a nib CZ85DB in 9mm. It was in the used handgun case still unshot with all the papers and the orginal box. I waited many decades to purchase a pistol in 9mm. Every test and comparison they do on 9mm pistols the cz75 comes out as number 1. I like the DA first shot too. Don't pass these up. Now I have a pistol that my left hand can fully operate. So if your looking for a quality, a dependable, reliable pistol in 9mm Luger/parabellium the cz75/85 is it.

Don't forget to look at the cz82/83 also. These compact DA CZ pistols are tops in quality too.

I had one of these a few years ago, and found it to be the most accurate 9mm that I had ever shot. The only negative for me was that even in single action mode, squeezing the trigger caused the hammer to cock just a bit further and so there was a heavier pull initially before the trigger released. I found this disconcerting as compared to a true SA like the 1911. On the plus side, it was tightly fitted and the quality seemed very high.

wbraswell said:

I just got this beauty, a 1989 CZ-85 with the parkerized finish. The CZ-85 is the same gun as the CZ-75, but it has ambidextrous safety and slide release, and I am a southpaw. It has a really nice trigger for a DA auto, and even the DA pull is as good as some of my revolvers. It's built like a tank, come to think about it, it may be built from old melted down panzers. I got it on GB, from CDIsales. They handle a lot of surplus and currently have quite a bit of Israeli LE guns, which this is likely one. They take quite a few pics of their guns, so you can get a good idea of what you're getting. One bad thing is on their pics, the computer doesn't replicate the color of the arms well, this gun looked blue-grey, but I knew what color it would be. Black guns look deep navy blue. I'd recommend them, they want their customers happy. Next week: my surplus Jericho.

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I own both the CZ 75 & CZ85. bought the 75 for the 22 caliber
Kadet conversion. The CZ 85 is one of my favorite 9mm hand guns.

BigBill said:

I like the DA first shot too.

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For some unknown reason, the DA first shot on my 75 PCR, is the most most consistently accurate handgun shooting I do at 7 yards.

The pre B CZ-85 is one of my favorites along with the SS CZ-75B and CZ Kadet.

Recently had a mishap while firing my CZ-85 (Pre B Model) where the right side slide release lever sheared off, after contacting CZ-USA found out they do not offer a replacement part anymore and the new CZ-85 has a different slide release that wont interchange.

Found out that a few years ago CZ would modify the older pre B Model 85 to use the new parts under warranty as its a known issue in that model but after contacting them they said its no longer free and quoted me around $575 to repair it (No thanks).

I havent looked into the exact mod but IIRC it involves drilling the frame to allow the new style slide release pin to fit,
When I do the mod will probably go to a CZ-75 slide release and eliminate the right side lever altogether .

Engine49guy said:

The pre B CZ-85 is one of my favorites along with the SS CZ-75B and CZ Kadet.

Recently had a mishap while firing my CZ-85 (Pre B Model) where the right side slide release lever sheared off, after contacting CZ-USA found out they do not offer a replacement part anymore and the new CZ-85 has a different slide release that wont interchange.

Found out that a few years ago CZ would modify the older pre B Model 85 to use the new parts under warranty as its a known issue in that model but after contacting them they said its no longer free and quoted me around $575 to repair it (No thanks).

I havent looked into the exact mod but IIRC it involves drilling the frame to allow the new style slide release pin to fit,
When I do the mod will probably go to a CZ-75 slide release and eliminate the right side lever altogether .

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Wow, that really stinks. I really like CZ pistols, and I own 3 of them - a CZ-70, a CZ-75, and a CZ-82. Shortly after acquiring the CZ-75, I called CZ's customer service line to ask about the possibility of buying extra barrels in different calibers so I could shoot 9mm out of a .40S&W pistol. The Customer Service rep laughed at me and said while it was theoretically possible to do so, I just needed to quit being so cheap and buy a new pistol in the desired caliber. CZ is known for their fine products, but not so much for their customer service.

Regards,

Dave

I love them. I was fortunate enough to get one in an auction (proxybid) where it was item #1 in a 1000+ item auction. I bid $325 and I was the only bid. It was brand new in the box. It was 9 x 21 mm and I kept the barrel and got a new 9 x 19 mm barrel for it. I bought some new grips (rosewood) from Thailand. It has the best ergonomics for me of any gun I have owned.

Congratulations!
Jim

Now, I've got to find a magazine that fits. It came with only one, and I'd like at least one more. The B mags won't go, and I'm really not too big on filing on it to make them fit. There seems to be a lot of different views about what fits in it. I've heard the PC 10 rounders for the B will fit, and that mags for the SP-01 fit, but I don't know. I guess I'll just have to go to a big gun show and take my pistol to find out. CZ mags are close to $50, online. Sure would be nice to find a cheaper alternative.

I can't quite make out your serial number but it looks like it starts with a C. Mine is C47xx (1993) and the 16 round MecGars from Greg Cote work fine.

andyo5 said:

I had one of these a few years ago, and found it to be the most accurate 9mm that I had ever shot. The only negative for me was that even in single action mode, squeezing the trigger caused the hammer to cock just a bit further and so there was a heavier pull initially before the trigger released. I found this disconcerting as compared to a true SA like the 1911. On the plus side, it was tightly fitted and the quality seemed very high.

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Buy the slightly cheaper CZ75B Omega. Much crisper trigger, non of the DA cocking you mention when firing SA. Also includes a regular safety and a decocker, you decide which one you want to use, takes two minutes to swap over. Bought mine from Buds last month for $490. Great shooting gun.

Love CZ's. Own I think 6 right now. My CZ 75 BD Police is still my favorite. The SP01 is nice too, but still prefer the 75. Oops make that 7, forgot the CZ 1911 A1. If you find one for sale buy it! Only 1000 made and haven't sent one for sale in months.

Used to own one back about 5 years ago. Came with adjustable night sights. Was a nice gun. Couldn't get used to the small slide. Ended up trading for something else.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

MikeR90S said:

I can't quite make out your serial number but it looks like it starts with a C. Mine is C47xx (1993) and the 16 round MecGars from Greg Cote work fine.

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Mine doesn't have a letter prefix, it's 078xx. I said in the OP that it is 89, but it's 1988. From what I get, a gun as late as your 93 usually take the B mags, does yours have the squared trigger guard? The mag in my Jericho 941FL won't go in the CZ.

MikeR90S said:

I can't quite make out your serial number but it looks like it starts with a C. Mine is C47xx (1993) and the 16 round MecGars from Greg Cote work fine.

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I think that 93 is when the magwell opened enough to allow for modern mags.

I have a 92 (75, not 85), and it's too tight for them. Mine has the round trigger guard.

Of note, I bought a 3 pack of the SP-01 mags (either 18 or 19 rd) from CZ, and those do fit and work perfectly. They hang out the bottom, but come with a spacer that fits flush. Not really a spacer, but the base extends up the mag. The base rides flush. It looks a lot like an 8 rd mag in a 1911.

I bought the 3 pack when it was on sale for about $100, they usually run that deal fairly often.
Added- I bought another 75 for my son, so he won't steal mine. It is an 89. The SP01 mags also fit his

I HATE to recommend the following, but just to be fair:

the CZ USA website now lists 16 rd mags for the Pre B 75/85, although they are a little steep ($43 apiece). They have a rubber base, not the metal base the old ones have.
Added- not really sure what the material is, actually, it looks rubber or plastic. Basically, it most closely resembles the base on a newer Beretta mag, or for a 3rd gen S&W; there is some extension, instead of the flat piece of metal that would seat flush like the old CZ mags do.

I did a google search to see if anyone else has them, and I did find another place, for less: Cheaper Than Dirt. They have the identical mag, specified for pre B, for $32.29.

I, like many, despise what CTD did during the ammo shortage, but it might still be the best price you can find. Before you swear that they will rob you with shipping: just for fun (and to check the price for this thread), I logged in, placed 2 in my cart, and started the checkout so I could estimate shipping.
It came back with $6 s/h using UPS SurePost 7-10 day.

In other words, 2 new 16 rd mags for $70 total.

Final edit: the product code is the same for the CTD and CZ USA mags, it is the same mag.

Yeah scoobysnacker, I've been doing the search for them, and saw the CTD price. I'll be going to the Ft. Worth on Oct. 1st, and I'll go in the CTD store there, and see if they have them in stock, plus I'll be going to a gun show first and may get lucky there. I think the CZ# is 11114, for those mags.

Here's my 85 Combat:



I bought it from CZ Custom and had them do a trigger job and install a whoop-de-do hammer before it went out to me. Great handgun. I had never owned a CZ handgun before, and now because of this one I have three.