CZ 75 Pre B

[BB57]

Our local Camping World sells firearms and they stock surplus firearms from CAI. I’ve found a couple nice Berettas in .32 ACP and .380 ACP over the last year.

They also have a steady flow of surplus S&W and Colt revolvers as well as the occasional Speed Six and Security Six. I’ve always passed on the, however as they are well worn and over priced for their condition.

However this weekend I found a very nice CZ 75 Pre-B. It’s major fault was the hideous set of Houge grips that had degraded to a sticky, gummy goo. I suspect that was Cosmoline induced as there were still liberal amounts of it under the grips. Fortunately, I had a set of Uncle Mikes CZ 75 grips. These are the last of eight Uncle Mikes Hi Power and CZ 75 grips I bought from a clearance bin at a Gander mountain for $5 each a decade or so ago.

CZ 75 B magazines are reported not to fit in the Pre-B pistols, at least without some minor alteration to the frame, but my CZ 75 SP 01 magazines all fit just fine. If it ever stops raining I’ll take it out shooting and confirm they function properly.

 

[Walter Rego]

Interesting gun. I know some people don't like the term "transitional" but that may be the best way to describe it. The B models had a firing pin safety. And a squared off trigger guard, burr hammer and pinned front sight.
Your gun still has the "pre-B" style trigger guard and slide stop & safety lever. But it has some B features too like the hammer and front sight and angled cocking serrations. The lanyard ring may indicate that it was some type of police contract gun.

What is the date code above the extractor ?

 

[.38SuperMan]

I bought a pre B in the early 90’s when they were hard to find. I had it converted to singe action and Bomar sights installed. It was exceptionally accurate and reliable.

 

[schutz5]

Nice pistol!
Lucky you have those vintage grips!
If the trigger is gritty,just do some polishing inside.
Mosinvirus has a good YouTube vid on his pre B.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have a very nice CZ75 from way back when and and the Czechs were commies and you couldn't import their guns to the US. Mine came thru the back door thru Canada. The barrel has very deep, very square rifling and the thing is very accurate indeed. Mine has a standard hammer and I had to shorten the spur slightly as it kept biting me.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Great pistols with a cult like following. What year is your Pre-B? The date is stamped behind the ejection port.

 

[old tanker]

The CZ75 is as good as everyone says it is. Mine came from the Grafenwöhr Rod & Gun Club forty some years ago and has gone through a boatload of GI M882 ball in the late 80's just before I retired. Very comfortable in the hand, it feels a lot like a Browning Hi-Power but with an SA/DA option, an easier to use safety and a very good trigger.

It is reliable and accurate. The Czechs know how to build guns that work and doing just that for a long time.

 

[BB57]

Interesting gun. I know some people don't like the term "transitional" but that may be the best way to describe it. The B models had a firing pin safety. And a squared off trigger guard, burr hammer and pinned front sight.
Your gun still has the "pre-B" style trigger guard and slide stop & safety lever. But it has some B features too like the hammer and front sight and angled cocking serrations. The lanyard ring may indicate that it was some type of police contract gun.

What is the date code above the extractor ?

I don’t like the transitional language either, as some features on pistols like the CZ that were often sold under contract to police departments or militaries often varied based on what was specified by the buyer, not by date. The FEG P9 and first gen P9M pistols are another example of this. You’ll see P9s with some first gen P9M features but it’s not a “transition” issue at all, just what the customer specified.

They also had an earlier date code pre B with spur hammer and older sights, but it’s condition was a bit rougher. It also had the common for the type and era badly chipped baked enamel finish. It would however be a good candidate for cerakote.

The date code on this one is hard to read.

Given what’s there plus the M prefix my best guess is that it dates from 1992.

I took it as a given that it was a police or military contract pistol, even though there are no property marks. It could have been a commercially sold contract over run, but that’s a lot less likely as it’s a CAI imported pistol and they most likely bought a batch of surplus pistols.

 

[Walter Rego]

Here is my CZ-75. It has a 92 date code and the serial number has a K prefix. It has the uncommon matte finish rather than the polymer coating that most of the Action Arms imports of that period had. I also bought a Kadet .22 Adapter Kit for it back in 2000 which provides a lot of fun and is cheap to shoot with my hoard of pre-panic priced .22 ammo.

 

[bill-in-texas]

Here is my CZ-75. It has a 92 date code and the serial number has a K prefix...

Walter, that's fine CZ 75 you have, sir. Also, it's a good example of a very late production CZ 75. (I'm a little green with envy!)

I agree that BB57 has an example from 1992, based on what can be discerned from the date stamp. 92 is also consistent with known serial numbers. It's another example I would be proud to have in my stable!

I have a 93-marked example that, so far, is the lowest SN'd example of a CZ 75 B that has surfaced. It is unusual in that it bears no import roll mark, is high polish blue, and is marked "Czech Made" as a few early examples were.

Incidentally, I have an Action Arms, Ltd. import "transitional" CZ 75. It bears a 94 date stamp, SN S4xxx.

-Bill

SN N2xxx, dated 93

 

[Old_Cop]

My pre B is marked 84, has the black enamel finish and was imported by Bauska Kalispell, MT. There is no letter prefix on the SN 1113XX. Slide is marked Made in Czechoslovakia.

 

[sikacz]

I have a few CZ:s, not pre-B, but still nice. Wonderful shooting guns. One is a 75B stainless that mostly has a 22 Kadet conversion kit on it and a CZ 85 Combat. Fun pairing to bring to the range.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Here's my 85 Combat (post-B?) a short lived variant of the 75 for pistol games that didn't have the firing pin block, and had an adjustable rear sight, ambidextrous safety and slide release, and employed drop-free magazines.

I ordered it directly from CZ Custom several years ago, and had them do a trigger job and put on their whoop-te-do hammer before sending it to my FFL.

It's great; man-sized, but not very heavy. Shoots reliably and accurately. I'd rather have a decocker than the safeties, and I semi-understand that's possible. However I've learned not to mess with a good thing - took me a while, though. I think it's rare today, since you can't call a pistol "combat" without a rail and a tv on top.

 

[hardknocks]

CZ 75B

My CZ 75B Omega
So many choices with CZ.
Currently with decocker installed.
I like it.

 

[sikacz]

Here's my 85 Combat (post-B?) a short lived variant of the 75 for pistol games that didn't have the firing pin block, and had an adjustable rear sight, ambidextrous safety and slide release, and employed drop-free magazines.

I ordered it directly from CZ Custom several years ago, and had them do a trigger job and put on their whoop-te-do hammer before sending it to my FFL.

It's great; man-sized, but not very heavy. Shoots reliably and accurately. I'd rather have a decocker than the safeties, and I semi-understand that's possible. However I've learned not to mess with a good thing - took me a while, though. I think it's rare today, since you can't call a pistol "combat" without a rail and a tv on top.

The ambidextrous safety and slide release are great on the 85 Combat. I shoot left handed misty. Out of my two 9mm CZ’s the Combat shoots better in my hands. It’s pro say lot to do with the sights. My stock 75B sights are not adjustable or as easy to get a sight picture.

 

[bill-in-texas]

I finally got around to getting my two oldest CZs together for a picture.

-Bill

Early (93) CZ 75 B with (94) “Transitional” Model

 

[kaaskop49]

I recently saw/heard an opinion from a gun channel on YouTube (can't recall which) that the full-size, steel frame 9mm semi-auto is an obsolete concept. I cannot agree. My CZ 75 shares my viewpoint. It handles all types of 9mm ball, some of which do not function reliably in other guns. I also have the lightweight/compact model, so I have the best of both worlds.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. Then again, revolvers are considered obsolete for "business" but I like them also.

 

[growr]

I sure miss my CZ 75 (not B) that was stolenin 2020, (SN H1985)....got it in Kalispell Montana in a pawn shop there for $150.00, long before CZ's were well known.
It would not accept "B" magazines however, yes it was an early one.

Randy

 

[bill-in-texas]

I recently saw/heard an opinion from a gun channel on YouTube (can't recall which) that the full-size, steel frame 9mm semi-auto is an obsolete concept...

Yes. Obsolete.

PM me for my address. I will gladly accept all of these obsolete pistols! Lol

-Bill

 

[Poffmuis]

Pre B

I recently inherited my late father's CZ 75 that he bought in 1979 (I have the original stamped license) - the serial number is numbers only and I'm trying to figure out year of manufacture. For an old weapon it is incredible, way more accurate than my Glock 17 and extremely sturdy.