Is this a CZ 75 pre-B? Value??

[Redcoat3340]

My LGS has this for sale and I've had it put on the shelf in my name. I'll be picking it up on the weekend.

But as I'm not terribly familiar with CZs (I just recently picked up a 75 SAO and liked it enough to want DA/SA) I thought I'd ask here.

From a quick peek at the internet I think I have a pre-B in stainless. Yes?

It's got FO front sight; a really sweet trigger breaking around 4 lbs. SA and probably no more than 6 in DA. One sided safety, and the pictures match other pre-B pics I've seen.

They are asking $450 but there may be a bit of wiggle room on price. Bore is good and it's clean.

I'm not wild about the grips but that's easily fixed.

Serial number is Z1756 and I'll be trying to look that up to see if it gives me a clue on date of manufacture.

 

[pharmer]

This 75B is Z 60XX, a little more than 4K away and mid-'90's vintage. I think the pre-B models ended a bit before. The values continue to climb for all 75 models. Joe

 

[dusty3030]

It is a pre B. (no roll pin in the slide in cocking serrations is the give away.)

It isn't stainless. It has either been hard chromed or some type of cerakote.

The front sight has been replaced.

There is some kind of import mark I can't make out on the right side, something Houston TX.

I think $450 is high since so much as been done to it.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

There will be a date in an oval behind the ejection port. We can't see it because of the glare in the photos. That date will tell us more.

 

[growr]

Grab it if you like it!!

I only have 6-7 CZ's

You most likely already know that magazines for the original 75 are slightly different from those of a 75B.

Randy

 

[k22fan]

Among other finishes they used on pre-Bs CZ sold bright chrome into the U.S. civilian market. However, that looks like a mate finish of some kind. There was a flood of inexpensive surplus blued pre-Bs on Gone Broker a while back. Refinish on one of them would not be a surprise. After you get it home it would be nice to see pictures without the glare.

 

[birdshooter]

I am no CZ 75 expert but I always thought the Pre Bs had a round trigger guard like this one. Very likely I am wrong but its a good excuse to share my Pre B.

 

[Redcoat3340]

Many thanks to all who posted. You are most generous with your time and expertise.

So...here's what I think I've learned about this gun (which I will be buying.)

1994 Transitional (between original 75 and 75B). No firing pin block (so no roll pin on the cocking serrations). It ain't stainless. (I should have realized that, it isn't heavy enough ala a 5906). Probably either the polycoat was buffed off (unlikely) or some sort of silver polycoat which has been reported being used in Europe or some sort of Ceracote, but it doesn't feel like that to me. As it has a partial import roll mark "Houston TX" it's probably the European coating.

Made after Jan 1, 1993 as it says "Czech Republic" and as the front sight can be replaced (and was) that further confirms it's a transitional model.

Unfortunately it comes with just one mag. But apparently my 75 SA mags will fit as will current production mags.

So that's about it. More, better pictures when I pick it up on Friday.

I'm liking this one so far.

 

[Texas Star]

The finish looks like their satin nickel. Hard to tell in the photo.

If it wasn't messed with, it's an excellent handgun. Usually, very accurate and reliable, and feels terrific in the hand.

I agree that it needs new grips. Hogue has some nice ones. And I believe that Ahrends does, too.

 

[dusty3030]

I'd say it is an Israeli surplus one that hit the market a few years ago. I searched around and the import mark is Interarms - Houston TX.
The missing first few letters of Interarms means it was buffed out once it got over here and refinished with most likely some type of spray on coating.

Picture example here:
Used Interarms Surplus CZ 75 9mm 16+1 Fair

and here:
Another Israeli Pre-B

 

[robertrwalsh]

I managed to get a CZ-75 ages ago when a guy in Montana managed to get a few from a Canadian importer and sold them before ATF stopped him. At that time they were still commies and their guns couldn't be imported into the U.S. It handles beautifully (if you have a big enough hand, I don't) and is very accurate, much more accurate than I can hold. It was arguably the finest 9mm service pistol built at the time.

 

[scoobysnacker]

There's a couple different CZ forums, I think czfirearms.us is the biggest one. You can get a ton of info there, and there's usually a couple threads on refinishing older pre B's and transitional models (you have the transitional).

Square trigger guard and Czech Republic give that away.

Refinishing- A lot get refinished, because they're nice guns, and very well protected initially... they were parkerized, and then polycoated. Most beaters just have chips on the polycoat, the park underneath is light colored.
People strip the polycoat with airplane paint stripper, then beadblast the park away, and then either do a quick refinish, or polish down and blue them. There's one guy in particular, I forget his name, that has done quite a few rust-blued, and they're gorgeous.

 

[CLASSIC12]

Here is my pre B 1986 made CZ 75 bought last year

Note the 86 for the year of manufacture, however I think they stopped doing that at some point

 

[k22fan]

My 85 Combat is date stamped 2000 and IIRC I've seen later dates. When my 85 was new the model was offered in your choice of polycoat or bright blue at the same price. Later the price of bright blue crept higher than polycoat. Many models were also offered with a silver colored plating. I forget if CZ was still bright plating with chrome at the date or if they'd gone to nickel.

For those who do not know, 75s with ambidextrous safeties are renamed 85s and the name Combat is applied to one of the target variations.

 

[mbliss57]

The mags for the CZ75B or BD will not fit a pre B CZ75. I believe the Pre B mags will work in the CZ75Bs though but I would have to check. I found out the hard way when I bought a Pre B so I could have a Czechoslovakian example (my grandparents were born there) I assume m]all my CZ75BD mags would work. However they will not fit into the mag well. There is something they did to make them non compatible. You have to specify pre B or B mags when buying mags from CZ USA.
This was just recently imported by DWJ importers in KY. They also considerately put import stamp on the barrel. So nothing shows without disassembling. I know it’s a train wreck for finish but it shoots great. I may have it Ceracoated but Thad’s a different thread.

 

[Walter Rego]

Here is a pre-B, made in 1992. It has the optional matte blue finish which isn't commonly seen. The Kadet .22 adapter kit is from 2000 and is a whole lot of fun when installed.

 

[les.b]

Here is my pre B CZ 75...

Also one of the Isreali imports, the importer considerately placed the mark on the barrel, need to remove the slide to see it.

They are wonderful firearms.

Best Regards,mLes

 

[Warren Sear]

Here is my CZ 75, purchased new, made in 1985, and imported by Bauska Arms, Kalispell MT. I have put a lot of ammo through this gun, and never had a single malfunction.

I conceal carry it to church every Sunday, along with two spare magazines.

 

[Alk8944]

Redcoat3340,


I have to agree with you about the stocks. If you want to replace them with some nice Walnut stocks Grips4U has several types that are very specific to your exact model. I have a set on my CZ75B Omega and really like them a lot better than the plastic factory stocks.Here is the link: GRIPS4u.net


They make a lot of others too, for what I consider quite reasonable prices.

 

[Farmer17]

I have had a few CZ-75s and recently bought a Tri-star S-120 which is almost exactly the same as a Cz-75B. Its an all steel, 18 round 9m/m and very accurate and reliable and after I put in a $16 Cajun Gunworks spring kit it has a pretty nice DA/SA trigger and the gun was under 385 bucks.