Let's Talk CZ Frame Changes

[Tecolote]

CZ has made subtle changes the CZ75 frames. Here's what I've been able to gather empirically and from reading.

1st Gen, original short rail frame
2nd Gen, longer rails
3rd Gen, "B" series, hooked trigger guard with original back strap
4th Gen, hooked trigger guard with redesigned back strap and tang

I wasn't aware of the 4th Gen frames until I handled two "B" series side by side, one from 1994 and the other from 2007. The 3rd Gen 1994 has a back strap like the 1st and 2nd Gens but the 2007 model has a different back strap and tang.

Anyone else notice the differences?

 

[SDDL-UP]

The frame variations of which I'm aware....

CZ75 Pre-B short rail (the "original" CZ75)

CZ75 Pre-B standard length rail

CZ75B - squared trigger guard & new safety detent (I think is the frame also used on the "transitional" CZ75)

CZ85 COMBAT - squared trigger guard, new safety detent, and made for ambidextrous safety and slide release

CZ75B SA - longer tang as you pointed out and I think the backstrap is the same at the SP-01 allowing for a slightly deeper grip (not 100% sure on this)

CZ75 SP-01 - the same as the SA, but with the full length dust cover and accessory rail

CZ75 Stainless - same as the CZ85 COMBAT but with single sided slide release

 

[FEG]

CZ75 Pre-B short rail (the "original" CZ75)

CZ75 Pre-B standard length rail

CZ75B - squared trigger guard & new safety detent (I think is the frame also used on the "transitional" CZ75)

CZ85 COMBAT - squared trigger guard, new safety detent, and made for ambidextrous safety and slide release

CZ75B SA - longer tang as you pointed out and I think the backstrap is the same at the SP-01 allowing for a slightly deeper grip (not 100% sure on this)

CZ75 SP-01 - the same as the SA, but with the full length dust cover and accessory rail

CZ75 Stainless - same as the CZ85 COMBAT but with single sided slide release

That's pretty accurate. Here's some more detail.

Short Rail CZ 75 Frame = 1977-1979 (Serial production did not begin until 1977.)

Standard Type A CZ 75 Frame = 1979-1992 (Half cock notch added, several changes to the slide occur with the introduction of the CZ 85 in 1986.)

Transitional CZ 75s = 1993-1994. (The vast majority of Transitional models use the exact same frame as the current 75B, but a few 1993 models have a Standard Type A Frame. A Transitional frame will not have the firing pin block lever.)

Standard Type B CZ 75 Frame = 1994-present. (All but a few B models use this frame.)

"Improved" Type B CZ 75 Frame = @1998-present. (The 75B SA was the first to use this frame. The SP-01 model has the same backstrap and elongated beavertail. The 97B, TS, and IPSC models more closely resemble this design than the standard 75B frame, but they are not dimensionally identical, at all.)

 

[Tecolote]

FEG,

Thanks for the detail. Maybe I'm imagining things, but I could swear that the early 1994 CZ75Bs have a different back strap from the later model standard 75Bs. I know that the SAs have different frames but within the standard "B" series it appears that frames with two different back straps were made.

 

[david_place_834]

Also added.

Early SP-01's had one cut for the accessory rail. The I saw a few samples with 2 cuts. Last 2 years, I have only seen the now 3-cut version.

 

[FEG]

Thanks for the detail. Maybe I'm imagining things, but I could swear that the early 1994 CZ75Bs have a different back strap from the later model standard 75Bs. I know that the SAs have different frames but within the standard "B" series it appears that frames with two different back straps were made.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were 1993 and/or 1994 models with a different frame. There is a lot of variety in the Transitionals. I have a 1994 Action Arms Import, and it was identical to my 1996 75B (framewise). However, my '94 is really late: it even had the modern CZ-UB logo grips as OEM.

My philosophy is to get a Transitional as late as possible, preferably one of the few ones with a Type B safety. I like the older CZs, but some of the parts are already tough to find.

Here's a picture of my 1994 next to a 1996 Mil. I'm sorry that the quality stinks. (The other pistol is a 1982 CZ 75.)



Here's a closer look at the Transitional:

 

[atblis]

CZ75 SP-01 - the same as the SA, but with the full length dust cover and accessory rail

Is it like the SA? It is definitely different than the 75B, but I was thinking more like the P01. Never really looked closely at the SA so...

 

[FEG]

Is it like the SA? It is definitely different than the 75B, but I was thinking more like the P01. Never really looked closely at the SA so...

You are both correct. The P-01 has the upswept beavertail like the SA model. (It's not as long, since it is a compact model.)

This picture shows the beavertail in the newer models:




Pictured: Early 97B, 75B SA in 9mm, and P-01.

 

[FEG]

A friend of mine owns these CZs. His picture is better lit. This one also shows a Type A, a Type B, and a Transitional.




Top to bottom: CZ 75B, Transitional CZ 75, and CZ 75.

 

[SDDL-UP]

Thanks for posting FEG.

Do you know if all "transitionals" had the pre-B style safety and detent or just early ones?

Looking at my first post I see that I forgot the CZ75B 40 frame is actually the same as the CZ75B Stainless, except material of course (AFAIK).

Then there are the Champion and Tactical Sports frames, again both different. the Tactical Sports being a larger frame with full length dust cover with unique shape and the Champion having a slightly different beaver tail and no lightening cuts in the frame (above the trigger) or dust cover at all.

 

[FEG]

Do you know if all "transitionals" had the pre-B style safety and detent or just early ones?

The vast majority have the Type A (rounded) safety. I have seen a few (all 1994 Action Arms imports) with Type B safeties. Magnum Research may have also imported some like that, but I have never seen one.

There are also a few pistols that use a Type A external safety, but internally, the safety has the B parts. These may have been modified by their original owners; I'm not sure.

 

[GZOh]

WOW... Great 75B 'History Lesson!!"...
Thanks FEG for the information AND the great pictures!

 

[Cliff47]

In the next hour, we will cover the CZ75 Retro (a "B" masquerading as a Pre-B), the SemiCompact, the CZ75B Stainless and some other not-frequently seen variations...

 

[FEG]

I just remembered that the magazine wells were opened up slightly in 1986 and then again in 1994. This is why the newest magazines don't fit the oldest pistols.

 

[Tecolote]

Would a '94 B imported by Magnum Research Inc have any mag issues? My buddy has one and his mags show a lot of wear near the mag catch, more so than other CZs I've seen. Also his came with a flat mag break allowing for mags to drop free. According to him all MRI imported CZs came with the flat mag break.