Price check: CZ-75 Czech Police trade in

[jad0110]

Made in 1992, 9mm chambering, DA/SA. Serrated spur hammer and 4.7" barrel. 80% finish wise (semi polished blued finish), perfect condition mechanically. 1 15-round magazine.

Asking price is $360 before tax. Extra 15 round mags are offered for $27 each.

Deal, or no deal?

 

[tlmkr38]

I've got one. Like it alot. Showed the usual holster wear but a tight fitting lockup and good trigger. It took me a little bit to get used to the trigger but it's as accurate as I am. My son shoots the heck out of it and I think that is about what I paid for mine.

 

[jad0110]

Thank you for the reply.

I'm also weighing used against NIB. Bud's has a CZ-75B full size 9mm for around $483 free shipping IIRC. With FFL, that would be about $505 for me (the $505 and the used price above are both out the door/final prices).

How many mags do the NIB CZ-75s include? I figure I'd make the used vs new comparison a little more apples to apples.



Also, I recall reading somewhere that newer (possibly less expensive) CZ-75B and CZ-75 mags are not directly interchangeable. Any truth to that, or am I mistaken?

 

[Canuck-IL]

Depends on condition ... closest comparison I've seen recently is from Wideners at $329 with free S/H.
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100000121

/Bryan

 

[Franksterm1]

Can you divulge the source?

I'd really like to get some additional 15 round mags.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jad0110]

I suppose this comes down to whether or not I want a CZ-75B or "pre-B".

I'm doing some research, and it appears that the newer/current "B" models would be the better choice from a practical standpoint (less magazine senstive as far as fit, still covered by a factory warranty, better parts availability). Do the older pre-Bs have a smoother trigger pull, as they lack a firing pin block? I know this is true of Colt series 70 (no firing pin block, generally smoother trigger) vs the Series 80s, but I didn't know if they same held true with the CZs.

Thoughts?

 

[Pilot]

Do the 75B magazines fit these transitional, surplus models?

 

[Scimmia]

Out of the box, the pre-B models can have a better trigger because of the lack of a FPB, but I've been told that polishing the FPB components can reduce friction to the point where it isn't an issue. Other people remove the FPB all together.

There is another option, a "transitional" model. It has the "B" model frame and most of the other "B" components, but without the firing pin block. I picked one up from Wideners for $330 shipped, but it looks like they're out now. I got two Mec-Gar 17 round mags, and they are a bit tight, but are sliding better as they wear in a bit.

 

[mgmorden]

Do the 75B magazines fit these transitional, surplus models?

I think the MecGar magazines for the 75B fit the transitional ones with the squared off trigger guard, but standard B mags don't work.

Personally, having owned and then sold one of these "Pre-B" models, I wouldn't recommend them. They work just fine, but the magazine and accessory situation just frustrated me. If I were to buy one again it would have to be one of the B or later models.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Newer mags for older CZs is a crap shoot. For many of them, only the old factory 15-round CZ mags will work. A gunsmith, however, can open up the top of the mag well for you and then any CZ mag will work.

Older CZs typically have a better trigger, and it's not just because of the firing pin block. They've changed the geometry of the hammer/sear interface on newer guns, so that there is a "further cocking/camming" movement as you pull the trigger on the newer guns. A good gunsmith can fix this -- it seems to be a corporate/legal innovation.

The current CZ-85 Combat may avoid some of this. It doesn't have the firing pin block.

Some of the oldest CZs have a older style "safety" mechanism, and parts for that version are almost impossible to find. (A small pin hole in the safety lever tells you if you have one of those.) Older sights have a different dovetail on the rear, and the front sight may be staked, too, so getting upgraded sights can be a problem.

I'd just buy a newer one, and have the trigger improved.

Century Arms now has surplus pre-Bs and Bs in the $320-$350 range (dealer price), and even a few 85s (don't know if they're Bs or pre-B), according to their latest catalog. Your FFL can order one for you.

You can also send your newer CZ to the CZ Custom Shop. I have heard nothing but raves about the work they do, and the quality of their action/trigger jobs.

 

[jad0110]

Thank you for all the replies and assistance.

Sounds like a B model is probably the best fit for me, from a practical perspective. I'll have to see what kind of deal I can get from my local gun shop and compare it to Buds.

Thank you!

 

[Litlman]

I just walked in to my LGS & found an ANIB 75B Military (I think) model with 1mag for $379.

 

[Kliegl]

The OP's price is stiff for a trade-in.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

that's a good deal on a CZ police trade in. go for it

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I'd be interested in more details about a "Police Trade In" CZ -- unless it was a European police department. That's a questionable claim. Never heard of a US police department issuing CZs.

That said, it doesn't mean you should avoid the gun. They're generally solid performers that have few, if any, problems.

 

[cluttonfred]

I have seen quite a few ads for police model CZ 75 pistols, but I have always assumed that they had been used by police in their native land.

 

[mgmorden]

I'd be interested in more details about a "Police Trade In" CZ -- unless it was a European police department.

They are indeed mostly from European police departments. In the last year or so they seem to be importing them in droves. Don't know the validity of it, but I have heard it said that though the USA usage is virtually non-existent, the CZ-75 is the most widely issued pistol in the world. A lot of them seem to be coming up for replacement though, hence the surplus sales.

Truthfully, the one I had worked fine, but it wouldn't shoot POA (hit VERY low) and even then I bought a set of adjustable sights for it - only to find out that even though I bought the Pre-B version of those they still wouldn't fit. Ended up selling the gun and the sights at a loss, but like I said - function was fine. I'd still have it if it hit where I was aiming.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

the CZ-75 is the most widely issued pistol in the world. A lot of them seem to be coming up for replacement though, hence the surplus sales.

That's a claim that CZ marketers make, but they never back it up. Most widely ISSUED (i.e., used by more departments) may be true, but the number of guns actually in service is not that great.

The police departments using them were only small ones. South Africa's police used CZs, for sure. But almost NO military units did, until recently. CZ PCRs were used by the Czech National Police, and they later upgraded to a different model CZ. The Turkish military contracted for a large number, took them, and then switched to Tanfoglio-based guns, made under license from Tanfoglio, in turkey. CZ made more, and the overrun was called the Turkish Contract model. I had one -- my first CZ. The PCR (which is an acronym for POLICE CZECH REPUBLIC) is an alloy-based Compact model.

As I said before, none of this is a reason to NOT buy a used CZ. I like them and have had a lot of them. (Still have three CZs [a 75BSA, an 85 Combat, and an 82], and two clones -- and they're all great guns.)

Just be wary of CZ Marketing hype, or parse their statements closely.

As for shooting low -- lowering the front sight would have worked, too, and you could have done that yourself, with a DREMEL. (The front sights on the older models were staked, and hard to replace.)

 

[mgmorden]

As for shooting low -- lowering the front sight would have worked, too, and you could have done that yourself, with a DREMEL. (The front sights on the older models were staked, and hard to replace.)

Yeah, I had considered that route, but the sight already looked somewhat low (wouldn't have much room to grind and still have much of a sight left ), and I figured that if I DID go that route then having a ground-down front sight would hurt the resale value even further.

I just wrote it off as a fluke and got out before I got too deep in. I may still revisit the idea of getting a -B model in the future.

 

[Pilot]

Walt,

Do you know if the Turkish contract guns from 1996 are any different from the Commercial 75B's? My recollection is that they are the same. I have one and it has been great.

 

[mgmorden]

Walt,

Do you know if the Turkish contract guns from 1996 are any different from the Commercial 75B's? My recollection is that they are the same. I have one and it has been great.

I don't know any info about the Turkish ones specifically, but in general, Pre-B's were only manufactured up until 1992-93-ish. Anything made in 1996 should be a B model.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The Turk Mil. Contract guns were just standard 75Bs, but I think they had slightly different plastic grip panels, with a strange palm swell. (I didn't keep the grips long, and don't have pictures of that gun.)

I think I paid $275 for mine at a gun show, back when. That great price was due to a dealer pricing error. The dealer recognized the error as he was writing it up, but honored the price on the box. I picked up a CZ-40B for under $300, shipped, a year or two later; later sold it -- and regret it, as it was one of the better .40s I've owned.

 

[the count]

$360 for a used CZ with one lousy mag? Not worth it. Go for a new one. Great guns.

 

[Pilot]

I knew the Turkish contract guns were 75B's, but thought there may have been some slight difference from the commercial models. Yeah, I got the funky plastic grips too and quickly replaced them with the CZ rubber grips which I really like. I still have them around here somewhere, but they are ugly looking, (and uncomfortable) so doubt I'd ever re-install them.

I paid around $300 for mine with one neutered mag and two hicaps I believe. That was a steal.

 

[railroader]

I had a turkish model 75b that I foolishly sold. Along with the strange grips the claw on the extractor was smaller and eventually I replaced with a newer style extractor. The stock trigger on it was xlnt with almost zero takeup in single action which I think for cz pistols is unusual.