History of the CZ-75
The CZ-75 design is one of the most important innovations for modern pistols—up there with Browning Hi-Powers and 1911s. Even today, series 75 iterations are considered to be some of the best shooting competition guns, self-defense guns, and even military or law enforcement firearms. When a pistol is able to penetrate these various markets, you know it’s something really good. But the CZ-75 is relatively new to in Western market—invented in 1975 but not taking off until the 1990s after the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Wonder Nine Design
The CZ-75 was created in Czechoslovakia by Josef and František Koucký . They had been given complete freedom over the design process and developed the gun from scratch—the results were groundbreaking. The most striking feature of the all steel construction CZ-75 is that the slide fits down inside the frame—this was only the second gun to have this slide design. But the most pioneering feature of its time was the CZ-75’s trigger and its ability to be fired in both single and double action.
This gun is one of the first “Wonder Nines”. Also known as “Super Nines,” these are 9mm guns with a double action trigger and a double stacked magazine capable of holding twelve rounds or more. In today’s market, a twelve round magazine seems standard—even an expected minimum—but in the 70s, most law enforcement officers were carrying six round revolvers. Sure, some carried the 1911s with higher capability, but these single action only necessitated a cocked hammer to fire the first shot. The CZ-75 can be cocked and locked like the American-favorite 1911 or it be carried with the hammer down and fired with a double action trigger pull.
CZ Copycats
Italian CZ-75 Copycat: Tanfoglio T95 Combat
Image Source: Ken / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Despite living behind the Iron Curtin, the CZ-75 designers seemed to be targeting the Western markets. They chambered it in 9mm Luger—a western cartridge—even though Czechoslovakia and other Eastern Bloc countries used 9 x 18 Makarov. Despite the gun’s appeal for Western consumers, it was incredibly difficult for anyone in the West to acquire one because of Soviet Union restrictions and extremely high tariffs.
Due to patent issues in Czechoslovakia, CZ was unable to get a world patent. As a result, many other manufactures outside of the country copied the design and sold in the West. The most well-known copycat gun came from Fratelli Tanfoglio, an Italian gun company.
Velvet revolution
Dissolution of the Eastern Block
By Mosedschurte, June 1, 2009 - Map borders based on [1] and [2]., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23050196
In November 1989—around the same time the Fall of the Berlin Wall—Czechoslovakia experienced a non-violent uprising called the Velvet Revolution. Dissident groups, lead largely by students, demonstrated against the Communist Party. This movement was part of a large-scale opposition to communist regimes in countries comprising the Eastern Bloc. The result of this upheaval was the dissolution of the one-party state and the transition to a parliamentary republic with freer markets.
Just a few years later, CZ was privatized and incorporated. And in 1997, CZ-USA was formed. It was then, finally, that the gun made for Western markets was easily accessible to consumers in America. Since then, CZ has created several popular iterations of the 75 including polymer frame versions and compact versions.
One of the Greats
Arguably, the series 75 trigger mechanism is one of the most important design innovations in modern semi-automatic handguns. The consistency, reliability, and durability of the double-single put its importance with ranks of M1911, Browning Hi Power (from which the CZ-75 copies the barrel function), and the Glock 17. Just like these other innovative designs, the CZ-75 has changed the way the firearm industry views, designs, and manufactures pistols. Its impact will be felt for decades to come.
