View Full Version : A couple of pre-b CZ75's
I just received two CZ75 pre-B's that I purchased off of GunBroker. They are surplus imported from Israel and were refinished recently. For those who don't know, the B series CZ75's have firing pin blocks. The pre-B's were manufactured prior to CZ adding the firing pin blocks in about 1992. Other than the model designation, the easy way to tell if a CZ75 series pistol has a firing pin block is to look at the slide serrations. A B series pistol will have a hole drilled cross way through the slide in this area. The pre-B's do not. The pre-B's generally have nicer triggers because of the lack of the firing pin block, although this is not a 100% rule. Most also have the rounded trigger guards, but there were some transitional pre-B's that have squared trigger guards.
http://i58.tinypic.com/wi23pd.jpg
The one on the left is an '87. The one on the right is a '91. The sent the '87 with what looks to be a B series factory magazine. The '91 came with a Mec-Gar 17rd Witness small frame magazine.
Here are some more pictures of the '87.
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That small hole in the front bottom of the grip appears to just be a bad spot in the metal. From the inside it almost looks like there was a hole that they welded up. Looks like this one will be getting a set of Hogue wrap around grips.
And here are some pictures of the '91.
http://i61.tinypic.com/23h0kkz.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/29w48sp.jpg
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The grips on this one are Pachmayrs Its says "Los Angeles" just under the hump. Surprisingly, they're actually pretty heavy compared to the factory plastic grips.
My plan is to completely respring both pistols. I'll also have to buy a couple of pre-B magazine for each as neither came with a correct magazine.
Those would look great with a set of waffle grips. Always wished that CZ would make a 75 with a rounded trigger guard. Nice pistols, i'm off to browse gunbroker now. Do those have importer marks?
I also prefer the round trigger guard over the squared trigger guard. They don't have import marks on them that I can see.
Gary1911A1
08-12-14, 09:53
Very nice. I wouldn't mind getting one myself.
Alpha Sierra
08-12-14, 09:54
Finish looks kinda rough......
Yep. They've been parkerized. Interestingly, the finish is not thick like the polycoat, so the lettering is sharper versus the polycoated CZ's that I own.
Very nice! Love my CZs. They are my favorites out of all the handguns I own.
The grips on this one are Pachmayrs Its says "Los Angeles" just under the hump. Surprisingly, they're actually pretty heavy compared to the factory plastic grips.
Most Pachmayr stocks have steel inserts under the rubber.
notorious_ar15
08-13-14, 18:15
... Always wished that CZ would make a 75 with a rounded trigger guard...
They have - you can look for a 'Retro' model that was recently released. They also made a 75th anniversary model, although the price is a bit higher on those.
The Czechs make nice stuff.
They have - you can look for a 'Retro' model that was recently released.
Unfortunately, the "retro" model has an older type frame paired with a CZ 75B type slide. So, it's not really the same as what they produced in the past.
If a rounded trigger guard is desired, the Canik S-120 is pretty much a dead ringer for the CZ 75B, except that it has a rounded trigger guard. I have one and the quality is every bit as good as the CZ.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/images/hiRes/411552795_2.jpg
notorious_ar15
08-14-14, 18:43
Unfortunately, the "retro" model has an older type frame paired with a CZ 75B type slide. So, it's not really the same as what they produced in the past.
If a rounded trigger guard is desired, the Canik S-120 is pretty much a dead ringer for the CZ 75B, except that it has a rounded trigger guard. I have one and the quality is every bit as good as the CZ.
This is true, although the 'Retro' model is very close - especially for someone who just wants the styling of a rounded trigger guard when buying a brand new pistol. Additionally, CZ factory replacement parts will always fit a CZ - I believe the Canik versions use a slightly different trigger or sear mechanism.
The latest CZ retro guns are just goofy, as the do not match the A or preB model. The Caniks are decently made, but production control is lacking. They have changed trigger pin sizes which is isn't a good thing. My C100 has incomplete rifling, but seems to shoot fine, and is a great design - light weight and manual safety. The safety is very positive. BUT the canik line is virtually unsupported. No parts and a short warranty.
Btw- nice preBs!
According to the CZ Forum, the older pistols had weak extractor and recoil springs. I agree. The two that I owned had terrible magazines. All this was an easy fix. I didn't run +p+ through the 9. I regret selling them.
Late pre-bs and transitionals sometimes can take regular Mec gar magazines. Also CZs over the years have been plagued by week extractor Springs here and there and the 40 models sometimes had 9 mm slide stops that caused feeding problems. All these have an easy fix, and they run great.
Seems that PreBs can be had today here and there more than in the past. The weakest part of the PreB was the finish - the enamel finish was a joke - so if you got one of these for anything but a beater, you needed to refinish. Their next weakness was the magwell not accepting later model magazines - but this can be fixed with a file as I understand it. The STRENGTH was the DA pull - very smooth even with a stock mainspring. Also - I am not a big fan of using a really weak mainspring (below 15LB) and weaker firing pin spring. The harder mainspring slows the slide down and helps not beat up the frame and slide stop. In the PreB it may be totally unnecessary to lighten any spring, as the DA pull is smooth as silk.
Not making stock lightweight model 75s with a manual safety is a huge oversight by CZ-UB - HUGE.
The 91 is probably a transitional model and should work fine with the B model mags. Is the front sight dovetailed in from the front?? If so that opens up your sighting choices.
I like the Pre-B's a lot, as I prefer the rounded trigger guard, and traditional look. I may pick up a Retro model, as it has most of the looks of a Pre-B without the mag, and parts issue.
My 2 cents worth, on the left is a Novak smithed Black T finished pre B .
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