My Latest Purchase.

[gjohnsoniv]

This was an unexpected one but I had to have it. I went up to Smoky Mountain Knife Works on Sunday just to cruise around and see what was new. While there I stopped by the guns to see what they had in their surplus and trade in section, and that's when I found this.

It's an Israeli trade in CZ 75, transitional pre-B. Rough on the outside but everything else internally seems to be in great shape. I took it out Monday evening to test fire it and I think it just replaced most of my handguns, it's an awesome shooter. Should have bought one sooner.

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg609/gjohnsoniv/Mobile%20Uploads/Snapchat-3376398861398918261_zpszp0rplkj.jpg

 

[URL=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/gjohnsoniv/media/Mobile%20Uploads/Snapchat-3376398861398918261_zpszp0rplkj.jpg.html][/URL]

Edited May 8, 2015 by gjohnsoniv

[Monkeyman2500]

That's a great find!

[Dolomite_supafly]

SMKW sells guns? When did they start? I am not a knife guy so I rarely go in there. It has been at least 5 years since I walked in there.

[dcloudy777]

Since 1975, everyone developing service pistols except the Czechs has just been wasting time. 

Edited May 7, 2015 by dcloudy777

[peejman]

SMKW sells guns? When did they start? I am not a knife guy so I rarely go in there. It has been at least 5 years since I walked in there.

 

 

They've sold guns for years, just not very many until recently. 

[gjohnsoniv]

They've sold guns for a while but only blackpowder I think. Seems like it's only been in the last two or so that they got their FFL.

[EssOne]

Hey gjohnsoniv, one of the bad things about the CZ 75/85 lines is that CZUB expanded their mag wells over the years and the older guns don't want to accept mags made for the newer mag well specs. So before you go investing in new mags, see if your LGS will let you try and insert a new one into your gun. If it fits, you're good. If not, then you need to go to the CZ Forums to see how to expand your well to accept new mags. This is a big issue with the older Pre-B guns. Sometimes the 18 round mags for the CZ75 SP01 will work in it, and this is supposed to be a cure-all, but in my 1991 CZ 85 only one of the $100 threesome I bought would even snap in, and then it was a very tight fit. There are some solutions over there that seem simple enough to do. But  I foolishly drank the Kool-Aid and bought $100 worth of mags that didn't work, so borrow and try before you buy. FWIW 

 

Here's the link to the sticky that discusses smithing the Pre B mag wells. http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=39056.0 Hope it helps.

 

EssOne

 

Later note: CZ will sometimes offer mags for the older guns, but they are seldom in stock and are outrageously expensive. But that's something to explore if your gun won't accept new mags. FYI

Edited May 7, 2015 by EssOne

[A.J. Holst]

You already have justification to get a second, newer model...

[gjohnsoniv]

Hey gjohnsoniv, one of the bad things about the CZ 75/85 lines is that CZUB expanded their mag wells over the years and the older guns don't want to accept mags made for the newer mag well specs. So before you go investing in new mags, see if your LGS will let you try and insert a new one into your gun. If it fits, you're good. If not, then you need to go to the CZ Forums to see how to expand your well to accept new mags. This is a big issue with the older Pre-B guns. Sometimes the 18 round mags for the CZ75 SP01 will work in it, and this is supposed to be a cure-all, but in my 1991 CZ 85 only one of the $100 threesome I bought would even snap in, and then it was a very tight fit. There are some solutions over there that seem simple enough to do. But  I foolishly drank the Kool-Aid and bought $100 worth of mags that didn't work, so borrow and try before you buy. FWIW 

 

Here's the link to the sticky that discusses smithing the Pre B mag wells. http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=39056.0 Hope it helps.

 

EssOne

 

Later note: CZ will sometimes offer mags for the older guns, but they are seldom in stock and are outrageously expensive. But that's something to explore if your gun won't accept new mags. FYI

Yeah I saw that after I bought it, but I'm willing to live with that for what I paid for it. Also as noted, I have an excuse now to buy another.

 

What I'm hoping is that since mine is a slightly later ('94) that it will fit the new magazines but I'll have to see.  In any case it will at least give me a test gun to work on and see what I want to change and like.  Starting with that stupid magazine brake.

[graycrait]

http://cajungunworks.com/

[DT INC.]

Very nice find!

[EssOne]

Yeah I saw that after I bought it, but I'm willing to live with that for what I paid for it. Also as noted, I have an excuse now to buy another.

 

What I'm hoping is that since mine is a slightly later ('94) that it will fit the new magazines but I'll have to see.  In any case it will at least give me a test gun to work on and see what I want to change and like.  Starting with that stupid magazine brake.

Yeah, that too. In my earlier post I forgot to mention that the 10 round CZ mags work fine in my old '85.

 

There is a 99 cent Kindle book that shows the differences between the Pre and Post B guns if you're interested. It's at Amazon.com, which also has a free Kindle ap if you don't have a Kindle. Here's the link:  http://www.amazon.com/EVOLUTION-CZ-85-Jerry-Paregien-ebook/dp/B00DOPTMF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431084706&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Evolution+of+the+CZ+85. The differences are a lot more than most people think, so before you go trying to substitute this and that, be aware that CZ is constantly updating their guns, and that means a long string of changes, a lot of them major. Parts interchangeability between the Pre and Post B guns can be somewhere between darn little to none, so trying to update a CZ takes some research and good advice.

 

Check your PM's.

 

EssOne

[Grand Torino]

Well heck....it looks like it's just broke in. :lol:  Congratulations on the new pistola. :up: