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CZ-75 SP-01
An Impressive Classic Evolves

SEE THE CZ-75 IN ACTION!
Dave Anderson test fires
the CZ-75 SP-01 for
americanhandgunner.com
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By Dave Anderson • Photos By Ichiro Nagata

History Lesson

In the First World War, Austria needed to expand its arms-making capacity. A subsidiary of the Vienna arsenal was established in the city of Brno in 1916. It was called Zbrojovka Brno, which translates as “Weapons factory at Brno.”

The Austro-Hungarian empire began to fall apart in 1918 even before the war ended. New nations arose from the fragments of the old empire. One of these was the Czecho-Slovak Republic. Zbrojovka Brno, located in the Czech part of the new republic, produced rifles and automatic weapons for its military.

In 1926 Frantisek Koucky, then aged 19, went to work at Zbrojovka Brno. His older brother Josef joined him in 1930. Both were graduates of the Czech Provincial School of Trades and the State Industrial College. Josef became best known for his leadership and organizational skills, Frantisek for his creativity and technical skills. Together they formed a formidable team.

A second factory devoted to pistol manufacture was established in 1923 at Strakonice. It was called Ceska Zbrojovka (Czech weapons factory), CZ for short. Several models were designed and built by CZ Strakonice including the CZ-24 (9mm Short) and CZ-27 (7.65mm). Many were used by the Czechoslovakian military, and in WW II by the German armed forces. After the war the CZ-52 was also designed and produced at Strakonice.

In the 1930s it became evident a resurgent Germany presented a grave threat to the new republic. In 1936 the Czechoslovakian government established a subsidiary of Ceska Zbrojovka at Uhersky Brod, 60 miles east of Brno, outside the range of German bombers. The new factory produced rifles, pistols and machine guns for the armed forces.

Czechoslovakia soon fell under German occupation, defeated not by military prowess but by the cowardly betrayal of its so-called allies at Munich. In a bitter irony, CZ production from 1939-1945 went to help arm the German military.

Post-War

Politics continued to influence Czechoslovakian arms manufacture after the war ended. CZ employees barely had time to sweep the floors and have a coffee before the Communist party came to power and promptly nationalized all weapons manufacture.

No nation likes to be dependent on foreign manufacture for its basic infantry weapons. It’s very useful to have trained workers and modern facilities available should the need arise for large scale production of military weapons. On the other hand, what do you do when that capacity isn’t needed? It’s not very efficient to have skilled workers sitting idle.
One solution is to make other products. Zbrojovka Brno produced typewriters, diesel engines and machine tooling. By the 1980s arms manufacture made up less than three percent of all production. Through the 1950s and 1960s most pistol and long gun manufacture was transferred from Brno and Strakonice to CZ Uhersky Brod. CZ UB also became involved in making precision components for tractor hydraulics and airplane engines.

Another solution is to produce hunting and self-defense arms for the civilian market. Beginning in the early 1950s Czech armsmakers produced shotguns, airguns and hunting rifles for sporting use, and pistols for police duty and personal defense.

Czech firearms have long enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for quality in design and construction. Export sales expanded rapidly, providing a much-needed source of foreign currency.

Josef retired in 1966, Frantisek in 1967, after productive careers in which they earned some 130 patents. For Frantisek, his greatest accomplishment still lay ahead.

Birth Of A Pistol

In 1968 a decision was made to design a 9mm Parabellum pistol for the export market. Frantisek Koucky accepted a contract from the Uhersky Brod factory to lead the development of the new pistol. Originally he was thinking of a compact, single-stack pistol. In 1972 the Ministry of Trade, anticipating military and police sales, added a requirement for a high-capacity magazine.

The excellent book CZ 75: The Birth of a Legend by David Pazdera and Jan Skramoussky, published in 2005, draws on previously unavailable documents to chronicle the history of the pistol. They give full credit to other members of the design team: Milos Plocek, technical manager at the Uhersky Brod factory; Stanislav Strizik, toolmaker and gunsmith and Frantisek Crhak, architect and college professor.

The authors also correct the misconception the CZ-75 was designed and built by Zbrojovka Brno. The misconception is understandable as for some years the Brno trademark was used on rifles and pistols manufactured at CZ UB. Although the CZ-75 was entirely a product of CZ UB, some early models carried the Brno trademark.

Western writers naturally took the trademark at face value and concluded it was a product of the Brno factory. Jeff Cooper, a fan of the CZ-75 design (though not it’s cartridge) drew on the Brno connection in naming the Bren Ten.

The Bren Ten was one of many copies or near-copies of the CZ-75. As Pazdera and Skramoussky explain, Frantisek Koucky received four authorship certificates (patents) for components of the CZ-75, notably for the superior DA trigger mechanism. For a time the Czechoslovakian military considered adopting the CZ-75. The patents were therefore classified, and the authors note: “The validity of classified patents only applied to the territory of Czechoslovakia”.

Even though the military dropped the idea of adoption due to ammunition incompatibility with other Warsaw Pact nations, the patents remained classified. Critical design features of the pistol were never patented abroad. The lack of patent protection, and the overall excellence of its design, made the CZ-75 one of the most copied pistols ever.

When Czechoslovakia was part of the Warsaw Pact the U.S. imposed stiff import duties on the CZ-75. During the early 1980s a few individuals imported CZ-75s from Czechoslovakia, Germany, or Canada. By the time the paperwork was done and duty paid the cost was around $900. By comparison in 1980 an S&W Model 19 cost about $200, a Colt Gold Cup or Single Action Army around $370 and a Python just over $400.

Modern Guns

By the mid 1980s copies from various countries were selling in the U.S. for around $400. After 1989 the Communist regime collapsed and subsequently Czechoslovakia separated into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. With prohibitive import duties no longer being assessed, CZ prices in the U.S. dropped to levels competitive with other similar products. Since then the popularity of CZ rifles and pistols has expanded dramatically,

Firearms manufacture in the Czech Republic is now back in private hands. This can make things a bit confusing, as the original plant at Brno still holds rights to the CZ trademark, as does CZ Strakonice and CZ Uhersky Brod, all independently owned and managed. CZ UB remains by far the biggest firearms manufacturer, as it has been since the 1950s, and produces the firearms imported by CZ USA.

The increasing popularity of the CZ-75 has resulted in the introduction of new models and calibers. The pistols shown here are the CZ-75 SP-01, the “SP” indicating Service Pistol. The basic model has the features demanded by the current military and police market: high capacity (18 rounds of 9mm), a positive firing pin block, ambidextrous controls and an accessory frame rail for lights and optical aiming devices.

The SP-01 uses some features from the NATO-approved P-01 Compact, including the beavertail grip and checkered grip frame. However the SP-01 is a full-sized pistol with 4.7" barrel and a weight of 2.6 pounds. For concealed carry most shooters will prefer the compact model, while the SP-01 is an excellent open carry duty and sport pistol. Quality of materials and workmanship is excellent.

A variation of the SP-01 uses an ambidextrous hammer drop lever instead of a manual thumb safety. This eliminates the cocked and locked option but is perceived by some as a safer way of lowering the hammer than by manually lowering it with the thumb. If you are required or plan to carry the pistol with hammer down it is the logical choice.

The Custom Model will appeal to the sport and recreational shooter. This one has custom features by top practical shooting competitor Angus Hobdell. Though the black rubber stocks on the service models are very comfortable, the Custom pistol features slim, checkered cocobolo wood stocks. It also features high visibility sights with a fiber optic insert in the front sight. The trigger is tuned, and on written request the firing pin block can be left out.

The Test

I ran about 150-200 rounds through each of the three pistols. All three proved completely reliable and accurate, consistently grouping five shots into an average 2" at 25 yards. I expected reliability and accuracy — but it was gratifying nonetheless.

Trigger pulls on the two service models were smooth and consistent, though heavier than I like. Single action pull on the manual safety version averaged six pounds, seven ounces. On the de-cocker version, single action pull averaged five pounds, six ounces. On both, DA pull was around 13 pounds — over the 12-pound limit of my Lyman trigger gauge.

The trigger on the Custom shop version was a real treat, averaging three pounds, six ounces cocked, and an ounce over nine pounds DA. It uses a different hammer and mainspring than the standard version. Other custom features can be ordered too, such as an adjustable rear sight and hard chrome finish. Hard chrome gives the two-tone look many shooters like, though the standard black polycoat finish looks good and provides excellent corrosion resistance.

With all the choices available today it’s interesting how the classics like the 1911 and CZ-75 are increasing in popularity. It appears a proven design and a sterling track record will always have a timeless appeal.

For more info: CZ-USA, www.cz-usa.com; Custom model: Contact Angus Hobdell at angus@cz-usa.com.

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