CZ 75
Česká zbrojovka a.s. · Pistol · In Production · 1975
Also known as: vz. 75, CZ 75B, CZ 85
Overview
The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, produced by Česká zbrojovka a.s.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1000 g (35.3 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 1119 g (39.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 206 mm (8.11") |
| Barrel Length | 120 mm (4.72") |
| Height | 137 mm (5.39") |
| Width | 36 mm (1.42") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 16 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 360 m/s (1181 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 481 J (355 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1800 m (1968 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
- 9x21mm IMI — also known as 9x21mm
- .40 S&W — also known as .40 Smith & Wesson, 10mm Auto Short
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Firing Pin Safety, Half Cock Notch
- Features: Tilting Barrel Lock, Internal Slide Rails, Staggered Column Magazine, Hammer Forged Barrel, Three Dot Sights, Squared Trigger Guard, Steel Construction
Variants
- CZ 75B — Modernized
- CZ 75BD — Decocker
- CZ 75 Compact — Compact
- CZ 75 Semi-Compact — Compact
- CZ 75 P-01 — Compact
- CZ 75 SP-01 — Tactical
- CZ 75 SP-01 Phantom — Polymer Frame
- CZ 75 Automatic — Select Fire
- CZ 85 — Ambidextrous
- CZ Shadow — Competition
- CZ Shadow 2 — Competition
- CZ 75 Kadet — Training
- IMI Jericho 941 — License Production
- Tanfoglio Force — Clone
- EAA Witness — Clone
- Springfield P9 — Clone
- Sarsilmaz K2 — Clone
- FAMAE FN-750 — License Production
Service history
Operators
- Czech Armed Forces · adopted 1975 · as vz. 75
- Czech National Police · adopted 2002 · as CZ 75 P-01
- Polish Armed Forces
- Polish Police
- Slovak Armed Forces
- Slovak Rail Police
- Lithuanian Armed Forces
- Russian Police
- Turkish Armed Forces
- Turkish Police
- Royal Thai Armed Forces
- Georgian Armed Forces
- Kazakhstan Police
- Hellenic Army
- Israeli Defense Forces · as Jericho 941
- Argentine Federal Police
- Chilean Armed Forces · as FAMAE FN-750
- Serbian Special Police Forces · as SP-01 Shadow
- North Macedonia Army
- United States Special Operations Forces
Conflicts
- Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001)
- War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,000,000 · Production years: 1975-present
Over 1 million CZ 75 series pistols produced. The most widely copied pistol design in history with numerous licensed and unlicensed clones.
Origin
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Designer: Frantisek Koucky
Notes
The CZ 75 was designed by brothers Josef and František Koucký in the early 1970s at Česká zbrojovka in Uherský Brod, Czechoslovakia. Production began in 1976, initially for export markets, as the Czechoslovak military already had the vz. 82 in service. The design was not initially patented, leading to numerous licensed and unlicensed copies worldwide by manufacturers including IMI (Jericho 941), Tanfoglio (Force series), Springfield (P9), Sarsilmaz (K2), and others. The CZ 75B variant, introduced in the late 1980s, added an internal firing pin safety and became the standard model. Over 1,000,000 units have been produced. The pistol achieved NATO certification through the P-01 variant. The full-size model features all-steel construction, while compact variants like the P-01 use aluminum frames. The CZ 75 Automatic is a rare selective-fire variant capable of approximately 1,000 rounds per minute.
Background
The CZ 75 was designed by brothers Frantisek and Josef Koucky but was never patented under Czechoslovakia's communist government, leading to it becoming the most copied pistol design in history. Manufacturers from Israel (Jericho 941), Italy (Tanfoglio), Turkey (Sarsilmaz), and others all produced derivatives, ironically making it more influential than designs that were more strictly protected.