Century CZ-75B

[nebeel]

I see what you're saying, I think it's just the bad lighting in the picture. On the actual pistol they're facing the right direction.

Atblis, I'm not 100% sure of the year since the second number is pretty faint. I can't get a good picture of it but it looks like it may be a 6 so I'm thinking it may be a '96 model.

 

[Tallball]

My hobby (and part-time job when I retire soon) is making knives. Here are some knives that I made by hand about a year ago. They are carbon steel. They have been sitting here on a bookshelf until I get around to re-shaping one of them just a little bit. You'll notice the complete lack of corrosion. If I keep them away from moisture, I can have pieces of regular (non-stainless) steel sitting around for several years without showing signs of corrosion or any noticeable patina.





My interpretation of the faint scratch marks on the OP's gun is that the original finish was removed somewhat roughly and that the metal wasn't rebuffed afterwards. It is possible that it was then re-finished with something silver-colored like nickel. I can't tell for sure from the pictures. But I am guessing that the original finish may have been removed without being replaced, and that what we're seeing is bare metal.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Is it me, or does it look like the serations on the slide are facing the wrong way on the mystery (left) pistol? You guys seeing what I'm seeing?

It's you. The serrations on most guns are "mirrored" on the opposite side. If you look at both guns in post #23, you'll see they're just alike -- when you look at the same side of the guns. You're viewing opposite sides in the picture you cited.

 

[nebeel]

Here's the best picture I could get with a cell phone of the date stamp on the pistol. Keep in mind that this is pretty blown up so the condition of the metal looks a lot worse than what it does with the naked eye.

I have no idea what the two circles are where the 2nd number of the year stamp should be.

 

[JohnKSa]

That's more evidence that someone has polished the pistol. Those numbers & markings should be very distinct and the oval surrounding the markings should be sharp and quite deeply impressed into the slide.

My argument is just that bare carbon steel rusts/corrodes/tarnishes if you look at it funny. It looks too good to be bare metal.

It is possible to keep bare steel from rusting if you are careful about maintaining it. However, if you look at the slide near the muzzle and the closeup of the grip/mag release area you can see pitting and discoloration.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I wonder if atblis lives in a more-humid climate? You'd see corrosion more quickly there. In some places like the Gulf Coast, it almost instantaneous!! But, in the Midwest, for example, it's less of an issue.

Experience tempers our judgment and attitudes. Can't see where he lives from his user info on posts.

 

[wow6599]

Do we really need a metallurgist to prove that's bare steel?

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If you look closely at the numbers in post #54, it looks as though there's a faint 8 to the right of the 9. A 98 date is consistent with B models, and as JohnKSa and I have both noted, it's been hit by something -- probably a powered wire wheel. (I used a very mild one mounted on a bench on my pre-B to remove the paint...after hitting it with very aggressive auto paint remover.)