CZ Warranty

If you are in search of perfection.. You will not find it in CZ finishes.

Did you buy it to look at or shoot?

Steve S. said:

Tarosean, I would guess that the same could be asked about a brand new $40k pickup truck with a missing paint spot - “both” I think is a reasonable answer.

Click to expand...

It doesn’t matter if it’s a $40K or $100K Car or a $500 gun imperfections happen. People take delivery of 100K BMWs and MB all the time with swirled paint, imperfections etc. If the car is used as it is intended to be wear and tear will occur. The first time you do a proper mag change that frames finish inside that well is going to take a hit. Run the gun hard and it will get worn.

CZs are not the height of finish quality IMHO. They can be down right rough. I sent a Shadow II back because the finish literally peeled off when the gun was placed into kydex they relaxed the pistol. The prep work was poor on the frame and caused the finish not to adhere. Eventually the entire front end of the gun would have been bear metal. The one I got back was much better but is still showing wear in that area.

If it bothers you send it back but if you use the gun as it is intended the gun will develop wear as it should. Just like a 40k car.

#battlescars

Many of CZ's guns are directed at the competition market in the practical shooting games. Have you ever looked at the state of USPSA/IPSC shooter's guns??

Here's a video featuring Matt Hopkins, one of CZ's top shooters (and a current CZ employee, IIUC). Go to time 2:58.



This was his gun cleaned up for a promotional/marketing video. Half the time, competitor's guns will be covered in chalk/grip-fluid white gunk. The magwells are invariably banged up, and lots of times the owner will paint a brightly-colored dot on the inside to give them a visual reference point. There are often strips of skateboard grip tape in places. The checkering is often 1/4 filled up with dead skin abraded from hands during practice. And so on. Competition guns end up looking like something from the original Star Wars trilogy - carbon stained, dinged up, streaked, and weathered. So for manufacturers selling into this marketplace, spending lots of time getting perfect finishes on things doesn't necessarily add value where the customer wants it.

I'm not telling you, OP, that your preference for a well-finished gun is wrong in any way. I'm just saying that this is more like finish issues on a track car or piece of construction equipment than even on a new pickup truck (where we all know most of the buyers are going to make modest use of its ruggedness).

WVsig said:

Zs are not the height of finish quality IMHO. They can be down right rough.

Click to expand...

Bingo I've owned a number and every single one had finish flaws.. Heck even my TS had a nipple coming off the frame where the finish was dripping off after application. That was a 1300 dollar gun.
It's just one of those things. No biggie

I guess I've been lucky in that none of mine (6 plus two Kadet kits) came with any finish flaws (but one of the 14 magazines didn't feed correctly). I'd rather have one that came to me in great condition, but I actually like signs of honest wear, especially wear that I put on the gun. If I were the OP, I'm not sure what I'd do but I'd probably let them replace the gun if they were inclined to do so and IF the defective spot bothered me too much. I would NOT let them refinish it, and if that were the solution offered, I'd keep it as is and start putting my own wear and blemishes on it.

Steve S. said:

Points well taken however for those who know I would like to ask again - does CZ USA repair finish flaws in the USA or replace the firearm as they lack finish repair ability in the USA (and yes, I will call CZ and ask - I was interested in others experience). Thanks.

Click to expand...

Go buy some MNU and call it a day

Steve S. said:

Points well taken however for those who know I would like to ask again - does CZ USA repair finish flaws in the USA or replace the firearm as they lack finish repair ability in the USA (and yes, I will call CZ and ask - I was interested in others experience). Thanks.

Click to expand...

No they do not refinish guns. If the finish issue is deemed a warranty issue they will replace the gun. They have no way to polycoat a pistol in the USA.

Steve S. said:

Thank you WVsig; that is what most of my readings tell me also.
And so I get the consensus straight - CZ finish is commonly flawed even at their custom shop price point, fagetaboutit, if it bothers me fix it myself and don’t use my free warranty - got it - DONE - HERE, HERE! Barkeep! Another round of grog for me and my forum friends!

Click to expand...

No I think you are taking the response the wrong way. CZs are not known for their finishes. They just aren’t. There are often flaws on even their best pistols. People should know that going in. If that sort of thing bothers you you should carefully look over and CZ you are buying in person before purchasing or transferring said pistol.

The second take away is that if you run the gun hard the finish is going to get beat up. So in the long run that small bare spot won’t matter as much down the road as it feels like it will on day 1.

If it makes you unhappy call CZ on Monday and see what they say.

I have owed a lot of polycoated CZs, and they have all been 100% coated. The finish has been pretty uniform, and does chip easy. Flat black Testors model paint is a very close match for touch ups. A new pistol, should "look" new, why would you settle for less? Scratch that thing up yourself!!

Good Lord....let it go, amigo.

@Steve S.

I have a Shadow 2 on the way so your thread caught my eye. I ordered one because I can’t get the one I handled out my head, and because I’m considering competition as a way to push myself.

I’ve heard many times about the CZ finish and while I don’t baby my guns, I do like to keep them in nice shape. If i shoot the Shadow how it’s meant to be shot, I doubt that will last long.

I agree the gun should be pretty nice from the manufacture, but I have a bit of tolerance on that. One option I’m considering is contacting APW Cogan and having it hard chromed in the future if it really bothers me. It seems affordable and if you like the look maybe it’s an option for you down the road. But like you said, honest wear doesn’t usually look bad.

FYI.........I’ve owned many guns over my 71 years and ARMY days, but just received my first CZ75 D PCR.
After close (magnified) inspection I cannot find any surface blemishes or issues.....don’t know if I’m lucky or
CZ is improving their quality control, i would like to think it’s the later.
I will say, I’m sorry it took me so long for my first CZ, it won’t be my last, this may be my favorite handgun of all
time!

CZ will most likely replace your pistol with a new one.

Couple of years ago I bought a new 75B from my LGS, when I got it home and cleaned it I found a small imperfection in the finish on one side of the frame. The warranty that came with the pistol states that it covers "wooden parts and surface treatment" for one year. Called CZ in KC and explained the situation, they sent me a pre-paid FedEx shipping label, returned the gun to them and in about two weeks I received a new gun with perfect (still is after two years and many range visits) finish.

Steve S.

Have two CZs and a Kadet .22 conversion kit. All have perfect finishes so I can't speak to your finish issues. I did have a new Beretta that had rust on it and Beretta took it back and reblued it (they had a facility here in the U.S. at the time so they could do warranty work). When it started to show signs of rusting again I went and had it hard chrome plated by Ron Mahovsky of Metalife. No problems with the finish all these years and it still looks as good as it did when I got it back from them.

If the gun itself works great and is accurate, I would try to touch it up myself or have it hard chrome plated versus getting another gun from CZ.