I somehow scored a Pre-B CZ-85

[Shear_stress]

I somehow scored a Pre-B CZ-85 (picture added)

So CDNN has some used CZ-85s for sale in their newest catalog in "good to very good" condition. Story has it that they are part of a pile of police trade-ins (including Jerichos and Stars) exported from Israel to Magnum Research last May. Looking at the grainy picture, I saw what appeared to be a spur hammer, indicating the guns were "Pre-B". This got me interested, so I called up the good folks in Texas to inquire. Turns out the catalog was incomplete. They had one other CZ-85 in "very good to excellent condition", even older than the ones listed. I ordered the gun. It came today.

My gun has a matte blue finish, fixed sights, spur hammer, and rounded trigger guard. The serial number is 085xx and the slide is date-marked "88". The condition was as advertised, with a refreshingly subtle "Magnum Research" import stamp on the bottom of the dust cover. The trigger was very nice in both single and double action, far better than than my CZ-85 Combat. However, that may just reflect the Pre-B gun's eighteen years of use.

You don't see a ton of Pre-B CZ-85s around, so I was pretty pleased to luck into one like this. Range report and photos to follow.

 

[Shear_stress]

Here's a picture:

 

[270Win]

Very nice find!!

 

[ugaarguy]

Very nice looking pistol, and a neat piece of Israeli history to boot. The Pre-B spur hammer adds a touch of old fashioned class I must say. Very neat find.

 

[Shear_stress]

Thanks, guys. I think this one's a keeper.

The batch of guns that CDNN has was exported from IWI (Israel Weapons Industries) to Magnum Research and arrived in Minnesota on May 23, 2006. The guns were then sold to CDNN on June 8, 2006. I emailed IWI to ask if they knew which Israeli agency issued my CZ-85, but they haven't replied yet. I'm not really holding my breath.

The cool thing is that, up until now, the only 1980s-vintage CZ-85s in the U.S. I am aware of were either Bauska imports or GI bring-backs--and I'm not sure if Bauska actually brought in 85s or just 75s. I know Action Arms and Magnum Research imported a few 85s in the early 1990s.

Edited to add: if anyone's interested, CDNN has a few pre-B CZ-85s left (of varying ages and degrees of wear). As my experience shows, there's more in stock than what's in the catalog.