Well, for starters the name 'CZ' comes from the country of origin. Formerly Czechoslovakia (don't even know if I can still spell that right) and it's now the Czech Republic.
Import restrictions kept them out of the country for quite a few years IIRC. Not sure if this is true or just a rumor I heard back in 2001.
Prices are on the "up" since this time as they're becoming more and more popular. Supply and demand and all.
Regarding the CZ-75B model and variants of it:
SA mode operation. Trigger's not bad out of the box (but I'm no expert here). Could be better, could be much worse.
The DA trigger pull is pretty long, and the grip setup doesn't work well for small hands trying to do a DA pull.
The grips, by default, are rather wide for some people. not a terribly big deal for me and I consider my hands to be rather small.
The fullsize 75B and 85 versions in 9mm have a 15 round capacity. They've also been made in 40S&W IIRC but I don't know what the capacity is on them.
Unlike the BHP there's no magazine disconnect safety.
The pistols are "confused" though. It's a combat pistol that tends to be very accurate given that the lands and grooves start further back than most others pistols. Perhaps there's another reason for this but that's the primary one I hear. This HAS caused some problems with cartridges that have a longer OAL though. If you experience a problem just send the barrel back in and they'll fix it up. I guess there were some recent quality control problems there. 124 gr Speer Gold Dots were one round that some people had problems with. Mine's never had a problem with them though.
The 75B is made for right handers. The 85 is ambidexterous. Well, at least the safety is -- I don't know about the magazine release.
The magazines are NOT drop-free -- there is a brake in the grip that holds them nice and tight. Some like it, some don't. You can finaggle with this I hear to make the magazines drop free but my own attempt at it made the magazine "wiggle" too much for my liking. If I wanted to hear a gun rattle I'd pick up my AK
The P-01 is a compact version of the 75B and the RAMI is a subcompact that's fairly different from what I understand. Internally it might be similar but the profile seems to be quite a bit different. I'm no expert though -- I've never really taken time to fondle either one at any length. Not too many places carry CZ pistols around here. Unfortunately.
Often cited as being the best bang for your buck here too. You're certainly not just throwing your money away when you buy one. You're certainly not getting ripped off -- assuming you pay the typical going rate for them.
They released a 97 recently that is chambered in .45ACP. Not much like the 75 or 85 series IIRC but still considered a high quality firearm.
Every manufacturer turns out a lemon or two, but none of the current production models are considered sub-par by most posters here. Sure, not everybody likes everything about them -- but like I just said, they're worth the asking price.
Try a few models out, see what fits your purposes and fits your hands. If you find a match and they're asking a reasonable price snatch it up. Give it a whirl and if you hate it -- well, it's not too hard to get rid of a well made firearm around here. Shouldn't be at least.
