2015 CZs: Some Good Changes?

T

TunnelRat

New member
Hi all,
So this is just sort of a discussion piece than anything that substantial, but here goes. I wanted to put it out there that people that are fans of CZs now and in the past might want to pay attention to CZs they find that are actually produced in 2015. I have a 2015 CZ 455 and hopefully this week will be picking up the CZ P-01 I saw today.

As far as what's different, from what I can tell there must have been some revamping of the machinery or at the least a concerted effort to apply some polish to the overall product. The machining of the slide is cleaner (a bit hard to quantify I know), the bevel at the rear of the slide is more noticeable, the CIP over N proof mark is machined into the slide rather than etched, the finish on both the frame and slide seems a bit more lustrous than the previous examples and looks very nice, the barrel has some kind of black finish that almost appears nitrided like the P-07 line, and lastly the trigger was pretty impressive. Even compared to my CGW parts P-01, the trigger was very smooth through the whole pull with no real trace of grit (even my CGW parts gun could use some polish on my end). That's pretty surprising for a CZ in my experience. The pull was also lighter than the stock trigger on my 2012 P-01, I'd estimate a little over 10 lbs with really no camming that I could pick up or stacking either.

I bring this up because when I picked up my CZ 455 a few months back they had a 2015 as well as a 2014, and besides the change in proofmarks I noticed back then that the machining seemed notably improved, the finish was excellent, and the trigger on my 2015 455 breaks at slightly over 3 lbs. I've put hundreds of rounds through that rifle and it's been beyond my expectations in all areas. I'm curious if anyone knows if CZ has done any work updating their machinery? I'm very happy about it because in my opinion the prices of CZs had started to creep up a bit to the point where I expected a bit better overall and it seems CZ might be delivering on that.

-TR
 
Last edited:
I bought a new CZ SP01 Shadow Custom from Oak Hills Guns a couple months ago. How do I tell what year it was made in??

I did notice that when I took it apart to clean and lube it the first time that the machining on the inside looked better than what I could remember compared to my Son's SP01 that is about four years old.
 
On the right hand of the slide to the right of the ejection port should be a number that is the last two of the year in which it was made.
 
Thanks! Looks like mine is 2015 also. I am going to clean it in the next day or two and will take a better look at internal finishing. External finish looks great and not as dull as I recalled on other CZ 75 pistols with the same type finish.

 
With the newer models of the P-07 and P-09, it looks as though CZ has started bead-blasting (with super-fine media) or some other "refining" process on some of the areas where folks previously complained about the finishing marks. (Those areas were typically non-functional, but looked less polished than some guns.) This change may actually be better machining, or a different type of cosmetic upgrade to reduce the inappropriate complaints.

You may be seeing something similar on some of these newer 2015 models, in the non-functional areas. The areas described above sound like something different and arguably something better.

Good guns, getting better.
 
I imagine it's specific to the gun and who's running the machines on that specific day. I have a 2014 stainless steel CZ 75 B and it is finished excellently and functions flawlessly. I skipped out on buying the first one I found because it had a couple of nicks and scraps on the slide.

Manufacturers are continuously making small tweaks, repairs, and fixes to the machine and tools used. Sometimes these changes are for the better and sometimes the changes are to make the items quicker or cheaper.
 
Sounds good! I wish other changes we would soon see would be CZ announcing that they are going to release a new striker fire pistol. I absolutely love my pair of CZ 100's to death, but I can only imagine how awesome a striker fire version of the P-07 and P-09 would be!
 
This is my only CZ so I don't have another CZ to compare to but here are some pics. To me fit and finish look mostly excellent and I was kind of surprised after hearing all the stories of how the insides of a CZ usually looks like a junior high school shop class level finish.

This is my 2015 CZ SP01 Shadow Custom purchased late August 2015 from Oak Hills Guns. This is the $849 Shadow and does not have any extra custom work done to it like the higher priced Shadows may.

Less than 200 rounds through it and not totally clean yet. I wiped down best I could for some pictures.











 
Last edited:
Thanks for the pics! Interesting to see the inside of the frame on a CZ with finish. All the ones I've owned in the past have been completely in the white.
 
I think this is an excellent move by CZ. There are a number of reliable CZ copies out there (tanfoglio, Sphinx, baby eagle) and some are incredibly inexpensive (Canik for example). CZ needed to either lower their price or increase their quality at the present price point in order to maintain their competitive edge. I think they definitely made the right choice.
 
Thanks for the pics! Interesting to see the inside of the frame on a CZ with finish. All the ones I've owned in the past have been completely in the white.
__________________
Click to expand...

I am not sure only owning the one CZ but it might be that only the aluminum frame CZs don't have the finish inside the frame?? Please correct me if I am wrong on that. It will interesting to see if that changes on your new P01 when you get it. Oh and nice on getting a new CZ P01. :cool:
 
TunnelRat said:
Thanks for the pics! Interesting to see the inside of the frame on a CZ with finish. All the ones I've owned in the past have been completely in the white.
Click to expand...

I've never really seen a stock CZ with metal in the white. The models that aren't stainless, Satin Nickel or high-gloss blue are polycoated, which is an electrostatically applied powder coat that is baked over a Parkerized (manganese phosphate) finish.

That parkerized undercoat is very thin and it wears off very easily on the frame rails, under the slide, etc. Those areas aren't really "in the white" but they are almost "in the white." (You can see where the recoil spring scrapes away the thin coating during normal function.) I've never seen rust on any of many CZs over the years, but I don't really give them much chance to rust.

Anyone who chips their polycoat can touch it up easily with a light application of matte black auto body touch-up paint. (Dupli-Color is a good match.) The little bottles work but the paint tends to be thicker; the larger spray cans work beautifully, if you spray some onto a piece of aluminum foil, and use a fine brush to pick up that paint and apply it to the scratch or chip.)

People say Polycoat is fragile. High-gloss blue is fragile too, and SIG or Glock slide show wear just as quickly, and you can't touch it up. (Those owners call the wear "character" marks.)
 
Last edited:
I recently purchased a CZ 75PO1 and I can say with absolute authority that I am impressed, impressed in all the wrong ways that is! The trigger seems to have been geometrically impressioned from the finger of a twelve year old boy, the DA pull come in at about 17 pounds, with the SA incredibly long, with ample play. It also generates absolutely epic trigger slap, the worst I have seen since the HK P30! The slide was noted to be slapping hard on just nato ball, and I mean hard, implying the thing is under sprung from the factory, The last item of note being the beveling of the pistols mag well, which strongly appears to have been the work of the same twelve year old boy who modeled his finger for the trigger, the mag well being beveled on one side only, which is simply inexcusable inattention to detail for a pistol now carrying a retail stamp of around $700.00!

I consider the gun one notch above junk, there is no way I come to believe this thing capable of anything remotely close to the developmental accomplishments claimed by CZ-USA, and if its NSN is to be believed, it was obviously the result of some generals pulling strings for their former Iron Curtain opposition as a favor!
 
Walt Sherrill said:
I've never really seen a stock CZ with metal in the white. The models that aren't stainless, Satin Nickel or high-gloss blue are polycoated, which is an electrostatically applied powder coat that is baked over a Parkerized (manganese phosphate) finish.



That parkerized undercoat is very thin and it wears off very easily on the frame rails, under the slide, etc. Those areas aren't really "in the white" but they are almost "in the white." (You can see where the recoil spring scrapes away the thin coating during normal function.) I've never seen rust on any of many CZs over the years, but I don't really give them much chance to rust.



Anyone who chips their polycoat can touch it up easily with a light application of matte black auto body touch-up paint. (Dupli-Color is a good match.) The little bottles work but the paint tends to be thicker; the larger spray cans work beautifully, if you spray some onto a piece of aluminum foil, and use a fine brush to pick up that paint and apply it to the scratch or chip.)



People say Polycoat is fragile. High-gloss blue is fragile too, and SIG or Glock slide show wear just as quickly, and you can't touch it up. (Those owners call the wear "character" marks.)
Click to expand...


So what is this finish inside my frame then?
14daa5074c5ccea01f2397df76e9b273.jpg
 
I recently purchased a CZ 75PO1 and I can say with absolute authority that I am impressed, impressed in all the wrong ways that is! The trigger seems to have been geometrically impressioned from the finger of a twelve year old boy, the DA pull come in at about 17 pounds, with the SA incredibly long, with ample play. It also generates absolutely epic trigger slap, the worst I have seen since the HK P30! The slide was noted to be slapping hard on just nato ball, and I mean hard, implying the thing is under sprung from the factory, The last item of note being the beveling of the pistols mag well, which strongly appears to have been the work of the same twelve year old boy who modeled his finger for the trigger, the mag well being beveled on one side only, which is simply inexcusable inattention to detail for a pistol now carrying a retail stamp of around $700.00!

I consider the gun one notch above junk, there is no way I come to believe this thing capable of anything remotely close to the developmental accomplishments claimed by CZ-USA, and if its NSN is to be believed, it was obviously the result of some generals pulling strings for their former Iron Curtain opposition as a favor!
Click to expand...

Sad to here that. Why did you accept the pistol in such a state? Also if you paid $700 I'm sorry but you overpaid.
 
Last edited:
Sad to here that. Why did you accept the pistol in such a state? Also if you paid $700 I'm sorry but you overpaid.
Click to expand...

The best price you'll find on a NIB PO1 is currently $592.00 and from Bud's, Bud's is easily the lowest price you'll find on most every firearm, you will not be able to convince me a better price can be had by you at this time! my other post has the price mis-stated! ;)

Such a state? The firearm appeared fine upon arrival, I didn't tear it apart upon reception, the magwell was discovered to only be half beveled once at home and the pistol detail stripped! The trigger geometry(re-curve)of the PO1 is notoriously awful, perhaps the most frequent modification to the mechanism being its replacement with the CZ-85 combat trigger, both CGW and CZ-Custom have multiple replacement options for it! I consider the platform itself excellent, unfortunately the QC from CZ is the exact polar opposite of that!
 
The best price you'll find on a NIB PO1 is currently $592.00 and from Bud's, Bud's is easily the lowest price you'll find on most every firearm, you will not be able to convince me a better price can be had by you at this time! my other post has the price mis-stated!
Click to expand...

I found it locally for $575. I don't really have to convince you of anything, nor you me. Buds often has good prices, but not often the "best". You can use slickguns.com to help with future online sales/purchases in terms of pricing.

Such a state? The firearm appeared fine upon arrival, I didn't tear it apart upon reception, the magwell was discovered to only be half beveled once at home and the pistol detail stripped! The trigger geometry(re-curve)of the PO1 is notoriously awful, perhaps the most frequent modification to the mechanism being its replacement with the CZ-85 combat trigger, both CGW and CZ-Custom have multiple replacement options for it! I consider the platform itself excellent, unfortunately the QC from CZ is the exact polar opposite of that!
Click to expand...

You don't need to tear a pistol down to notice that the magwell is uneven. All you have to do is remove the magazine. You should also have dry fired the pistol as a basic function check and would have noticed the trigger not to your liking. You say the trigger geometry is notoriously awful, but yet you ordered the pistol anyway? Lastly, did you contact CZ to let them know of your problems? QC issues I can completely understand being mad about. Ordering a pistol that by the sounds of it you seemingly knew beforehand that you'd hate seems a bit odd.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top