Thanks for the responses.
George and R6: Yes, it's black polymer coated metal, not polymer through and through. It is a non-porous and very smooth coating, like the paint on a car or a powder-coated bumper. For a picture, go here:
http://www.czub.cz/PISTOLA.HTM
and click on the small picture of the CZ-75BD.
New, it came with two very small chips in the finish, under the slide lock. Since the surface underneath is not protected, I am concerned about rust there, and further chipping or wear of the polymer, which is the only protective finish the gun has.
I forget who and what thread the post was on, but someone on TFL suggested car wax as a protectant on guns. Over on Handguns, Tecolote advised that CLP will penetrate the polymer and protect the metal underneath, but this seems unlikely to me.
I took the gun shooting yesterday, a real sweet shooter except for the creepy trigger. Afterward, I cleaned it and then applied a coating of Meguiar's Gold creme car wax to the exterior surfaces, without using any water. I brushed the dried wax out of the nooks and crannies with a clean old toothbrush. The gun has a Hogue wraparound grip, so I hope slipperiness won't be a problem.
Looks and feels pretty good. I'll have to remember not to rub it off with an oily rag.
Icopy, thanks for the tip about the black touch up markers and CZ customer service. If this turns out to be a huge mistake, I'll let you all know here on the Smithy.
Thanks again for your help.
[This message has been edited by Ledbetter (edited May 12, 2000).]