What is CZ's Polycoat finish?

It is what is says - its a baked on polymer - black, satin, and fairly durable. The old CZ finish was a cheap, thin, enamel that flaked off the first time you used the weapon. This is MUCH more durable, but its NOT Melonite. It doesn't wear as well as a Glock or new XD, but again, it hangs in there. It will also chip, but generally takes glancing brass, etc. well. It has a parkerization underneath also.
 
Dang,,, Whatever happened to blue steel?,,,,,

I hate that,,,
I finally find a semi-auto I like,,,
And it doesn't even come in blued steel.

That sucks big time,,,
I could even handle Stainless,,,
But a baked on finish that could chip?

Bummer!

.
 
Well, they also make 'em in stainless. Mine has the poly coat and I like it fine. It's a black matte finish very similar to what you would find on a typical AR. It cleans up easily and, so far, has been as tough as nails.

Remember, CZ makes guns primarily for military/police use. Everything with them is utilitarian. There are few pretty bells and whistles on a CZ (at least on the poly coat version). But, the guns are tough, a delight to shoot, a snap to maintain, handle every type of ammo imaginable, and are very, very accurate. And, they're relatively cheap, too, costing substantially less than a lot of the competition.
 
I carry a CZ P01 every single day, have for 7 years now. The finsihs wears in the same place any of them do, the sharp edges. I have had no rusting issues, and the finish has only worn on steel parts on the forwrd edges ofthe slide.

After I wrote this part, I stepped away from the keyboard long enough to take this picture to show what I mean, as it came out of the holster I am wearing. Literally, this is every single day carry in leather holsters for 7 years running. You can see slight wear on the top forward edge of the slide, the oputside edge of the decocker, the leading edge of the alloy frame, the leading part of the rail, some at the muzzle end on the frame just above the frame rail. What you can't see is a little wear around the edges of the front sight blade, in interest of disclosure. Rear sight has no wear at all, it's just shiny.

p01.jpg


Does that answer your question? BTW on those wear areas that are on steel - no rust yet, the underfinish, what little that can be seen, is also quite tough. You can see the holster wear on the rubber part of the Crimson Trace grips far more easily. :)
 
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I have both blued and polycoat cZs. While I admit the blue looks better to my traditional eyes, the polycoat wears much better. For a shooting gun, I would go with the polycoat.
 
Armoredman

Where did you get the magazine without a basepad? What other CZ magazines work in the P-01?

Sorry about posting off topic but I've been wanting some mags (minus the basepad)
 
I think the POLYCOAT holds up just as well as the Glock or SIG finishes, and looks better, over time. Glocks (which I really like) can look pretty ratty pretty quickly...

You can always go Stainless or nickel-plated, as CZ offers both. (The Stainless models come in three grades of "bright", from a matte finish to one that is highly polished. I prefer the matte. I also prefer the nickel to stainless, but stainless is problem more trouble-free, over the long run. I've had two nickel CZ, and still have one -- both were/are trouble free and resistant to damage.)

A blued gun looks great, but a blued finish is relatively delicate. Blued 75s are still around, and I've had two blued 85 Combats.

The newest polycoat is really durable, but if you ever do get a nick or scratch, most matte-black auto body touch-up paints are a near-perfect match. (Get the spray version, and spray it onto foil, and then use a brush to apply -- that version is THINNER and easier to apply well.)

Regarding mags: any mag for the same caliber will work in a compact model -- but will extend a bit too far. They're interchangeable. The 40 mags won't hold/retain a 9mm round, so don't go that route. Have a "compact" mag in the compact gun when you carry, and have a full-size mag as backup.
 
The polycoat is much better than blue if you plan on using the gun as a tool. The polycoat is truly maintenance free, requires no wipe down, and is very durable, I just wish I could find an aftermarket coating as durable I could do on my own.

Here's my 97 with 6,000+ rounds. The slide stop and manual safety aren't polycoated, and they are turning white on the edges from use, but show no rust.
img0747zl9.jpg
 
Walt nailed it on the mags. My PCR mags will work in the P-01. My PCR mags(10rnd) don't have base plates. I carry a 10rnd mag in my PCR and a 15rnd CZ-75 mag in my back pocket.
I've had my PCR since 1991 and it has a little holster wear. Polycoat holds up well.
 
It is my understanding the polycoat finish is a combination of polymer and ceramic type of baked on finish. I don't really love the way it looks but I will say you probably won't have to worry about having to get it re-finished any time soon even when carried daily. I have only gotten into CZ pistols a short time ago. They shoot well and point naturally for me. Rapid firing them and staying on target is easier to for me then many other pistols are. For the price they command it is hard to not feel you have gotten your moneys worth from them.
 
In nearly 10 years of use, the only places the polycoat finish on my very early model 97B show any significant wear are the inner frame rails and a spot where my wedding ring (I'm a southpaw) bears against the edge of the grip frame.

Bluing may be more aesthetically appealing, but heat cured polymer over a phosphate base is a damn sight more protective and durable. Especially on a weapon that's likely to be subjected to extended use under adverse conditions.

"Paint", it ain't.
 
Thanks for your replies gentlemen,,,

And especially for the pictures of your often used guns,,,
They made me feel a bit better about polycoat.

I was thinking it might be like the fragile "paint" finishes I have seen,,,
Those things look terrible after only a few months of use,,,
You have eased my mind a bit about this.

The particular pistol I had in mind (I should have said this in my original post),,,
Is the CZ 75 Kadet .22 LR model and it only comes in polycoat,,,
A matching CZ75B or CZ 75 BD are what I have in mind.

I absolutely love having a centerfire gun,,,
With a matching .22 LR handgun,,,
I have four revolver sets.

A short time ago I got to run two mags through an old CZ 75,,,
I absolutely fell in love with the grip and feel.

I'm a revolver guy at heart but want to own just one quality semi-auto,,,
The combo of the 9mm and the .22 LR are very appealing,,,
Especially as I did really like that old CZ 75.

Thanks again for going to the trouble of posting pics of your venerable polycoat handguns,,,
Like I said earlier, I was apprehensive but the pics prove polycoat is okay.

I think I swallowed some Czech Kool-Aid. ;)

.
 
The Kadet kit is fantastic and in my case has been more reliable than the 9mm it sits on! Not many 22's out there that will eat just about anything.
 
Is Polycoat thicker than similar finishes? I've never handled a CZ in person, but in all the pictures I've seen, the lettering/numbers on the gun always look a little "soft", as if they've been partially filled in by the coating.
 
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