Cool Guns/Handguns: Difference between revisions

A 9mm pistol created by the Czech state arms factory (later privatized as Česká zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod), the CZ75 was one of the more highly praised of the "Wonder Nines;" even famed M1911 advocate Colonel Jeff Cooper grudgingly admitted that if you absolutely ''had'' to have a 9mm, it might as well be this one, and based his Bren Ten design on the weapon. Praised for its appearance (vaguely reminiscent of the M1911 and particularly its 9mm cousin, the Browning Hi-Power), grip, and accuracy, and noted for being subject to a [https://web.archive.org/web/20130713184010/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_167_28/ai_110457315/ truly ridiculous string of abuse] during trials. Unlike most semiautomatic pistols, the slide assembly actually rides inside of the frame, allowing the weapon both large tolerances for dirt and oil while maintaining good accuracy. In addition and unlike most 9mm pistols, the default safety is not a decocker model, allowing 1911-style "cocked and locked" carry. A number of clone manufacturers exist, aided by the fact that CZ used a secret patent (allowed in Czechoslovakia but not recognized by many other countries), and CZ itself has released new polymer and steel-framed tactical variants. Due to its high praise at a period in which East-West relations were [[Cold War|not very warm]], the original "short rail" and "pre-B" models were [[No Export for You|at a premium price point, commanding up to a thousand dollars apiece in 1980s dollars]]. Since large-scale importation of CZ pistols began in 1993, prices have subsided to the "normal" range for imported service pistols.