CZ 75 Legend: How the Czech pistol design conquered the world in just fifty years

The Czech firearms manufacturer Česká zbrojovka (CZ) presented the long-announced CZ 75 Legend at the SHOT Show 2026 in Las Vegas – a newly manufactured pistol with a true-to-original "vintage look" and also a tribute to one of the most influential designs in handgun history. Let's take a look back half a century together:

The CZ 75, designed as an all-steel firearm, was originated in the early 1970s in what was then Czechoslovakia as a modern pistol intended primarily for export to Western markets, which brought in foreign currency. The world of firearms was changing dramatically. The 9mm Luger cartridge was replacing other cartridges in military and police service. But not in Czechoslovakia, which was still part of the Eastern Bloc at the time. These countries mainly relied on the 9x18 mm Makarov. Other countries also had rather outdated pistols as service guns, most of which were only equipped with a small capacity: the Walther P1, aka P38, the German Bundeswehr pistol, only had eight rounds in the magazine; the Swiss and expensive SIG P-210, while boasting an excellent trigger, was only available as a single-action pistol and not as a double-action, a feature required by modern specifications. The Belgian FN Highpower, which was otherwise the measure of all things in terms of firepower with its 13 cartridges in the magazine, also suffered from a rather average trigger.

CZ designer Frantisek Koucky (1907-1994), who is considered one of the most important gun developers of his time, was actually already of retirement age when he received the order from CZ for a completely different pistol. Together with his brother Josef, he had already developed the ZK-383 submachine gun, the ZKK 600 hunting rifle and the ZKM-452 bolt-action rifles in .22 LR, which later gave rise to the current CZ 457 series of rifles (the abbreviation ZK stands for zbrojovka Koucky). Frantisek Koucky could only draw on his experience, his technical flair and his deep understanding of how firearms should work. After all, the CZ 75 was developed without modern computer technology or simulations, yet its concept was a whole generation ahead of its time.

It combined features that were unique in this form at the time: exceptional shooting comfort, low recoil, a smooth DA/SA trigger and an above-average capacity thanks to its double-stack magazine. All this was packed into a compact all-metal design. This combination led to the term "Wonder Nine" and became the starting point for the modern class of 9mm Luger service pistols, even though the more modern models would later feature polymer frames.

CZ 75: The ingenious design brings advantages in operation and shooting behaviour

One of the key design features of the CZ 75 is its ergonomics. Despite the high magazine capacity (initially 15, later 16 rounds), the shape of the grip allows for a natural and secure hold for shooters with different hand sizes. It thus became a reference for a large number of subsequent designs. The unusual slide guides inside the frame, which were probably borrowed from the SIG P210, also play an important role: they enable a higher grip and thus a lower barrel bore axis above the hand. They also reduce slide weight, while contributing to lower recoil and better control when shooting.

The action of the CZ 75 was based on the proven Browning tilting barrel system, with two lugs on top and closed cam track, which John M. Browning had already used for the FN Grand Puissance (aka High Power) and before that for the legendary Colt M 1911. The uniqueness of the CZ 75 is also emphasised by its single and double-action trigger. The patented single-arm lever solution enables a light, smooth and consistent trigger pull in both SA and DA mode, which was quite exceptional for pistols in this category at the time of its development.

Thanks to its advanced design, the CZ 75 has become one of the most copied handguns in the world, second only to the legendary Colt 1911 pistol. Paradoxically, this was aided by the fact that patents for this design were kept secret, due to its potential for service use, and were not publicly available. Due to the lack of any known patent protection, the CZ 75 became an inspiration for dozens of manufacturers and laid the foundation for an entire design family that is still being actively developed today: Italy with the Tanfoglio pistols, Switzerland with first Sphinx and now Phoenix models, China with the Norinco NZ 75 pistol, England with the Spitfire models, plus many small-series or customized models from a wide range of manufacturers and gunsmiths. The accessories market also offers numerous options for customising a standard CZ 75.

After 1989, the manufacturer was able to develop the CZ 75 platform itself into an extensive range of service, civilian and sport pistols. Its technical heritage lives on to this day, for example in the CZ Shadow pistol series, which dominates IPSC competitions worldwide. Nevertheless, the original CZ 75 holds a special place in the history of handguns as a pistol that shaped an entire segment (see all4shooters.com for a summary of CZ 75's history).

The CZ 75 Legend, introduced as a production gun at the 2026 SHOT Show, is a tribute to this heritage. It offers the opportunity to acquire a newly manufactured pistol with an authentic design that matches the original model from the 1970s and reminds us that true legends never grow old.

CZ 75 Legend anniversary model technical specifications

Further CZ 75 variants and descendants for collectors and competition shooters

One particularly unusual piece was the strictly limited CZ 75 RAF, of which only 56 were produced in 2025.

A gold-plated two-piece set consisting of a CZ 75 in 9mm and a Colt M1911 in .45 ACP was issued in a limited edition of 50 in 2022 because CZ had incorporated the legendary US company Colt into its group in 2021.

Overview at all4shooters.com of the CZ 75 and its numerous clones and variants.

50 years of the CZ 75: its history and current variants.