A surface that resembles the riveted body panels on a Spitfire fighter plane; a slide with ports inspired by the exhaust stacks of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine; the design of the grips based on the wings of the Spitfire. Even the aluminum case is inspired by the Spitfire's oil tank. The CZ 75 RAF Limited Edition is a 9mm pistol designed to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and to pay tribute to Czechoslovak pilots and ground personnel who fought for their occupied country in the ranks of the British Royal Air Force. Just 56 pieces will be made.
CZ 75 RAF, a masterpiece full of unique details
The CZ 75 RAF is the result of collaborations between CZ, the Military History Institute in Prague and renowned Czech artists, illustrators and master engravers, so that every detail refers to the history, skill and courage of Czechoslovak pilots and to the most famous British fighter plane of the time, the Supermarine Spitfire. In fact, in this case it's not the pistol per se – the 9mm CZ 75 needs no introduction – but the many details that make this collectors' special edition really unique.
Starting from the surface of the pistol, that resembles the riveted body panels on a Spitfire and where the Rainbow Blue controls stand out. The ports on the slide are inspired by the exhaust stacks of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that equipped the famous British fighter, and even the design of the grips is based on the “humps” found on the wings of the Spitfire: moreover, on the left grip you find a silver Czechoslovakian badge of a field observer-pilot.
The cocking serrations on the rear of the slide are reminiscent of the circlet in the RAF roundel. Decoration is completed by the badge of the Czechoslovak Air Force on the left of the slide, an engraving of an RAF pilot’s badge on the magazine base plate, a circlet (RAF roundel) in silver on the right side of the frame, and the motto PER ARDUA AD ASTRA (“Through adversity to the stars”, the RAF motto since 1918) behind it.
All CZ 75 RAF pistols are made of chrome-molybdenum steel and sport a nickel finish with polished ribs on the grips. They bear unique serial numbers, whose format refers to the four Czechoslovak squadrons of the Royal Air Force – 310, 311, 312, and 313 – with a total of 14 CZ 75 RAF pistols being produced to honor each one. On the front of the slide, on the barrel, and below the number on the slide, is the squadron number to which the pistol belongs.
The pistol case – by master engraver Rene Ondra – is equally extraordinary: made of aluminum alloy and shaped like the oil tank of the Spitfire, its surface is inspired by the ribs on the plane’s wings; the outside of the lid resembles a cockpit windscreen, while the "gauges" engraved inside are based on the Spitfire's instrument panel. The package is rich: in the cardboard box that houses the aluminum case, each pistol comes with a beautiful embroidered patch that features the squadron badge to which the pistol is dedicated, a replica of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) under which you will find a Spitfire-shaped key for the case lock, a certificate of authenticity, a brochure with information about Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF, and a hand-painted and signed illustration of the WW2 Spitfire by Czech painter and illustrator Jaroslav Velc. The box comes with a handwritten signature by the well-known Czech artist David Cerny, co-designer of some of the components featured in this limited edition.
Unfortunately, the exclusive CZ 75 RAF can't be bought: the limited edition pistol will be offered at online auction – the exact date will be announced soon.
For more information on the CZ 75 RAF Limited Edition please visit the CZ dedicated webpage.
