CZ - 75 The CZ - 75 is a semi - automatic pistol based on the Browning Hi - Power made in 1975 by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod ( CZUB ) in the Czech Republic . Description . The CZ - 75 pistol was developed by the Koucky brothers , who worked at the state - owned arms factory Ceska Zbrojovka ( CZ ) in the city of Uhersky Brod ( Czechoslovakia , now Czech republic ) . This full - size semiautomatic pistol first appeared in the 1975 , and the production began circa 1976 . CZ - 75 was obviously intended for the export market . The CZ - 75 accumulated best features from many preceding designs . Resulting pistol was aesthetically attractive , comfortable to handle and shoot , quite accurate and reliable in operation . Made by CZ in various versions and modifications , CZ - 75 was also widely copied and cloned . Most popular of CZ - 75 copies are ( or were ) made by : IMI ( IMI Jericho - 941 , " Israel " ) , Tanfoglio ( TZ - 75 , TZ - 90 , T - 95 , " Italy " ) , Sarsilmaz ( M2000 , " Turkey " ) , ITM ( AT - 88 , " Swiss " ) , Sphinx ( mod . 2000 , " Swiss " ) , Norinco ( NZ - 75 , " China " ) , Springfield ( P9 , " USA " ) . CZ - 75 is now in service with Czech police ( in the form of compact CZ - 75 P - 01 ) . It is also used by Turkish police , and by several police departments in USA . By opinions of most experts , CZ - 75 is one of the best combat pistols in its class . CZ - 75 is a short recoil operated , locked breech pistol . It uses a fairy standard Browning locking system , with cam - shaped cut below the barrel , which lowers the barrel on recoil stroke . Barrel locks into slide with two locking lugs , located just ahead of the ejection port . The slide rides on the internal rails , machined on inside of the frame . This system , originated by the Swiss SIG - P210 pistol , provides more smooth cycle and better tolerances , resulting in greater accuracy . In basic models , the double action trigger system with exposed hammer has a frame mounted manual safety , which allows for " cocked and locked " carry . Since the late 1980s , all CZ - 75 type pistols are fitted with internal firing pin safety . Models with firing pin safety are indicated with " B " index , for example CZ - 75B , CZ - 75BD . All full - size CZ - 75 have all - steel construction ; several compact models , including CZ - 75 P - 01 , have aluminum frames with steel slides . There are several variations of the trigger system , available in various models . First is decock - only system ( frame - mounted decocker lever , with no manual safety , in models CZ - 75BD , CZ - 75 BD Compact , CZ - 75 P - 01 ) . Second is the Double action only system , with no manual safety and spur - less hammer ( models CZ - 75DAO ) . Third is the Single action system , with manual frame mounted safety , intended mostly for sport shooting under IPSC rules ( CZ - 75SA ) . In all versions , manual safety or decocking lever is located only at the left side of the frame , as well as the slide stop . The completely ambidextrous version of the CZ - 75 is the CZ - 85 . Standard models of CZ - 75 are fitted with fixed sights , with the rear sight being dovetailed into the slide . " Combat " and IPSC models are fitted with adjustable rear sights . The Semi - compact models of CZ - 75 have the same frame as basic guns , but have slide and barrel shortened by 20mm ( . 78 inch ) ; Compact models also have shorter grip frame , which holds only 13 rounds of ammunition ( standard magazines will also fit , but will protrude from the bottom of the grip ) . The CZ - 75 P - 01 , which is a standard gun for Czech police since 2001 , is based on the Cz - 75BD Compact , but also featured an accessory rail under the barrel , which is usually fitted with tactical flashlight . Probably most rare version of the CZ - 75 is the CZ - 75 Automatic , a selective - fire version of the basic pistol , which can fire either in semi - auto or in full auto , with rate of fire about 1 , 000 rounds per minute . The CZ - 75 Automatic first appeared circa 1992 , and is intended for special police and military forces . To help control the gun , a spare magazine can be fitted upside down into special holder under the barrel ; it then serve as a front grip . Early models of CZ - 75 Automatic were fitted with longer barrels with integral compensators ; latest models have standard barrels . Early models of CZ - 75 were offered with 15 - round double stack magazines ; present models are offered with 16 - rounds magazines ( 9mm full - size models ) , 12 - rounds magazines ( . 40SW models ) or with 13 - rounds magazines ( 9mm Compact models ) . For US market , those guns are offered with 10 - round magazines . Variants . CZ variants of the CZ 75 include : CZ - 75 CZ 75 Compact CZ 75 SP - 01 / SP - 01 Tactical CZ - 75 SP - 01 Phantom CZ 2075 RAMI CZ - 75 Kadet