CZ

We have a scarce Czech 1950 CZ 45 (vz. 45) pocket pistol in nice condition, with a hard-to-find original brown leather holster, and one eight-round magazine. Overall condition 75% very light pitting on front top and side of slide. The Vzor 45 (Czech for “Model 45”), commonly known as CZ 45 is a compact blowback operated semi-automatic pistol chambered in .25 ACP. It was made in Czechoslovakia and later in the Czech Republic. CZ 45 was derived from the CZ 36 designed by the prolific Czech engineer, František Myška, in 1934 and produced by Česka Zbrojovka from 1936 to 1940. Because of war demands, production of the CZ 36 ceased in 1942. In 1945 the CZ 36 was redesigned by Jan Kratochvil to make it easier to manufacture and became the Vzor 45. The safety lever, which had sometimes appeared on the CZ 36, was eliminated. Production of CZ 45 began in 1946 (with the serial numbers continuing from the CZ 36) and ended in 1959. Our pistol (Serial Number 115481) was manufactured in Strakonice. CZ 45 pistols, produced in Strakonice during 1945-1952, display the following text on the left side of the slide: “ČESKÁ ZBROJOVKA - NÁRODNÍ PODNIK STRAKONICE”. Like all CZ 45 pistols manufactured in the year 1948 and later, our pistol displays “MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA” on the left side. The CZ 45 holds 8 rounds in the magazine and has a simple groove down the top of the slide for sighting. After the termination of firearms manufacture at Strakonice, manufacturing was transferred to the primary branch of Česka Zbrojovka at Uhersky Brod. The pistol is fitted with original one piece checkered Bakelite excellent grips with no cracks or chips, with the “ČZ” logos molded on the top.