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Jihoceska Zbrojovka, Pilsen & Strakonitz, Czechoslovakia. (1919-21) Ceska Zbrojovka, a.s. Prague & Strakonitz, Czechoslovakia. (1921- ) Soon after World War II the Ministry of the Interior requested a new pistol design from ČZUB, Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod, a major arms producer in the small town of Uherský Brod in the Czech province of Moravia. The result was the CZ-50 or VZ. 50. This pistol is a close copy of the Walther PP and PPK in .32 ACP. They were sold commercially but most were produced for police agencies under the control of the Ministry of the Interior. The CZ-50/70 is an unlocked, double action only, semi-automatic pistol with an eight round box magazine in the grip handle. It uses .32ACP ammunition and weighs 710g unloaded. The small, pocket-sized VZ.50 was developed during late 1940s for police use and it was chambered for the marginally powerful 7.65x17 Browning ammunition. Apparently influenced by the Walther PP in design, the VZ.50 had the safety on the frame and not on the slide, making it simpler. Disassembly was also different. The CZ50 was made of inferior materials and had a poor reputation for reliability. In the early 1970s the basic design went through minor face-lift, and the “new” design received the designation of VZ.70. The differences were small but important, and involved internal dimensions and improved materials. Many VZ.50 pistols were refurbished to VZ.70 standard, with different finish, grip panels and a slightly different safety lever. New Vz.70 pistols were also manufactured between 1970 and 1983 from much better materials. After the replacement in service of the older VZ.50 and VZ.70 by more modern 9mm VZ.82 pistol, most were sold as surplus, as CZ-50 and CZ-70, respectively. The VZ.50 (commercially sold as CZ-50) is a compact pistol of all-steel construction, firing the relatively weak 7.65mm ammunition. It has a simple blowback action with a fixed barrel. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and a frame-mounted de-cocking safety lever. The sights are fixed. Magazines are single stack. The magazine release button is located relatively high on the left side of the frame, behind the trigger. VZ.70 (CZ-70) pistols are similar, with minor differences in the finish, shape of the safety lever and grips. Manual safety is a lever at left side of the frame, behind the trigger guard. To set on safe: pull the lever down; if the hammer was cocked, it will be automatically brought down to rest. To disengage safety: push the lever up; a red dot will appear on the frame. How to field-strip (disassemble) CZ-50 and CZ-70 pistol: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) push the disassembly button, located at the right side of the frame, above the front of the trigger-guard; 4) while holding the disassembly button, retract the slide all the way back, raise the rear part of the slide off the rails, then slowly release it forward and off the barrel; 5) remove the return spring from the barrel. Reassemble in reverse order Pistols manufactured at Uherský Brod have 5-digit serial numbers preceded by a letter. That letter can change in the middle of a serial number series! The proof stamp is a lion superimposed on an "N", stamps on the left rear of the slide. The last two digits of the year of manufacture are stamped next to the proof stamp. Pistols manufactured at the Strakonice factory end in the 740,000 range.

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