CZ (Česká zbrojovka): a buyer's guide
CZ has made guns in Uherský Brod, Czech Republic since 1936. Shooters know it for the CZ 75 and its competition offspring, and for the Scorpion EVO 3 pistol-caliber carbine. CZ now owns Colt, too.
A short history
Česká zbrojovka traces back to an arms company founded in Strakonice in 1919. Its Uherský Brod factory, built in 1936, is the heart of the company today. CZ's American arm, CZ-USA, has been based in Kansas City, Kansas since 1998, and CZ has made some of its guns there.
In 2021 CZ bought Colt's Manufacturing Company and Colt Canada, and the parent company became the Colt CZ Group the next year. That makes CZ and Colt corporate siblings.
The guns CZ is known for
- CZ 75: the all-steel 9mm designed by František Koucký in the early 1970s. Its slide-inside-the-frame design and grip made it one of the most copied pistols in the world.
- Shadow 2: a heavy, steel-framed competition pistol built on the CZ 75 pattern, a favorite in USPSA Production and IDPA.
- P-10 series: CZ's striker-fired polymer pistols for carry and duty.
- Scorpion EVO 3: a 9mm submachine gun adopted by the Czech armed forces in 2011. Civilians buy it as the semi-automatic Scorpion EVO 3 S1 pistol or carbine, and it's a popular base for a short-barreled rifle build.
- CZ 457: a bolt-action rimfire rifle with a strong reputation for accuracy.
The Scorpion as an SBR
Many Scorpion owners turn the pistol version into an SBR by adding a stock, which makes it an NFA firearm. Because Alabama ties SBR possession to federal law, we still transfer SBRs on an approved ATF Form 4 (the tax stamp is $0). Our 2026 NFA update explains why.
Buying a CZ
- DA/SA or SA only. Many CZ 75 variants can be carried cocked-and-locked; others have a decocker. Check which one you're holding.
- Scorpion magazines and parts. The EVO 3 has a big aftermarket. Factory 20- and 30-round magazines are the most reliable starting point.
- Used steel CZs. Look at the slide rails and the barrel lug area, and ask how many rounds a competition gun has seen.
CZ at Trademark Guns
In stock now in Birmingham (2 items). Prices and availability are live from our inventory.
Common questions
- Where are CZ guns made?
- Mostly in Uherský Brod, Czech Republic. CZ-USA is based in Kansas City, Kansas.
- Does CZ own Colt?
- Yes. CZ bought Colt in 2021, and the parent company is now the Colt CZ Group.
- Do I need a Form 4 for a Scorpion SBR?
- At Trademark Guns we still transfer SBRs on an approved ATF Form 4 because Alabama law ties SBR possession to federal law. The federal tax stamp is $0.
Sources
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