CZ turns 85!

It's a big birthday this year for Euro gunmaker CZ; the company celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2021, and is celebrating with two special-edition firearms.

CZ (it stands for Ceska zbrojovka) is the largest firearms manufacturer in the EU. Based in the Czech Republic, the company's history is a tale of survival. Founded in the years directly preceding World War II, CZ was originally managed by the Czechoslovakian government, cranking out machine guns for aircraft.

At war's end, the factory shifted its production towards small arms. During the Soviet era, the factory manufactured the vz. 58 assault rifle and vz. 61 Skorpion submachine gun, as well as pistols, including the highly-regarded CZ 75. CZ also built ZKM rimfire rifles and ZKK centerfire rifles. The company also manufactured the Slavia-branded air rifles that started many Canadians' shooting careers (a brand that also still exists today).

Western markets had limited access, or no access at all, to most of these firearms until the fall of the Soviet Union. When that happened, the firearms production facility in Uherský Brod reformed as Ceska zbrojovka Uhersky Brod in 1992, with a focus on export. In the years since, CZ has become a well-respected brand around the world, with lines of reliable and accurate rimfires, light and heavy hunting rifles, tactical rifles, and handguns. In 1997, the CZ-USA subsidiary was a major boost, as it facilitated the company's entry into the rich US market.

The result of that success was, in the 2000s, CZ started acquiring other companies. CZ bought the Brno rifle brand in 2004, and snapped up Dan Wesson Firearms in 2005. More recently, CZ bought Colt and Colt Canada in 2021. CZ has also opened production facilities in South America and the US in recent years. Currently, CZ firearms are officially distributed in 90 countries.

All in all, it's been a busy 85 years, and it's a testament to the company's commitment to its business that it's managed to overcome adversities of war and oppressive government in its beginning years to become a major player in the current era of trans-continental trade. It's also a credit to the people behind the plant. The Czech population were determined to recover from Soviet domination and not only rebuild their domestic armaments manufacturing program, but also forge into their new free-market future.

CZ is celebrating its anniversary with two special-edition firearms for 2021. There's a CZ 557 85th Anniversary model, and a CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow 85th Anniversary model. Mechanically, they're the same as the standard model; a special finish sets them apart from ordinary production models. Both will have a production run of 2,000; we have not heard of Canadian availability or pricing at this point.