No Serial Number
'U' marked pistol, full rig with unusual commercial holster -- VERY RARE - U2505
'U' marked pistol -- VERY RARE - U3045
Complete 'rig' with capture documents and information about the vet - 44656
High Polish Blue serial number range 21,400-200,000 (179,000 produced) - 67739
Complete 'rig' with two matched mags and matched numbered holster - 103684
Complete 'rig' with capture papers, customs papers, discharge papers, transcript of military service and sadly, his obituary.
Military Blue 'rig' with black holster - serial number range 200,000-261,000 (61,000 produced) - 242401
fnh CODE VARIATION
Military Blue serial number range 261,000-400,000 (139,000 produced) - 375977
Phosphate finish serial number range 400,000-476,000 (76,000 produced) - 421788
Phosphate finish serial number range 400,000-476,000 (76,000 produced) - 427603
Phosphate finish with silencer barrel - 437650
Phosphate finish serial number range 400,000-476,000 (76,000 produced) - 439651
POLICE VARIATION
1941 dated - 29427
1942 dated - 50773
1943 dated - 156642
No date with matched numbered mag (500 produced) - 239267
fnh Slide 'rig' with unmarked, black, pig skin holster (1,000 produced) - 301844
POST WAR VARIATION
fnh Code serial number range 476,000-485,000 (9,000 produced made from left over WWII parts) - 477130
1945 date - 478189
Sanitized gun - 533141
1947 date - 578275
1948 date - 588374
One of the more interesting and complicatedpursuits for a collector is studying the many pistols manufactured by Bohemian Arms Factory or CeskaZbrojovka. This company is part of a giant concern that has manufacturedpractically every military implement imaginable. The original Bren gun was a product of CZ. The modern CZ 75 scarcely needs introduction.
A pistol which I find interesting is the CZ Model 1927. The CZ 27 is basically a refined or simplified CZ (19)24 .The CZ 24 was in turn an outgrowth of the Model 1922. The CZ 24 was a compact, locked breech .380 ACP caliber pistol, About 190,000 were made, and a few sales were made to foreign military services, notably Poland. The CZ 24 was deemed too complicated for the cartridge. The CZ 27 reverted to simple blowback construction and the less powerful 7 .65 mm (.32 ACP ) cartridge. Frankly, we have fired each extensively and there is little to choose from between these minor calibers.A number of experienced shooters feel the .32 acp may be more feed-reliable, even more accurate than the larger round.Personal experience with the CZ pistols and the J P Sauer and Sohn 38H has shown the .32 ACP can be a surprisingly accurate round.Neither is as powerful as a common.38 Special by any means, so the argument is a moot point in terms of power.
More about the cartridge later.
The CZ 27 was made for police, security guards and commercial sales.Commercial guns often exhibit a deep, lustrous blue finish and straw colored hammer and trigger.The pistol illustrated is an early commercial model.These pistols are marked on the top rib.The inscription is BOHMISCHE WAFFENFABRIKA.G. IN PRAG. Pistole Modell 27 Kal. 7.65 is marked on the left side oftheframe.
Later pistols omitted the rib inscription in favor of a simpler mark on the left side of the frame.Wartime pistols were less well-finished but we have seen few rough examples.The CZ 24 was not produced after 1939, but several variations of the CZ 27 were produced apparently until 1951.
The early production variants are more desirable for collectors but all are good shooters.Total production reached about 700,000 pistols.While a sizable number, the CZ 27 was not produced on a scale with the Luger, Walther P-38, Browning Hi Power, or Colt 1911.
The CZ 24 is a standard single action exposed hammer autopistol.The safety is unusual in that it uses a button type release.When the pistol is cocked, the safety lever is pressed down if desired.Next, to release the lever, the button just below the lever is pressed.It is important to press this lever dead on as lateral pressure will not release the safety.For practical purposes, this safety may be ignored as I would be loathe to carry the CZ 24 cocked and locked.This is old steel and a design not comparable to the cocked and locked Colt in safety.
There is a magazine safety that prevents the pistol from firing if the magazine is removed from the gun.This is a common European safety device.
The single column magazine holds eight rounds of .32 ACP ammunition.The heel type magazine release does not lend itself well to fast reloading.This is another European device that is not without merit.Heel type magazine releases are less prone to dumping in the holster.They require the shooter to save the magazine rather than eject it in the field.The idea was that a soldier with other types of magazine releases might be prone to waste magazines and find himself with a single shot pistol after the battle.
Luckily, two magazines were available for this pistol.Both appeared original.After a thorough mechanical check, we were ready to fire the CZ 27.Examination showed all parts and surfaces appeared as new.
The load used for the majority of the firing test was Fiocchi’s ball ammunition. A load of proven quality, the full metal case bullet offers feed reliability.Despite the mechanical check, the first few rounds were fired with head turned and the pistol was fired into the ground.
With the safety check out of the way we proceeded to accuracy tests.The CZ 27 sets well in the hand, with a solid feel.The rear hump of the grip frame is not elongated by any means but hammer bite, as often experienced with the Walther P series pistols, is not possible.
The sights are not bad at all, a pronounced rear V mated with a front post.They are well regulated to 15 yards.Many small pistols have vestigial sights and rough trigger actions, making practical accuracy difficult.
Not so the CZ.Trigger compression was about four pounds, with no drag and little overtravel.Combined with the pistol’s fixed barrel and good sights excellent accuracy potential exists.At a long fifty feet, we were able to secure several 2 inch groups. This is adequate for the intended mission.
The pistol exhibits little recoil, simply hanging on the target.It is easy to understand why some shooters appreciate the .32 for defense use.It is easy to fire and fire well.The cartridge’s construction is far more resistant to oil, water and solvent than any rimfire.The .32 ACP case is dated by a semi-rim but offers good feed reliability.No .32, even the .32-20, is a powerhouse but the .32 acp breaks 1,000 fps with it’s standard 71 grain .308 inch bullet.In comparison the 98 grain .32 Smith and Wesson Long revolver cartridge loading clocks 638 fps from a like barrel length.
It has been said these little bullets will do the job if you put them in the right place.This may be true, but if they have no chance of penetrating to the right place they cannot take effect.Leather jackets and bones stop most .32 caliber bullets short.I have observed .32 caliber bullets bouncing back when fired at a tree or fence post!Modern research using ballistic gelatin confirms the.32’s don’t get it as defense weapons, which we have known all along.
Frankly, this bothers me not at all.I find the CZ 27 an enjoyable pistol in a battery that includes the High Power 9mm and Colt 1911 .45 acp.It is that most enjoyable of pistols, a recreational plinker with a bit of historical significance.My CZ is not a defense gun or a competition pistol, it is simply a nice gun and an artifact to enjoy.
My young son enjoys firing this pistol.It is quite accurate at short ranges and light enough for easy manipulation.The CZ 27 is a fine pistol for breaking young shooters in on centerfire pistols.This type of quality would be very expensive in a modern pistol, which makes any CZ found at a reasonable price an excellent investment.
If you must put a CZ to work it would not be a bad field pistol, more than capable oftaking certain types of small game and pests at moderate ranges.All types of possible shots at long range may be taken with this pistol, and sometimes we connect with dead limbs and the like at unspeakable ranges.
Perhaps a collector may not approve of shooting this pistol, but it is not completely new, just in very nice condition.The same type of debate exists among those who fly old aircraft.As the supply of Merlin and Allison engines wanes, many question the wisdom of flying the older aircraft.As for me, I’ll be firing any old gun that is safe to use as long as I am able!
At present, these pistols seem to bringing in the two hundred dollar range, although an exceptionally nice pistol my bring a premium of up to three hundred dollars.
The CZ pistols are all interesting and well made.If you have a chance to purchase a Model 27, don’t hesitate.Just enjoy it for its own merits and don’t try and put it to work!
R.K. Campbell
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