One
of the more interesting and complicated
pursuits for a collector is studying the many pistols
manufactured by Bohemian Arms Factory or Ceska
Zbrojovka. This company is part of a giant concern
that has manufactured
practically 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 WAFFENFABRIK
A.G. IN PRAG. Pistole Modell 27 Kal. 7.65 is marked
on the left side of
the
frame.
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 of
taking 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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