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CZ's Embarrassing Volkspistoles: The CZ100 and CZ101 (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2022-10-03 12:00:06 +0000 UTCDeveloped in the 1990s and entering production in 1996, the CZ100 and CZ101 were CZ's first polymer-framed pistols. They were offered in both 9mm and .40S&W, with the CZ100 being a double stack design (magazine capacity 10 or 13 rounds) and the CZ101 being single stack (magazine capacity 7 or 8 rounds). Interestingly, the .40 caliber model included a ported barrel/slide from the factory.
The design intent was to create an inexpensive, very simple personal defense pistol - a sort of volkspistole if you will. In order to do this, there are a lot of polymer parts, like the rear sight and striker spring guide rod. The frame itself is polymer, without any metal reinforcement of the slide rails (although there is a metal insert for the locking cam to act on). In fact the polymer used isn't even a glass-reinforced one. CZ says that there was no undue wear after 15,000 rounds, but this design didn't inspire a lot of commercial confidence.
While the design is generally done to be very cheap, the striker involved an unusual locking block mounted on top of the slide, which is surprisingly complex to disassemble, and includes several very small parts and springs. The trigger is a double action one, with a very long pull and reset. This negates the need for a manual or trigger safety, but is not suited to precise shooting. A DA/SA style version (the CZ110) was release in 2000, but failed to become any more popular than the 100 and 101.
Ultimately, the pistols were disappointing form a commercial perspective. Production ended in 2007 after right about ten years, with a total of about 35,000 examples made including both calibers and all three models. CZ doesn't really like to talk about these pistol, but they used the experience to help develop the P10, which has been a far more successful and highly-regarded polymer-framed design.
Comments
Paul Beck
Apex Tupperware Trash!!! 😠
Manimal
If they had focused on size and weight instead of price they would have been innovative in the conceal carry market. I bought an early cz p07 in .40(purchased 2011), it really reminds me of these pistols. It is also relevant because the polymer frame buckled very quickly. It was eventually replaced with a much different pistol. Different profile, nitride instead of parkerized, reinforced frame, etc. They still had to take it back and do more, including a mirror polished feed ramp. I love cz, but they had a rough start with polymer, and flat nosed .40 cannot be treated like 9mm, feed wise. The pistol still runs perfectly for the record, but they definitely worked hard for it. I even offered to let them swap it for a 9mm, but they really wanted to fix it. I feel like my pistol was the one that got them off .40. In a way I wish it was 9mm, but was an interesting experience.
Guido Schriewer
lol.of course!
Guido Schriewer
those plastic rails would make me real nervy. wouldn't mind the long triggerpull but that reset is unacceptable. the takedown.. is this a joke? from cz I'd think a much much better design.
Falling Steel
Of course this is released when there’s a 100 on GunBroker… 😂
