CZ50
The CZ50 was designed immediately following World War II by brothers Jan and Jaroslav Kratchovil and intended as a military and police sidearm. Initially designated as the Model 006 during development, it was designated the Vzor 50 for its first-year production date after acceptance. It was widely used as a police Czech Police firearm, but it’s military place was assigned to the more powerful CZ52.
It is a 7.65mm (.32cal) double-action semiautomatic pistol with a profile very similar to the Walther PP. The magazine holds 8 rounds. The pistol is approximately 6.7-inches long with a barrel length of approximately 3.75-inches. Overall empty weight is 24 ounces.
The CZ50 was actually produced from 1950-1970 with a brief break in production from 1952-1957. The Ceská Zbrojovka armory at Strakonice was the initial production site for the the CZ50. CZ ceased production of the CZ50 and began concentrating on production of the CZ52 for the military between 1952-1954. CZ – Strakonice ceased all production of pistols in 1955. Approximately 90,000 CZ50s were produced at Strakonice between 1950 and 1952 with serial numbers ranging from 650001 to about 740000. Interestingly, the first CZ50 (sn 650001) was numbered to succeed the last CZ27 (sn 650000).
In 1955, all production of pistols for the Czechs moved to the Presne Strojirenstvi factory at Uhersky Brod where CZ50 production restarted in 1957. It is unknown how many were produced by Presne Strojirenstvi after 1955, as there does not appear to have been a single coherent system of assigning serial numbers. Pistols produced by Presne Strojirenstvi will generally have a five digit numeric and alpha combination for the serial number. The placement of the alpha characters changes location within the serial number from time to time and no determination has been made as to what system was being used or how many post-1957 pistols were produced.
Early production CZ50s will have 6-digit serial numbers. They will also bear the manufacture marks Ceská Zbrojovka on the top line and a lower line of NAR. PODNIK STRAKONICE on the left slide (llustration at right). Later production Strakonice pistols may also be marked in a single line with CESKA ZBROJOVKA – PRAHA while post 1957s manufactured at Uhersky Brod will have a 5-digit serial numbers (possibly mixed alpha-numeric) and will be marked VZOR 50 CAL 7.65 and MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA on the left slide.
While the CZ50 was produced both for commercial and government use, pistols purchased by the Czech Ministry of the Interior will bear a crossed-sword proof mark and a two-digit number denoting the year of acceptance by the agency. The vast majority of early CZ50s went for Czech police use.
In 1970, several modifications (mainly cosmetic) were made to the CZ50 and it was redesignated as the CZ70 for strictly commercial sale. The rugged blue police pistol known as the CZ50 faded into history but lived on as the CZ70, available in several finishes. Other than various finishes, the modifications made to create the CZ70 were minor and a blued CZ70 is almost indistinguishable from a CZ50. The CZ50/70 line was ceased production in 1982 and was replaced by the CZ82. The 9mm Parabellum CZ82 actually served to replace the CZ50 in police use and the CZ52 in military use.
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