CZ SP - Shadow - Orange - Canadian differences?

wayupnorth

wayupnorth

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what is the difference between all the CZ pistol models?
i know they are nice guns, my dad has a SP-01 shadow with rear target sites and its a really nice gun.
ive often thought of picking one up and i think i might, but i started looking at them and i cant tell the difference between them all.
well, the prices are different but even the CZ web page dosnt really say what all the differences are.

out of the ones i can see or have seen there are the normal models that we can see and get up here.

CZ 75 B $675
CZ 75 Shadow $830
CZ 75 SP-01 $850
CZ 75 ShadowLine $1100
CZ Orange $1275
CZ Canadian $1400

now the prices on there are just ballpark what i saw tonight.
so my question is - what is the difference?
what makes a Orange worth $400 more then a shadow?
cause the orange grips and base pads are not worth $400 i dont think, unless they massage your hands while you shoot?
so i assume we are talking difference in some internal work?

if anyone knows can ya chime in and let me know.

im just trying to decide if if i should just flip a coin between the $20 difference between a shadow or SP-01 or if there really is a reasonable reason to drop the extra $300-$400 for a shadowline or Orange or a Canadian for that matter.
 
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I have a 75b Omega and a SP-01 Shadow.

Shadow is a bit heavier and has the rail on the front. Grips are also a tab bit thicker than the Omega. The Shadow has the fibre optic sight, which is nice. Both are nice guns, but I'm putting the Omega up for sale since I don't shoot it as much now that I have the Shadow.
 
I purchased a SP-01 standard about a year ago and compared it to an Orange that was supposed to have some trigger work.. there was a slight difference in the trigger pull but very small.. I was cheap and got the SP Shadow and it'd been my best shooter of all..

The various models are somewhat confusing in what they offer and other than trigger I don't see to much that is worth the extra money if at all, in my case I must have received a mid week gun because it has smoothed out to an unbelievably great gun..
 
bandoleer said:
do you know who has the orange in stock?
send me a pm if you don't want to post it here.
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I bought an Orange last April from a dealer in Peterborough, ON. Had called all possible CZ dealers from coast to coast and they only had one in stock. Was some kind of old stock since they've been replaced with the Canadian edition (same gun, different grips). There's 3 levels of Canadian Shadows the Shadowmate version with low profile safeties and fibre optic rear sight is the top one with the most work done to it from factory (I bought one of those 3 weeks ago)
 
I went with the 75 Shadowline without the rail which is I think the same gun as the Shadowmate series only without the rail I had a Shadow and found it muzzle heavy - just personal preference nothing serious as it was a great shooter.

I have to be honest, I don't think the difference in price is really worth it. I certainly did not expect the gun to turn me into Adam Tyc or Bob Vogel but it looks good. The gun is very nice and looks good and looks good and well that is about it. The features are nice but they aren't about to make me a better shooter. I suspect the extra couple hundred dollars spent on ammo to practice would have, but the gun sure looks good.

Locally Troy will still hand me my a$$ any time he decides to slow down but he won't do it with a better looking gun. Take that Troy! :>)

Merry Christmas

Bob
 
quick and dirty run down

CZ 75 B $675-firing pin block, no rail, couple more things, not as competitiony as a shadow
CZ 75 Shadow $830-base
CZ 75 SP-01 $850-still has the firing pin block, slide is different than a shadow, different sights as well
CZ 75 ShadowLine $1100-aluminium grips, flush safties (usually), 85 combat trigger, weird hammer. no special fitting or anything, its a shadow with the mods everyone does already done. the specs on these seem to vary slightly as well so this is rule of thumb
CZ Orange $1275-hand fit at the cz factory, orange aluminum grips, I think it has the 85 trigger as well, comes with a bunch of extras that standard guns dont come with. Blued finish instead of painted finish as well
CZ Canadian $1400-same as an orange, just has canadian grips and FO rear sight. Also comes with aluminum sleeves for 10 round mag base pads (3 iirc)
shadowmate-different name, will have roughly the same specs as whatever is listed above that is closest in price
 
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heavenIsAlie said:
quick and dirty run down

CZ 75 B $675-firing pin block, no rail, couple more things, not as competitiony as a shadow
CZ 75 Shadow $830-still has the firing pin block, slide is different than a shadow, different sights as well
CZ 75 SP-01 $850-base
CZ 75 ShadowLine $1100-aluminium grips, flush safties (usually), 85 combat trigger, weird hammer. no special fitting or anything, its a shadow with the mods everyone does already done. the specs on these seem to vary slightly as well so this is rule of thumb
CZ Orange $1275-hand fit at the cz factory, orange aluminum grips, FO rear sight, I think it has the 85 trigger as well, comes with a bunch of extras that standard guns dont come with.
CZ Canadian $1400-same as an orange, just has canadian grips. Also comes with aluminum sleeves for 10 round mag base pads (3 iirc)
shadowmate-different name, will have roughly the same specs as whatever is listed above that is closest in price
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I haven't heard of Shadows ever having FPB, are you sure? Link?
 
heavenIsAlie said:
quick and dirty run down

CZ 75 B $675-firing pin block, no rail, couple more things, not as competitiony as a shadow
CZ 75 Shadow $830-still has the firing pin block, slide is different than a shadow, different sights as well
CZ 75 SP-01 $850-base
CZ 75 ShadowLine $1100-aluminium grips, flush safties (usually), 85 combat trigger, weird hammer. no special fitting or anything, its a shadow with the mods everyone does already done. the specs on these seem to vary slightly as well so this is rule of thumb
CZ Orange $1275-hand fit at the cz factory, orange aluminum grips, FO rear sight, I think it has the 85 trigger as well, comes with a bunch of extras that standard guns dont come with.
CZ Canadian $1400-same as an orange, just has canadian grips. Also comes with aluminum sleeves for 10 round mag base pads (3 iirc)
shadowmate-different name, will have roughly the same specs as whatever is listed above that is closest in price
Click to expand...

The Shadows don't have a firing pin block and the Shadowline has trigger work done by the factory and the 75 Shadowline differs from the SP-01 Shadowline in that it does not have the rail. The Aluminum grips are the thin versions. The mag release is the Competition release and seems longer than the Shadow I had. Frankly almost to long for my liking. If the Canadian is $300 more than the Shadowline then the embossed grips and mags are being sold for $300. IMHO.

Take Care

Bob
 
heavenIsAlie said:
quick and dirty run down

CZ 75 B $675-firing pin block, no rail, couple more things, not as competitiony as a shadow
CZ 75 Shadow $830-still has the firing pin block, slide is different than a shadow, different sights as well
CZ 75 SP-01 $850-base
CZ 75 ShadowLine $1100-aluminium grips, flush safties (usually), 85 combat trigger, weird hammer. no special fitting or anything, its a shadow with the mods everyone does already done. the specs on these seem to vary slightly as well so this is rule of thumb
CZ Orange $1275-hand fit at the cz factory, orange aluminum grips, FO rear sight, I think it has the 85 trigger as well, comes with a bunch of extras that standard guns dont come with.
CZ Canadian $1400-same as an orange, just has canadian grips. Also comes with aluminum sleeves for 10 round mag base pads (3 iirc)
shadowmate-different name, will have roughly the same specs as whatever is listed above that is closest in price
Click to expand...

The Orange doesn't come with FO rear sight nor have the low profile safeties, does have the standard thin & curved Shadow trigger.
 
Canuck44 said:
The Shadows don't have a firing pin block and the Shadowline has trigger work done by the factory and the 75 Shadowline differs from the SP-01 Shadowline in that it does not have the rail. The Aluminum grips are the thin versions. The mag release is the Competition release and seems longer than the Shadow I had. Frankly almost to long for my liking. If the Canadian is $300 more than the Shadowline then the embossed grips and mags are being sold for $300. IMHO.

Take Care

Bob
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I have to agree with that. I bought the Shadowline. $300 for fugly grips didin't appeal to me. I love my CZ and shoot it very well.
 
I switched up the sp-01 and the shadow when I was typing, edit my post. Shadow=no firing pin block, sp-01 = firing pin block

yes the number 75 in front of any of the models (the make a 75 shadow now, 75 shadowline, ect) means that its the short dust cover like a standard 75 but in all other purposes the descriptions are the same.

the shadowline is not fit with anymore care than a standard shadow, the trigger difference you feel is because of the hammer they use in them. I've held, played with, shot at least 3 examples (usually more) of all the guns, including the canadians and oranges. Canadians and oranges have hand fits between the barrel and the slide, slide to frame, trigger, and they ahve a blued instead of a paint finish (added to my post as well since I forgot about it)
 
also the problem with all the shadow models is that half the time what parts are in/on the gun vary by batch. I've seen Canadians that came with standard triggers, oranges with slim safeties, all sorts of different hammers, different rear sights as well.

edit: I also agree, just buy the shadowline. the more expensive ones are nice but not needed.
 
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The slim safeties are on the 75 Shadowline I assume because both IPSC Production and IDPA SSP Division require a hammer down start so the safety is redundant. (I know the slim safeties come from one of their compact models). Personally I prefer the regular safety levers found on the Shadow or the basic 75B and may have mine changed out. The 75 Shadowline is nice but for anyone shooting and still raising a family I would just buy the regular Shadow or an 85 Combat and have someone do a trigger job on the gun. My 85 Combat that has been worked on has exactly the same trigger pull or a bit better. The slim aluminum grips are great and I may change out my 85 Combat grips to match. Hell I mgiht be able to be a decent shooter yet. Just add on features. Ah well the dream lives.

Take Care

Bob
 
Harry Callahan said:
I bought an Orange last April from a dealer in Peterborough, ON. Had called all possible CZ dealers from coast to coast and they only had one in stock. Was some kind of old stock since they've been replaced with the Canadian edition (same gun, different grips). There's 3 levels of Canadian Shadows the Shadowmate version with low profile safeties and fibre optic rear sight is the top one with the most work done to it from factory (I bought one of those 3 weeks ago)
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there are 3 different levels of the Canadian?

what the hell, i cant even find the Canadian listed on their webpage let alone 3 different models of it.
while ill admit CZ makes some nice shooting guns its almost too confusing to try to get into them!

so Harry, can you list what the 3 different versions of the Canadian are?
 
i was just doing some more looking into the Canadian ones and all the ones i see all look to be the same.
FO front site with a black novak rear site.


The 75 SP-01 Shadow 9mm handgun from CZ features an integral 1913 accessory rail on the dust cover and CZ’s corrosion resistant black or silver polycoat finish. The Shadow has no firing pin block, which helps to slightly reduce trigger pull weight and improve trigger travel properties. Its pistol frame has a recess beneath the trigger guard and beavertail for higher grip. Features a fiber optic front sight and tactical “Novak style” rear sight to promote much easier, faster and more accurate target acquisition.

These special Canadian editions feature a number of significant enhancements over the standard Shadow model. Most obvious is the aluminium long grooved grip in red with a laser engraved Maple leaf. However the major functional differences are in the tuning of the pistol completed by a CZ factory gunsmith. This tuning includes burnishing of the barrel and all functional surfaces, tuning the trigger mechanism, and installation of an 11lb recoil spring. The Canadian edition also comes with 3 magazines, each has an aluminium base in matching red to compliment the pistol's grip plates.
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wayupnorth said:
there are 3 different levels of the Canadian?

what the hell, i cant even find the Canadian listed on their webpage let alone 3 different models of it.
while ill admit CZ makes some nice shooting guns its almost too confusing to try to get into them!

so Harry, can you list what the 3 different versions of the Canadian are?
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Sure.

The first Canadian ed. we saw in 2012 (but were manuf. in late 2011) had the plain combat hammer, higher profile rear sight, 1.5mm FO front sight & didn't get the custom treatment from factory (basic fit & tuning by a smith). Both black & silver finish were also available back then. They were selling for around $1050-$1100.

The «newer» Canadian edition version came in 2013 (manuf. in 2012) with somewhat of a better slide/frame fit and the new competition hammer. Going for $1200+.

With this version came the Orange with an even better fit, polished barrel, smoother trigger and orange thin aluminum grips. $1275-$1400+.

Now there's two versions available; one with an unpolished barrel, regular safeties, beveled rear sight w/o FO inserts, a 1mm FO front sight and a better fit than the plain Shadow & Shadowline pistols. The top of the line gun is called the Shadowmate with the factory polished barrel, an even tighter fit than my Orange had, low profile safeties (a la shadowline), 1mm FO rod in both front & rear sights and medium thickness red maple leaf aluminum grips. Prices for the basic model is $1350 (some dealers were/are selling them for $1600) the silver version is about $50 more but is the exact same pistol. The shadowmate when available is around $1500 and some dealers sell them for close to $2k (between $1700 & $1800 is the average I've seen at dealers). The shadowmate only comes in black and is a different, better looking finish than the regular Shadow & Shadowline.

All Canadian edition Shadows & Orange come in the big Czechmate case with extra springs and other goodies.
 
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Harry Callahan said:
Sure.

The first Canadian ed. we saw in 2012 (but were manuf. in late 2011) had the plain combat hammer, higher profile rear sight, 1.5mm FO front sight & didn't get the custom treatment from factory (basic fit & tuning by a smith). Both black & silver finish were also available back then. They were selling for around $1050-$1100.

The «newer» Canadian edition version came in 2013 (manuf. in 2012) with somewhat of a better slide/frame fit and the new competition hammer. Going for $1200+.

With this version came the Orange with an even better fit, polished barrel, smoother trigger and orange thin aluminum grips. $1275-$1400+.

Now there's two versions available; one with an unpolished barrel, regular safeties, beveled rear sight w/o FO inserts, a 1mm FO front sight and a better fit than the plain Shadow & Shadowline pistols. The top of the line gun is called the Shadowmate with the factory polished barrel, an even tighter fit than my Orange had, low profile safeties (a la shadowline), 1mm FO rod in both front & rear sights and medium thickness red maple leaf aluminum grips. Prices for the basic model is $1350 (some dealers were/are selling them for $1600) the silver version is about $50 more but is the exact same pistol. The shadowmate when available is around $1500 and some dealers sell them for close to $2k (between $1700 & $1800 is the average I've seen at dealers). The shadowmate only comes in black and is a different, better looking finish than the regular Shadow & Shadowline.

All Canadian edition Shadows & Orange come in the big Czechmate case with extra springs and other goodies.
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weird.
this is listed as a shadowmate and its in the stainless.

http://www.alflahertys.com/collecti...cial-edition-9mm-w-fiber-optic-sight-pfa10192
 
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