History:
In 1936 the model 1922 was replaced by a new construction of Frantisek Myska.
For the first time a DAO-(Double Action Only) system like with revolvers was used also for pistols. It got an external but protected hammer, which was to be charged every shot by pulling the trigger.
This without doubt was Myskas sample for the later construction of the military-pistol "VZ 38", which had a similar system. For a pocket-pistol this was an acceptable design, since no requirements on precision and accuracy were existing and the security-aspect rather was top priority.
The "CZ 1936" went down well, until the production was closed down in 1940 because of the changeover to war-production.
After the war, in the year 1945 the model 1936 was improved by Jan Kratochvil into the present pistol model CZ 45 and was put on the market again by CZ. However, the improvements involved no constructive details but were of a production depending kind.
From 1945 to 1951, the pistol was produced in series for armed forces and police of the own country. In several socialistic states, it continued to be the personal weapon of higher officers of the armed forces and the police for a long time. Then the production continued mainly for the civil market. The export also went well and under the name "Tezet" or " Brigant" it became known in the western foreign countries too.
Early patterns (not only the model 1936) had a safety-lever, which was cancelled later on. Also the removable lockplate for an easier stripping was added later on during the production period.
Production-numbers are unknown, should be however enormous. Beyond that, the model developed into such a top-seller that today, meanwhile changed into the model 92, it's beeing produced again by CZ.
Technical Data:
SYSTEM: self-cocking pistol with mass system and external hammer
CARTRIDGES : 8
CALIBRE : .25 ACP
BARREL LENGTH : 64 mm , 6 grooves right hand twisting
WEIGHT EMPTY : 410 g
TOTAL LENGTH : 127 mm
TOTAL HEIGHT : 91 mm
TOTAL WIDTH : 20 mm
TRIGGER : Double Action Only
SIGHT : groove
SAFETY : magazin safety
FINISH : blued
GRIPS : hard rubber