1936
Establishment of the arms factory in Uherský Brod
Today’s Česká zbrojovka a.s. was built as part of alarge-scale transfer of strategically important production capacities of theformer Czechoslovakia as far as possible from thewestern borders threatened by Nazi Germany. In Uherský Brod in thesouth-east of Moravia, abrand new arms factory was established, which was one of themost modern and most efficient factory worldwide, and which, in thefirst years of its existence, was successfully engaged primarily in thehighly demanding production of aircraft machine guns.
1949
Start of the production of model 48 submachine guns
After World War II, thejoint-stock company Česká zbrojovka was nationalized and its branch factory in Uherský Brod, which became independent in 1950, gradually became themain Czechoslovak manufacturer of small firearms. Its most famous products from theimmediate postwar period were model 48 submachine guns (renamed in 1950 to 23/25 submachine guns) firing 9 mm Parabellum ammunition. These models with amagazine in thepistol grip and slide partially surrounding thebarrel at that time were themost advanced guns of their category. By 1953, 545,000 were produced in Uherský Brod, 345,000 of which were in the7.62 mm Tokarev calibre (24/26 submachine gun).
1959
Start of the production of model 58 submachine guns
Themodel 58 submachine gun in the7.62×39 mm calibre, now classified as an assault rifle, was aCzechoslovak alternative to theSoviet Avtomat Kalashnikova with an original design. This exceptionally well-designed firearm was produced in Uherský Brod for thenational armed forces as well as for export until 1984 and thetotal production volume reached almost 1,000,000 units.
1962
Start of the production of the model 61 Škorpion submachine gun
Thelegendary compact submachine gun model 61 Škorpion was an ingenious and very successful attempt to fill thegap between classic submachine guns and service pistols. More than 207,000 pieces of this submachine gun in thebasic calibre 7.65 mm Browning were produced in Uherský Brod till 2000, and small volumes of thefirearm in the9 mm Browning version were produced in 1990s.
1975
Start of the production of the CZ 75 pistol
TheCZ 75 pistol, revolutionary in anumber of aspects, was thework of thelegendary designer František Koucký, who worked on its development based on an assignment of today’s Česká zbrojovka a.s since 1969. This firearm with perfect ergonomics and unique double-action trigger mechanism co-defined thecategory of “Wonder Nines”, i.e. large capacity SA/DA pistols in the9 mm Luger calibre, and has long been one of themost popular of them.
1992
Founding of Česká zbrojovka, a.s., Uherský Brod
Privatization of thestate enterprise Česká zbrojovka resulted in founding of theincorporated company, which concentrates its activities in its main plant in Uherský Brod on development and production of high-quality firearms, while utilizing its remaining capacity for production of high-precision components for theautomotive and aerospace industry. It is aCzech company owned by Czech shareholders.
1997
Founding of the CZ-USA subsidiary company
Theposition of Česká zbrojovka, a.s. on theworld’s most prestigious firearms market has significantly strengthened by theestablishment of thesubsidiary distribution and service company CZ-USA. This subsidiary started its activities in California, but in 1998 it relocated to Kansas City, Kansas, where it still operates. Within thecreation of Česká zbrojovka Group, CZ-USA became an independent business entity.
2004
Acquisition of the firearms production of Zbrojovka Brno
In order to preserve thefamous tradition of firearms production in Brno, Česká zbrojovka a.s began preparing to take over theFirearms division of Zbrojovka Brno, a.s. Thenewly created company, originally named BRNO RIFLES, started its activities at theturn of 2006 and its domain was theproduction and development of break action firearms. In 2008 it became asubsidiary company of Česká zbrojovka a.s. In 2010 thecompany was renamed to ZBROJOVKA BRNO, s.r.o.
2005
Acquisition of the Dan Wesson Firearms brand
Česká zbrojovka, a.s., through its subsidiary CZ-USA became theowner of one of renowned American arms brands – Dan Wesson Firearms. This company, originally arevolver maker founded in 1968 by agrandson of well-known Daniel B. Wesson, with its Czech-American management soon became one of themost distinguished manufacturers of modern clones of thefamous pistol M1911.
2006
A new management and the beginning of the development of a new generation of CZ service firearms
In 2006, Lubomír Kovařík became theCEO of Česká zbrojovka a.s. and immediately began extensive modernization and development of anew generation of CZ firearms. Ladislav Britaňák became theSales Manager of thecompany. One of thekey strategic decision of thenew management was thestart of thedevelopment of completely new automatic CZ weapons. After along break caused by unfavourable political and economic conditions after 1989, Česká zbrojovka a.s. returned to thetraditional important part of its product range.
Start of the production of the CZ 75 SP-01 SHADOW pistol
Important milestones in thedevelopment of Česká zbrojovka a.s. also include thestart of theproduction of theprimarily sport version SHADOW of thesuccessful CZ 75 SP-01. Thepartially tuning elements of this excellent all-steel pistol, which is successfully applied as aweapon for personal defence and for military and law enforcement, were subsequently used in other CZ pistols. Until thelaunch of theCZ SHADOW 2 in 2016, theoriginal Shadow dominated theProduction division of IPSC shooting. Thegreatest achievements include two World Champion titles won by Adam Tyc.
2007
Ceremonial assembly of the millionth pistol of the CZ 75 series
After Česká zbrojovka, a.s., was founded in 1992, pistols of theCZ 75/85 series became its backbone products for alonger period. It showed in asignificant increase in production volumes as well as in extending theoffer by other versions: special sport pistols, compact and subcompact pistols. So, already in theautumn of 2007, theceremonial assembly of themillionth CZ 75 pistol took place, at that time still including all versions. Theproduction volume of thestandard size CZ 75/85 pistols exceeded one million manufactured pieces in 2014.
2011
Entering the market of firearms for military and law enforcement, beginning of the rearmament of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
Start of themass production of anew generation of CZ assault rifles, submachine guns and grenade launchers. Thefirst major success was thecomplete rearmament of theArmed Forces of theCzech Republic. TheArmed Forces were supplied with CZ 805 BREN A1/A2 assault rifles, CZ 805 BREN G1 grenade launchers, CZ SCORPION EVO 3 A1 submachine guns and CZ 75 SP-01 PHANTOM pistols.
2015
Achievements of CZ service firearms on world markets
During 2015, Česká zbrojovka a.s. employed about 1,800 people, produced 235,526 firearms and its consolidated sales reached CZK 4,190,000,000 (70 % of which were from abroad). Until then, theprofit amounted to all-time high CZK 450,000,000. This great result was achieved primarily by CZ P-07 pistols, pistols of thepopular CZ 75 series, CZ 455 rimfire rifles and CZ service firearms, this year especially theCZ SCORPION EVO 3 submachine gun.
2016
Building of assembly capacities in Peru
Česká zbrojovka a.s significantly penetrated foreign markets by opening aseparate space for theassembly and repairs of CZ pistols at theFAME army plant in Lima, Peru. TheCzech company participated in theproject by supplying modern equipment and tools and training of technical personnel. This enabled thePeruvian company to assemble CZ guns, provide service and sell them on thePeruvian market and then throughout Latin America. It was thefirst case of technological transfer of Česká zbrojovka a.s to this promising region.
Start of the production of the CZ BREN 2 assault rifle
Thesecond generation of new CZ assault rifles was created in cooperation with members of elite special units based on theexperience with thecombat deployment of CZ 805 BREN and with theuse of modern development procedures. CZ BREN 2 is atop-class personal multi-calibre automatic firearm in calibres 5.56x45 NATO and 7.62x39 that can be configured according to mission requirements anywhere in theworld. Thefirst customer was theArmed Forces of theCzech Republic.
2017
Year in the name of growth and expansion
Thanks to thesuccessful new generation of firearms, Česká zbrojovka, a.s., now employs more than 1,900 employees. Thecompany extended its representation into more than 100 countries all over theworld. In March 2018, theconclusion of alicence agreement for theproduction of CZ service pistols in Hungary was announced. Thekey milestone of 2017 was thestart of theproduction of CZ P-10 C, thefirst representative of abrand new family of striker-fired pistols, which, compared to thecompetition, boasts avariety of imaginative innovations and great user characteristics.
2018
Establishment of CZ Group
Since 2018, Česká zbrojovka a.s has been part of Česká zbrojovka Group SE that, in addition to theparent plant in Uherský Brod, gradually incorporates other companies with related production and development programmes.
2019
Start of the production of CZ firearms in the United States
In cooperation with CZ-USA, theproduction of thefirst CZ firearms was launched in Kansas City, Kansas. These include selected models of thesuccessful CZ P-10 series of pistols. Other versions were added in thesame year, namely CZ P-10 F (full-size), CZ P-10 SC (semicompact) and CZ P-10 S(subcompact).
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