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SHOP NOWClassic Firearms visits CZ in the Czech Republic to rank the top five CZ firearms of all time. The discussion blends company history with real-world performance of classic and modern models.
The video opens in the Czech Republic with a Classic Firearms host joined by Karel from CZ’s marketing team. They explain that the goal is to pick the top five CZ guns of all time, covering the company’s history from its founding in 1936 up to current production. The host notes that the list is based on seeing the guns in person, learning their background, and weighing historical impact and popularity. Karel is there to add technical and historical context for each choice. Future CZ releases are mentioned but intentionally excluded from the ranking so the focus stays on proven designs.
Number five is the CZ 457 rimfire, a bolt-action rifle chambered in .22 caliber. The host points out that it is one of CZ’s most sold products worldwide, with millions in circulation, and that .22 rimfire remains popular for its low recoil and ease of use. The 457 is threaded for a suppressor, making it very quiet and comfortable to shoot when suppressed. Karel explains that CZ has produced rimfire rifles since just after the Second World War, evolving designs like the CZ 451 and 452 into the modern 457. The 457 refines the earlier models with updated safety features and a more modern design, and CZ sees itself as a dominant maker of bolt-action rimfires, with many older rifles and copies still in use around the world.
Number four is the LK30, the first product CZ ever made. The gun is not on set; it is kept at CZ’s headquarters and treated as a museum-grade historic piece. Karel explains that the factory was built in 1936, and before the Second World War CZ produced the LK30 as an aircraft gun of original Czech design. It was a machine gun and, according to him, the first and last of that type CZ produced in that era. The host describes handling it at the factory and notes the distinctive drum that moves when the gun is charged, comparing its appearance to a mix of a Lewis gun and a Browning M2. Karel recalls that it used an 8x57 Mauser caliber. Even though only one was made, it earns a place on the list because it represents the starting point of CZ’s firearm production.
Number three is shared by the CZ Bren 2 and Bren 3. The host highlights that tens of thousands of Bren 2 rifles have been delivered to Ukraine, where they have seen extensive use in recent years and performed well. He is holding an 11-inch Bren 2 in 5.56 with a military configuration. Karel explains that the Bren 3 is an evolution of the Bren 2, sharing lower parts and controls but updated to meet modern standards. The Bren 3 adds M-LOK style fore-ends for modularity and introduces 300 Blackout as a caliber option, which was not common when the Bren 2 was developed. CZ also strengthened certain components to make the Bren 3 more robust and durable in harsh conditions. The host notes that in Classic Firearms’ previous comparisons of short-stroke piston 5.56 systems, the Bren 2 consistently ranked at the top for soft recoil and overall shooting characteristics. Bren 2 is available in 5.56 and 7.62x39, while Bren 3 offers 5.56 and 300 Blackout, including an SD-style suppressed variant in 300 Blackout shown in the video.
Number two is the CZ Scorpion line, starting with the VZ61 and leading to the Scorpion Evo 3. Karel explains that the VZ61 was developed in 1961 and used a wire stock that folded over the top, resembling a scorpion’s tail, which inspired the name. It was chambered in .32 ACP and intended for roles such as tank crews and pilots who needed more capability than a pistol while keeping a compact platform. To move to the 9 mm standard for pistol-caliber carbines, CZ developed later versions. Karel mentions an internal project, the VZ68, essentially a VZ61 scaled up to 9 mm with a blowback action, but only a few were made and it never reached the market. The Scorpion Evo 3 is considered the third generation, built around a new polymer-bodied design with a simple blowback system. It was developed in 2009 and became one of CZ’s bestselling products due to its reliability, straightforward construction, and easy maintenance. The host notes that the Evo 3 significantly reshaped the pistol-caliber carbine market and gained wide adoption among law enforcement and military users, including in the United States. He remarks that despite being a blowback 9 mm, it shoots unusually softly, allowing controllable automatic fire, and that the U.S. market received semi-automatic versions starting around 2014.
Before revealing number one, the host gives an honorable mention to the CZ P10 series of polymer-framed pistols. He references earlier CZ pistols and notes that the P10 stands out for its ergonomics and reliability in a very crowded polymer handgun market. A recently released ported version of the P10 is mentioned, which he describes as shooting very well, with ergonomics he finds especially comfortable. He adds that various police departments in Europe have adopted the P10 and hints that additional countries may follow, based on information he has heard. Although the P10 has earned respect and is expected to become more prominent, it is considered relatively new compared to CZ’s historic designs, so it remains an honorable mention rather than a main entry in the top five list.
Number one on the list is the CZ 75 family, including the original CZ 75, the CZ 75B with a firing pin block, and the CZ Shadow 2, shown in a Shadow 2 Target configuration. The host describes these as the most iconic CZ products, noting that the CZ 75 design has been widely copied by manufacturers around the world. The Shadow 2 is presented as a refined variant of the original concept, optimized for performance-focused shooting. While the segment cuts off before a full technical breakdown, the emphasis is on the CZ 75’s long-standing influence, its many variations, and the way the Shadow 2 continues that lineage with modern enhancements. This combination of historical impact, widespread imitation, and ongoing competitive relevance is given as the reason the CZ 75 and Shadow 2 occupy the top spot.
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