Zastava CZ99

{{Short description|Serbian semi-automatic pistol}} {{distinguish||text=CZ series of pistols produced by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod}} {{Infobox weapon |name= Zastava CZ99 | image= Zastava CZ 99-IMG 6547-gradient.jpg | image_size = 300px |caption= Zastava CZ99 pistol presented to General Sir Mike Jackson when commanding British troops in the ex-Yugoslavian theatre in the late 1990s. On display at the Parachute Regiment exhibition of the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. |origin= Yugoslavia |type= Semi-automatic pistol  |is_ranged=yes  |service= |used_by= |wars=Yugoslav Wars<br>Second Liberian Civil War<ref name ='SAS 2002'/><br />  |designer= Božidar Blagojević <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cz99.org/index.php?page=cz99 |title=Unofficial Zastava CZ 99, CZ 999, EZ and PPZ site - CZ99.org |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=3 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203102953/http://www.cz99.org/index.php?page=cz99 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |design_date= 1989 |manufacturer= Zastava Arms |unit_cost= |production_date= 1990–present |number= |variants=  |spec_label= |weight= 970 grams |length= 190mm |part_length= 108mm |width= |height= 140mm |diameter= |crew=  |cartridge=9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W |caliber= |barrels= |action= Recoil operated (DA/SA or DAO) |rate= |velocity= |range=50m |max_range= |feed= 10- or 15-round magazine |sights= }}

The '''Zastava CZ99''' is a semi-automatic pistol produced by Zastava Arms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zastava-arms.rs/cms/index.php?id=267 |title=Pistol CZ99 |work=Zastava Arms |access-date=5 December 2014 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501061207/http://www.zastava-arms.rs/cms/index.php?id=267 |archive-date=1 May 2012 }}</ref>

== History == The pistol was designed in 1989 by Božidar Blagojević.

The CZ99 is no longer produced, however, smaller variants with some modern improvements, the CZ999 and the EZ9, are still being produced.

==Design== {{Main|SIG Sauer P226}} The CZ99 should not be confused with the Czech firearm manufacturer Česká Zbrojovka, because the CZ in the CZ99's name stands for "Crvena Zastava".

Visually, the pistol resembles a SIG-Sauer P226 and, as such, it is often compared to the SIG.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.guns.com/review/serbian-sig-for-under-400-cz999-scorpion-video/|title=Serbian SIG for under $400: CZ999 Scorpion (VIDEO)|newspaper=Guns.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.armedlutheran.us/zastava-yugo-cz-99-review/|title=Zastava Yugoslav CZ-99 Review - The Armed Lutheran|date=2015-09-19|newspaper=The Armed Lutheran|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-29|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415171017/http://www.armedlutheran.us/zastava-yugo-cz-99-review/|archive-date= April 15, 2019}}</ref> However, the overall design of the pistol took far more inspiration from the Walther P88 than the P226.

The external appearance of the gun and lack of an external extractor were design ideas taken from the P226.

Some of the P88 features that were used on the CZ99 include similar slide serrations, magazine, magazine release, and, of course, the ambidextrous combined safety-decocker.

Also unlike the P226, the CZ99 also has a machined steel slide. The P226 (at the time of this pistol's design) had a stamped and welded sheet steel slide.

The CZ99 is primarily chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum with a 15-round magazine, although .40 Smith & Wesson variants also exist, with ten-round magazines.

==Variants== The CZ999 and the EZ9 are almost identical to the CZ99, however they are redesigned to be more ergonomic. Most parts will interchange between the newer and older designs, but some parts, like the grip panels, will not.thumb|left|200px|CZ999 Skorpion with custom made grips

=== CZ999 Scorpion === The CZ999 Scorpion ({{Langx|sr|ЦЗ999}}) is an updated variant of the CZ99 with some improvements, such as a slimmer grip and redesigned grip panels, wider slide serrations, a serrated backstrap, standard 3-dot sights, a curved trigger, a square trigger guard and a longer hammer spur.

While initially intended for the 9×19mm, there is a variant of the CZ99 chambered in .40 S&W, primarily for foreign importers, with many of these handguns imported by the US in 1990.

Over time though, newer versions of this firearm have been developed: The Zastava CZ999, with DAO and DA/SA selector, as well as the CZ999 Scorpion without this selector. Also features a loaded chamber indicator. Comes in compact model as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianproduct/pistol-cz999-compact |title=Pistol CZ999 Compact |work=Zastava Arms |access-date=18 November 2016 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162202/http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianproduct/pistol-cz999-compact |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Zastava EZ === Fourth generation CZ99. It is the same as the CZ999, however it has an under-barrel picatinny rail for mounting lights and accessories and a larger ring hammer. Service- and personal defence gun, single/double action, ambidextrous. The CZ999 and EZ9 do accept standard CZ99 magazines, but they will not accept all CZ99 parts, such as grip panels. Also like the CZ999, the EZ9 exists in two calibers.<ref name="EZ9-EZ40">{{cite web |url=http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianproduct/pistol-ez9ez40 |title=Pistol EZ9/EZ40 |work=Zastava Arms |access-date=18 November 2016 |archive-date=4 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704222332/https://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianproduct/pistol-ez9ez40 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are compact versions of both calibers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianproduct/pistol-ez9-compactez40-compact |title=Pistol EZ9 Compact/EZ40 Compact |work=Zastava Arms |access-date=18 November 2016 |archive-date=16 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616103640/http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianproduct/pistol-ez9-compactez40-compact |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== KSN Golan === Israeli clone of the CZ99, with rights being purchased after Zastava halted production.

Though the Golan lacks the CZ99's loaded chamber indicator and has a shorter slide and barrel, different grips, and other minor cosmetic variations from the CZ99, it is virtually identical in internal design, and some parts are interchangeable between the two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nramuseum.org/media/363991/Aug%2096.pdf |title=GOLAN DOUBLE-ACTION PISTOL|work=American Rifleman|access-date=24 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705084941/http://www.nramuseum.org/media/363991/Aug%2096.pdf|archive-date= July 5, 2022}}</ref>

=== Tressitu TZ99 === South African clone of the CZ99.

In the early 1990s South African company Tressitu entered into a licensing agreement with Crvena Zastava to produce a licensed copy named the TZ99, offered in both 9×19mm and .40 S&W.

The TZ99 was only produced for a short period before the company went out of business in the mid-1990s. A number of TZ99s stored from the dissolution were imported to the US in the mid-2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cruffler.com/Features/JUL-01/review-July-01.html |title=Firearm Review, July 2001: Tressitu TZ99 9x19mm Pistol|work=Cruffler.com|access-date=26 April 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630071821/http://www.cruffler.com/Features/JUL-01/review-July-01.html|archive-date= June 30, 2021}}</ref>

== Adoption == The CZ99 replaced the outdated Zastava M57 in Yugoslavian military service because of its many new features, such as a fully chromed barrel, tritium night sights, an indicator for the last three rounds remaining in the magazine and a loaded chamber indicator.

The CZ99 is still used in military and police service throughout the Balkans.

==Users== thumb|Map with Zastava CZ99 users in blue * {{BIH}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Brigadno takmičenje u disciplini "Pištolj"|language=bs|url=http://www.mod.gov.ba/OS_BIH/struktura/Operativna_komanda/6Pjesadijskabrigada/default.aspx?id=16145|date=5 April 2010|website=mod.gov.ba|publisher=Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331104125/http://www.mod.gov.ba/OS_BIH/struktura/Operativna_komanda/6Pjesadijskabrigada/default.aspx?id=16145|archive-date= March 31, 2019}}</ref> *{{flag|Iraq}}<ref>{{cite news|title=First arms shipment bound for Iraq|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603003031/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=02&nav_id=50737|date=2 June 2008 | newspaper= B92|archive-date=3 June 2008|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=02&nav_id=50737|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{flag|Israel}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmulcahy.com/pistols/israeli_pistols.htm|title=Israeli Pistols|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216082706/http://www.pmulcahy.com/pistols/israeli_pistols.htm|archive-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref> *{{flag|Jordan}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/transfers/transparency/national_reports/serbia/SER_08.pdf/view|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221190408/http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/transfers/transparency/national_reports/serbia/SER_08.pdf/view|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 December 2014|title=Annual Report on The Transfers of Controlled Goods in 2008|page=54 |work=Republic of Serbia Ministry of Economy and Regional Development|access-date=24 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref> *{{flag|Lebanon}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/transfers/transparency/national_reports/serbia/SER_08.pdf/view |title=Annual Report on the Transfers of Controlled Goods in 2008 |page=37 |author-link=Ministry of Economy (Serbia)|author=Republic of Serbia: Ministry of Economy and of Regional Development|via= Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |access-date=25 October 2014 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221190408/http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/transfers/transparency/national_reports/serbia/SER_08.pdf/view |archive-date=21 December 2014}}</ref> *{{flag|Liberia}}<ref name="SAS 2002">{{cite book|title=Report of the Panel of Experts concerning Liberia (S/2002/1115)|author=United Nations Security Council|author-link=United Nations Security Council|date=25 Oct 2002|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/D5FA5B63184345C5C1256C7E00456BF3-unsc-lib-25oct.pdf|page=18|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175327/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/D5FA5B63184345C5C1256C7E00456BF3-unsc-lib-25oct.pdf|archive-date= August 29, 2018}}</ref> *{{flag|Montenegro}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Children and weapons in Montenegro - A review of data and research |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/136875/Montenegro_Report_-_English_version.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322054544/https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/136875/Montenegro_Report_-_English_version.pdf |archive-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> * {{flag|North Macedonia}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Kosovars suffer new ethnic hatred|first= Phil |last=Davison|date= 17 May 1999|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/kosovars-suffer-new-ethnic-hatred-1094096.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/kosovars-suffer-new-ethnic-hatred-1094096.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent}}{{cbignore}}</ref> *{{flag|Palestine}}<ref name="pictures">{{cite web|url=http://avax.news/pictures/90011|title=This Week in Pictures: May 10 - May 16th, 2014|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230504022812/https://avax.news/pictures/90011|archive-date=May 4, 2023}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=photographic only evidences|date=March 2019}} *{{flag|Serbia}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Пешадијско наоружање - Пиштољ 9 mm ЦЗ99 |trans-title=Infantry weapons - 9 mm pistol CZ99 |url=http://www.vs.rs/index.php?content=534a824c-04c0-102c-b61c-7e17f68cdaa3 |access-date=5 December 2014 |work=Serbian Army |language=sr}}</ref>

==See also== * SIG Sauer P226 * Zastava PPZ – CZ99's successor

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|CZ 99}} {{IMFDB title|Zastava_CZ99|Zastava CZ99}} {{Zastava firearms|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cz 99}} Category:Semi-automatic pistols of Serbia Category:9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols Category:Zastava Arms Category:.40 S&W semi-automatic pistols Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1990