By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2023
Česká zbrojovka (CZ)
Česká zbrojovka translates to ‘Czech armory;’ at one time, there were many CZs. The sister company, Česká zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod, dates back to 1936, when it was established as a branch plant of Česká zbrojovka Strakonice. Production commenced on January 2, 1937, focusing on military and civilian arms.
The first products out the door were aircraft machine guns, military pistols, and small-bore rifles, but during WWII, the plant came under Nazi occupation and was forced to produce and repair military arms.
In post-war Czechoslovakia, the plant returned to producing both military and civilian arms in equal measures. In 1950, the company became a separate state enterprise named ‘Přesné strojírenství Uherský Brod’ (The Precision Machine Tooling Company, Uherský Brod) and was reorganized into several specialized departments.
The 1970s and 1980s saw the company merge with Agrozet Brno, allowing it to not only manufacture firearms but also diversify into the production of reduction gears and driveshaft casings for aircraft engines for Motorlet Praha and hydraulically powered and controlled tractor attachments for Zetor Brno.
In 2021, Česká zbrojovka Group bought Colt Firearms, and in 2022, announced it had changed its name to Colt CZ Group.
Today, CZ imports, manufactures, and distributes pistols, rifles, shotguns, and suppressors to the U.S.A., combined with their line of rifles and pistols from Česká zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod (CZUB) of the Czech Republic. CZ also imports shotguns manufactured in Turkey from CZ designs.
The CZ Shadow 2 Compact
In 2017, CZ released the Shadow 2 competition pistol. The full-size pistol incorporated advanced materials and features designed for increased accuracy. CZ now offers the same accuracy and performance as the compact model Shadow 2.
THE FRAME
The Shadow 2 Compact starts with a forged 7075 aluminum frame and checkered Duralumin grips. A spacious trigger guard and smooth trigger with a shortened reset. Left-handed shooters benefit from the ambidextrous safety and interchangeable low-profile magazine release button that can be swapped from side to side. CZ added a safety notch on the hammer and finished with a dust cover accessory rail for lights and lasers.
THE SLIDE & BARREL
The CZ Shadow 2 slide features deep-cut front and rear cocking serrations. The slide is optics-ready and equipped with an exceptionally low and secure interface for a red dot sight that’s identical to what is found on the full-size CZ Shadow 2 model and compatible with the same mounting plates.
The standard sights are a high-visibility fiber optic front sight for extreme visibility, increased shooting accuracy, and height-adjustable rear sight.
The cold hammer-forged barrel provides the same extreme accuracy as its big brother.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Hammer Fired, DA/SA, Compact, Semi-Automatic
Caliber: 9X19mm
Magazine Capacity: 15
Sights: Checkered Rear Fiber Optic Front
Barrel Length: 4 Inches
Overall Length: 7.5 Inches
Width: 1.4 Inches
Height: 5.4 Inches
Weight: 30 Ounces
MSRP: $ 1,299
URL: www.cz-usa.com
THE VERDICT
The new CZ Shadow 2 Compact is an excellent pistol for shooters waiting for a compact EDC pistol with all the features in the Shadow line.
It ships with two 15-round magazines and is compatible with Shadow 17-round magazines.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].