Zastava – CZ99 – .40 S&W – Yugoslav Surplus – Random Draw

Description.

The CZ99 was one of the last new firearms made in Yugoslavia. They were first designed in 1989 and entered production in 1990, just before the federal union began to fracture into a violent ethnic civil war. The CZ in CZ99 stands for Crvena Zastava” (“Red Flag”) in Serbian and has no relation whatsoever to the Czech arms firm that uses the same initials. The CZ99 saw extensive use in the bloody Yugoslav wars, often on the hips of Yugoslavia National Army (JNA) troops or police forces. These forces, largely ethnically Serb, fought various campaigns against Slovenes, Croats, Bosnians, and others across the dissolving multi-ethnic state.

The CZ99 pistol bears a striking resemblance to the Sig P226 and has a similar action and feel. These particular examples were made in the early 1990s as the Yugoslav Wars broke out and were uniquely chambered in .40 S&W. While those issued to the JNA were typically in 9mm, the Yugoslavs and the Zastava arms concern in particular were in dire need of foreign hard currency. With .40 S&W having come into popular use in the West, and especially the United States, these pistols were made as export models to support the Yugo and later Serb economies. As the Yugoslav Wars escalated exports collapsed and many of these pistols went into storage or were put into local service.

Were this pistols used in war crimes? Most likely not…..but as with all things in Yugoslavia, the odds aren’t zero.

All pistols are in good mechanical shape and various conditions cosmetically from good to very good. Some pistols have also been customized by their former owners with wood grips, custom engraving, and other cosmetic refinements. All orders are on a random draw and you get what you get. All pistols include one magazine.