I picked up the CZ 75B SA in the photos below nearly two months ago in trade. Didn't notice until after trading that the factory polycoat had a few issues, especially around the rear sight where the finish was bubbled from being heated when the Novak rear sight was installed and the vice was apparently not padded well enough. BTW...don't inspect firearms in the dark if you are anal about cosmetic condition. 
Upon several recommendations, I had the stripped frame and slide refinished at Black Label Armament. Finally got the slide and frame back from cerakote last Tuesday. There were some issues with the first attempt at coating the slide so it had to be stripped and recoated a second time. The slide is coated in graphite black and the frame in burnt bronze. The sights and controls were not refinished. IMO the cerakote looks much nicer than the factory polycoat did, but it doesn't appear to be any more resistant to wear. After 200 rounds through the pistol there are many small chips that have already developed in the ejection port area that are down to bare metal. Not sure if this is normal if using brass cased ammo.
All of the upgrade parts were purchased from CZ Custom. The factory SA trigger was swapped for a straight / flat faced profile version with pre-travel and over-travel adjustments. The factory ringed hammer was swapped for a standard height / width competition hammer. The sear was replaced with a pre-B sear in order to delete the firing pin block. My brother did all of the fitting and action work and the trigger weighs in at 3 lbs 4 oz with stock springs still installed. All in all, I'm pleased with how the pistol turned out. I have been wanting a first generation Shadow for years, but this fits the bill nicely. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up a Kadet 2 kit sometime in the near future as well.
Upon several recommendations, I had the stripped frame and slide refinished at Black Label Armament. Finally got the slide and frame back from cerakote last Tuesday. There were some issues with the first attempt at coating the slide so it had to be stripped and recoated a second time. The slide is coated in graphite black and the frame in burnt bronze. The sights and controls were not refinished. IMO the cerakote looks much nicer than the factory polycoat did, but it doesn't appear to be any more resistant to wear. After 200 rounds through the pistol there are many small chips that have already developed in the ejection port area that are down to bare metal. Not sure if this is normal if using brass cased ammo.
All of the upgrade parts were purchased from CZ Custom. The factory SA trigger was swapped for a straight / flat faced profile version with pre-travel and over-travel adjustments. The factory ringed hammer was swapped for a standard height / width competition hammer. The sear was replaced with a pre-B sear in order to delete the firing pin block. My brother did all of the fitting and action work and the trigger weighs in at 3 lbs 4 oz with stock springs still installed. All in all, I'm pleased with how the pistol turned out. I have been wanting a first generation Shadow for years, but this fits the bill nicely. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up a Kadet 2 kit sometime in the near future as well.
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