Big news out of Europe: The German Army (the Bundeswehr) has officially picked a new sidearm. In a move that surprised quite a few industry watchers, they went with the Czech manufacturer CZ. Specifically, the CZ P-10 C OR will enter service under the military designation “P13”.
The Predecessor: HK P8A1
For the last 30 years, the German Army has relied on the HK P8A1. If you know your guns, you know this is basically a modified HK USP.
Adopted back in 1994, the P8A1 was a solid, hammer-fired workhorse. It featured a polymer frame and used the Browning tilting barrel system. But it had a few quirks that made it unique to the German military.
The most famous quirk? The safety. Unlike the standard commercial USP where you push the lever down to fire, the P8A1 required you to push the lever up to fire. This was done to keep the manual of arms consistent with the older Walther P1 (P38) that the German Army used previously. It also featured translucent magazines so soldiers could check their round count at a glance, and a traditional lands-and-grooves barrel rather than the polygonal rifling found on civilian USPs.
It was reliable, accurate, and durable – classic HK. But firearm technology has moved fast since the 90s, and it was time for an update.
The New Military Pistol: CZ P13
With the P13, Germany decided to modernize in a big way, choosing the CZ P-10 C OR to take over. If you’ve shot a P-10 C, you already know why this is an excellent choice. It’s a modern, striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol that sits right in the “Goldilocks” zone for size – compact enough for carry but large enough for duty use.
CZ beat out some heavy hitters to land this contract. Reports suggest they competed against Glock and the Slovenian Arex Delta. According to some sources, the selection came down to cost-effectiveness after the German military reviewed technical documentation rather than conducting extensive new firing trials. The deal apparently covers up to 186,000 pistols, with an initial guaranteed batch of around 62,000.
Now, here is what makes the CZ P13 (P-10 C OR) different from the old HK P8A1 (USP):
- Striker-Fired: Gone is the external hammer and the DA/SA trigger system. The P13 uses a consistent striker-fired trigger pull, which is generally easier to train soldiers on. The trigger on the P-10 series is widely regarded as one of the best out-of-the-box striker triggers on the market – crisp break, short reset.
- Optics Ready (OR): This is a major leap forward. The “OR” in the name stands for Optics Ready. The slide is cut to accept mini red dot sights right from the factory. While we don’t know if every soldier will get a red dot immediately, the capability is built-in. Modern warfare is moving toward optics on handguns, and the P13 is ready for it.
- Ergonomics: The P-10 C is known for superb ergonomics. It has interchangeable backstraps to fit different hand sizes and a grippy texture.
- FDE Finish: The military version comes in a Flat Dark Earth finish, matching modern camouflage requirements.
The CZ P13 holds 15 rounds of 9mm in a flush magazine, weighs about 26 ounces.
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