[joeoim]

I looked at a Witness .45 with a Wonder Finish last week and think I would like to own one.
The guy behind the counter said you could change calibers just by changing the barrel.
I didn't believe him. What's up with these pistols?
Was wondering if anyone had one and how they liked it.
I liked the fact the slide didn't have any decockers cluttering it.

Joe

[Kahr carrier]

I tried a Witness 45 acp in blue and it shot good and even had the high cap. It belong to a gal that was shooting it at the range and she also was doing good with it .:)

[joeoim]

Khar: That's encouraging. I'm glad to hear that the gals are useing them. There a pretty heavy piece fully stoked.
They don't seem to be a very popular pistol.
Joe

[Kahr carrier]

I think she was an exception ,She worked at the range.:)

[joeoim]

Kahr:
If you see her again ask how she would rate it against other .45s she's shot. Working there she's probably shot plenty.
Thanks Joe

[CZF]

I've had a 10mm Wonderfinish, same size as the .45
Has been 100% reliable for about 2 years now.

Shooting factory and reloads 155 to 200 gr.

It is a CZ75 copy, just a bit bigger in all areas than a Cee-Zed,
(excepting the controls) points well and is of good quality.

Some say the full-sized 10mm is the Best Witness pistol offered.
I have to agree.

Good luck with your Witness. I think that they compliment
CZs, as if you buy a Witness you will be impressed with the
design. If you buy a CZ, you will look for other guns like it.

Tanfoglio guns offer a multitude of calibers and configurations.
I believe that the quality-control and customer service are also improving.

Since it it an Italian gun. I think of it as Beretta built CZ75.
Like it so much..i might buy a blued 10mm, or .38 super in
the near future.

[joeoim]

CZF:
Thanks for the input. Nice looking pistol.

I have been gathering info on CZ also. It is easier to come by than Witness.

If I got my info right the safety cannot be "on" on the CZ when the hammer is down, but can on the Witness.
Putting the safety "on" on the CZ locks both the hammer and slide and you have to take it "off" to let the hammer down. You can have the hammer down on the witness with the safety "on".
If this is correct then I'd prefer the CZ method.

But I like the feel of the Witness with the rubber grip pannels.
And that stainless Wonder Finish has caught my eye.

Do you shoot a lot of wolf through it? And are you seeing any signs of wear on the finish?
Joe

[Freightman]

I carry a Tanfogleo 38 super pro tactacal this is the second one I have had they always work! You can get a slide and barrel to change the caliber from Brownell I had a 45 on the other that I had. You can put a 10mm. 45, and a 38 super on the large frame, and 9MM, and 40 S&W om the small frame Wittness's

[Sisco]

I had a Witness .45 Carry Comp. Really enjoyed it. Never had failure except with LSWC ammo, just would't feed it.
Got the 1911 bug and something had to go so I sold it. Wouldn't mind having another someday.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p50205ea2cf12be5216a5e45d99336b14/fcf75eb3.jpg

[JohnKSa]

There are some caliber swap kits for these pistols. Some are as simple as a barrel swap, others require a new slide, magazine & barrel.

I believe that a caliber swap for the .45 ACP pistol would fall into the second category.

[joeoim]

Freightman:
I'll take your word for it.
What about mags?
Joe

[Freightman]

Mags ar available at Brownels also or at http://www.cdnninvestments.com

[joeoim]

Sisco:
Thanks for posting the pic.

John:
That's what the salesman was trying to tell me (can simply change barrels) but I didn't believe it. Thanks for the input.
Joe

[joeoim]

Freightman: Thanks....I can't type fast enough to stay in the conversation here. Better get to bed. Will check tomorrow.
Joe

[JohnKSa]

Meant to mention this in my earlier post. I believe the finish is tenifer--the same finish that Glock uses, but without the black parkerizing Glock puts over the tenifer to get a non-reflective appearance.

I've heard this a couple of places. If true, that would make it a VERY durable and VERY corrosion resistant surface.

Most people can't believe it's not stainless steel after looking at it. They haven't tried to scratch it though! That would let them know right away that it's harder than steel...

[Mike Irwin]

I've got a Witness in WonderFinish in 10mm.

What a great gun.

Accurate, not the greatest trigger, but reliable.

It's also undersprung from the factory. I don't know about the .45s, but it's something to be aware of.

[Nightcrawler]

It was the same on my CZ-97 (the Witness .45's half-brother...they even take the same magazines). The factory recoil spring was a 13lb one; Mike, the head gunsmith at CZ-USA, recommended a heaveir spring from Wolff (same springs as the CZ-75) and the full length, steel guide rod (again, same as for the CZ-75) if one is to shoot much +P ammo.

My CZ-97 is simply a top notch pistol. Feeds just about everything, though it took a few hundred rounds of break in. It has a pretty steep feed ramp, and there are some rounds it just doesn't like. Winchester Silvertips give it trouble sometimes, and CCI Blazer cases get stuck in the eject port as the slide comes foreward. It eats Wolf ammo just fine.

The CZ manual recommends NOT using LSWC or LRN ammo in the gun, so I don't shoot that (nor do I particularly want to).

[2xTap]

Years ago I had an older model fullsize Witness .45 in matte blue. Decent gun for the money. The matte blue finish was real weak and came off rather easily but the gun itself was 100% reliable with everything I fed it. S/A pull was good but D/A was a bit heavy. It was decently accurate but shot a bit low (almost 4 inches at 25yds.), grouped well with the right ammo.

I've been wanting to get a Wonderfinish version in 10mm, but they are hard to find.

2xTap

[Matt G]

Please explain the "Wonderfinish" to us uninitiated?

[JohnKSa]

Wonderfinish = tenifer as far as I know.

A surface treatment similar to case hardening, but involving different chemicals. It converts the top layer of the steel to a very hard, gunmetal grey colored and very corrosion resistant substance.

[joeoim]

It is a beautiful finish. I thought it was stainless until the salesman told me it wasn't.
Are all Witness Wonder finish pistols the same bright stainless look or does Witness make a darker shade?
Joe

[JohnKSa]

I don't think there's any way to control the final color... Dunno, I'm not really an expert on such things.

You could always have the gun teflon coated or parkerized over the tenifer if you don't like the shiny finish.

[iamkris]

I've owned 2 Witness Wonderfinish 45's...a compact polymer framed model and a Tactical II model. The compact was a uberjammer and I sold it. The Tactical model is a great reliable gun.

All the wonderfinish guns I have seen have had a slightly bronze color not at all like bright stainless. The finish is very durable...scratches can be buffed out. Good corrosion resistance.

As for caliber changes, the answer is yes and no. Some calibers can be changed just by changing a barrel (10mm to 40 SW for instance). Others require a complete slide/barrel/recoil spring change...albeit at a reasonable price of $225. You must deal with large frame and small frame however, e.g., you can't turn a 45 gun into a 9mm because they are set up for different frame sizes.

All you ever wanted to know about Witnesses can be found at the CZ Clone club board

http://pub105.ezboard.com/bczechpistols82792

[joeoim]

John: That's good, I'm about like a packrat, I like shinny things.

[joeoim]

iamkris: How about the ejector on the tactical model. Where did it throw the brass? Did it get it away from you?

[RCReecer]

For all you folks with the 10mm, can I ask where/when you got them and what you paid? I'm thinking of getting a 10mm and the EAA seems to be a wise choice.