1911 Tanfoglio Witness

[frenchbushmaster]

Hello,

I need an opinion about this gun.
Personaly I shoot with two .45 ACP SPRINGFIELD ARMORY.

But a good friend want buy a TANFOGLIO WITNESS1911
http://www.tanfoglio.it/tanfoglio.php?lingua=uk
The problem, we need a feed back before to confirm it's a good 1911 pistol.
The price is realy interesting. But I'm a bit affraid. I hope it's not a too cheap gun.

Pease.
If some of you know or used or have any datas about this pistol.
Thank's to give it to me.
See you, Mick.

 

[wally]

As far as I know, these aren't available in the US except as AirSoft 1911s that say Tanfoglio on the plastic slide.

--wally.

 

[woody99]

The Tanfoglio Witness is available here in the US and has been for quite some time. It is imported by European American Armory. I have the full size 9mm in "Wondersteel" finish. I bought mine from Buds and they still have them at a great price.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_231/products_id/15612
This is, in my opinion, a great pistol. Accurate right out of the box and fits like a glove. The only problem I've had with mine is when the slide is locked back and I put another mag in, the slide very often closes on it's own. Not a huge problem, but I'd rather release the slide on my own. Other than that, I have not had any issues at all with this pistol and I have an estimated 1,000 rounds through it.
They also sell kits that allow you to swap barrels for 9mm, 45ACP, .40 and I'm not sure what other calibers.
So, a very versatile gun that is good looking,reliable, accurate and just feels great to hold - for a bit over $300.! There are different grades available as well.

 

[Jim Watson]

Me on dialup today and you loading the board up with big artsy pictures.

Any way, the Tanfoglio Witness 1911 is made for them by Armscor of the Philippines. There is supposed to be "technology transfer" to let Tanfoglio build them in Italy but a picture from one dealer still shows Armscor characteristics.

The Armscor is sold in the USA as "Rock Island Armory" and has the reputation of being a decent quality cheap pistol.

[Woody is talking about the standard Tanfoglio Witness copy of CZ75, not a 1911 action.]

 

[woody99]

JIm,
I stand corrected. You are absolutely correct. I should have taken my time and read slower before blabbing about one of my favorite guns! Sorry about that.

 

[wally]

The Tanfoglio 1911 is not listed in the 2007 EAA catalog I have. Plenty of stuff I've still never seen is -- like the "Witness FCP" or the Girsan Yavuz 16 series of more or less Beretta clones.

What you linked at Bud's is the EAA Witness, basically a CZ75 clone made my Tanfoglio, actually more than a clone as they make it in 10mm, .38 Super, and .45ACP which CZ doesn't. The EAA Witness .45 fits my hand a lot better than the CZ97 does.

EAA's reputation for lack of customer service and support IMHO holds back the guns, presumably in France somebody else would be handling service and I doubt they could be worse.

--wally.

 

[frenchbushmaster]

Thank you very much for your point of view.

I know the CZ like model. My first 9mm was a TANFOGLIO P19 LIMITED. I was a happy shooter with this very good machine.

The 1911 witness is not realy a best of the 1911 like market.
I will study tomorrow the gun to my gunsmith. But I found the TAURUS PT1911. Realy interesting 30% more expensive. But realy nice !

I'm not the buyer. If my friend is O.K. with you opinion.
He will buy it immediatly

Thank's again.
See you my friends.

 

[horge]

Any way, the Tanfoglio Witness 1911 is made for them by Armscor of the Philippines. There is supposed to be "technology transfer" to let Tanfoglio build them in Italy but a picture from one dealer still shows Armscor characteristics.

The Armscor is sold in the USA as "Rock Island Armory" and has the reputation of being a decent quality cheap pistol.

Yes!
And the tech transfer progressed rapidly to where the slide and internals
were made by Tanfoglio (In Italy and in Turkey), and even the frame may already
be European-made at this point.

The 'Armscor' look of the components is not likely to change so soon, since
the CNC coding carries over.