EAA Witness...Quality pistol (or not)?

[Timothy]

Been toying with the idea of getting a full size 10mm. Checked out EAA's web site and their SRPs looked more reasonable than the competion. Asked about them at a couple gun shops and sort-of got the feeling that they might be sub-standard due to the way the employee chuckled when he informed me that they did not carry them.
I was in hopes that some of you that owned a Witness or had good objective knowledge on them could give some advice. I am somewhat willing to sacrifice cosmetics and whistles and bells, but not quality, smooth operation, and accuracy.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

 

[Sean Smith]

I've owned a bunch of 10mm pistols, including the EAA Witness. Here is my take on it:

1. It is a good, reliable and reasonably accurate gun. OK but not great trigger.
2. It is one of the most controllable guns in 10mm out there; heavy gun with a good grip shape.
3. In terms of finish/asthetics, it could be better. EAA guns generally lag behind CZs in this regard (and are priced about the same). Unfortunately, CZ doesn't make a 10mm CZ-97B.
4. There isn't much in the way of aftermarket goodies for it, and not alot of people know how to work on them.

 

[Stephen Ewing]

No, that's not an echo, it's just me agreeing completely with everything Sean Smith said. I like mine and would do it again.

Fair warning, though: There are some horror stories told about EAA customer service.

Steve

 

[CZF]

I like CZ75s, and finally tried out the 10mm. Have had the
Witness 10 for over a year. No stoppages to report.
The gun seems to me like a Beretta CZ. Better fit and
finish than my old 75B, and 92FS, but not up to 97B standards.

Wish i had went to the TEN many years ago.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Well I have had good luck with mine. I got one of the first 10mm into the country (witnesses that is) and it had the older style mags that did not feed well. Once I put the redesigned mags into it, it is reliable reasonably accurate and very controlable.

I call it my truck gun because I carry it in my truck a lot for protection. It is a good unit and I like it a lot (especially for less then $300 with 5 mags!).

Good luck.

 

[Kahr carrier]

They seem pretty well made.

 

[iamkris]

Try going to this CZ forum where there is a "clone" section...most discussions are about the Witness and many (lately) are about the 10mm in particular.

http://pub105.ezboard.com/bczechpistols82792

I had a Witness-P (compact polymer frame) and hated it but I seem to be in the minority. It fit great, the quality was as good or better than the price would indicate, DA trigger was gritty, SA trigger was not as good as my Match Grade 1911 and not as bad as my kit-built 1851 Navy . It was accurate...when it would feed. Several trips back and forth with EAA cust srvc...no luck. Still wouldn't feed so I sold it.

Most I talk to however have nothing but good things to say about about them. I am sold on the CZ design enough that I'm going to buy another 45...just in steel this time (no more tupperware for me!!)

 

[Sisco]

Until about an hour ago I had a full size Carry Comp. in 45acp Sold it to a co-worker so I could buy a 1911.
I liked the Witness, accurate and would digest everything but LSWC ammo.
I'd buy another one.

 

[CZF]

we hear nothing positive about the Witness polymer guns.
They don't come in 10mm, but you could make one i guess.

I'm still of the opinion that the 10mm is still the most reliable
of all Witness pistols. Not because i own one. Just becuase
the full sized 10 gets such good marks.

Here i am shooting at 155 JHPs at a 100 yard target..I couldn't
have made the shots as well with any .45 load.

Witness 10mm.Flat shootin, Hard hittin. Feel The RUSH!!!!!!!!!

 

[cratz2]

Never had a 10mm EAA but have had several 9mm and 40 EAAs. Never had a problem with any of them. They tend to feel more solid to me than the CZs though they generally are not as well finished. Also, on the single action pistols, I don't like that the CZs have a plastic trigger.

I can recommend the EAAs without reservation based on my experience with them.

 

[WESHOOT2]

ME

I have one dedicated 9x19, one small frame I run in 9x19, 9x21, 40 S&W, and 41 AE, and one large frame in 45 ACP and 38 Super.

I consider them as excellent guns you must be willing to tweak.

 

[Blackhawk]

Maybe they are, but after reading a thread on TFL where one went auto at the range and nosing around a bit, they're not on my acquisition list.

 

[CZF]

Plastic triggers in CZs? Only the CZ75SA and CZ-100.

 

[BamBam]

I can't testify for the 10mm but have a .45 full-size metal frame in the Wonder Finish.

It surprised me. Wasn't expecting much for $337.00 but I really like this pistol. Shoots better than my Glock .40 (more accurate, better trigger). Never had a failure in 700+ rounds. Fit/finish is very good.

Possibly the best handgun value out there.

One drawback is that the front sight is not removable.

 

[cratz2]

Plastic triggers in CZs? Only the CZ75SA and CZ-100.

Yeah, I was talking specifically about the triggers that come on their single action guns. The CZ75B SA, IPSC and Champion.

Great triggers. Some of the best out of the box triggers available at any price. Just not too crazy about that thin plastic.

 

[kbsrn]

EAA

The problem with thw witnesses is that EAA imports them. EAA is the worst company for service I have ever encounter. Check out the comments about EAA on TFL.

 

[WESHOOT2]

ON MY OWN

So I get all-or-none 'Factory Service'; yep, I can live with that.

As for "a Witness going full auto", well there's a story we've never heard before (1911?).

 

[Mike Irwin]

My biggest gripe against the Witness 10mm is that they are SEVERELY undersprung from the factory. Even light loads send cases 20-30 feet, and heavy loads put the things into low earth orbit.

 

[PCRCCW]

The s/a has a plastic trigger..the IPSC/Champion have alloy triggers....
Witness guns are very good guns for the most part. My dealer has ordered many of them in....one 10mm WF compact came with a very badly pitted barrel.....it went home to EAA.
Its rumored that some witness's have substantial warehouse time and this is where the pitting occurred?
Anyway...you cant be to suspect of a gun thats a CZ copy...can you?
Shoot well

 

[nvrquit]

Tanfoglio CZ Clone & EAA...

As one that has experienced and researched others experiences regarding the Tanfoglio Witness pistols, IMHO those can run the spectrum.

Anyone that wants and hasn't already read of my personal experience, go on over to TFL and do a compound Search on EAA and nvrquit. You'll also find links to other forums on one of my posts, regarding some others experiences.

That said, I fully admitt that I really like the Tan Witness design. For me, the fit of either standard or large frame Witness pistols is as near to perfect as can be had. The options available from Tan(though not all to be had through EAA) are outstanding. Pricing for what you get is usually good.

The only drawback is on the customer service end of the deal. When research is performed on the service history(limited at this time to those that have posted and/or replied to my inquiries), it becomes apparent that if a challenging situation is involved, the chance of customer satisfaction is less than likely. There is one outstanding individual at EAA though, that being Sharon Bell. In all my research, she alone was the only person at EAA that came out as the one being interested in customer satisfaction(including my personal experience).

A shame really, as I believe that Tanfoglio's US market share would improve/increase if the importer/service agent was anything like CZ-USA.