EAA Witness vs. Baby Eagle

[passintime]

Hey everyone.

I am in the market for either the all-steel compact 9mm EAA witness with wonder finish or the all steel compact 9mm Baby Eagle. I have owned a baby eagle in .40 and selling it was my biggest regret. Considering they are the same basic design and both (I believe) use parts by tangfolio, what are the pro-s and con-s to each and which one would you go with. Trigger pull, fit and finish, price, reliability, customer service, accessories, should all be considered. Thanks!

PS. I have narrowed it down to these two guns, so please, no more suggestions of other manufacturer's. Thanks!

 

[Loomis]

Full length dust cover on the israeli made baby eagle...looks really cool imo.

I'd go with the israeli version.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg44-e.htm

The italian version is not quite a nice looking, imo:
http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg72-e.htm

 

[SureThing]

Well, the current Witness use a large frame. The 9mm is no smaller than the .45. So if compact is the way you are leaning, I would choose something different. Maybe a Baby Eagle, or the Compact CZ polycoat. It is all steel also.

 

[passintime]

Well, the current Witness use a large frame. The 9mm is no smaller than the .45. So if compact is the way you are leaning, I would choose something different.

I'm a little confused by this, as their website (as well as Bud's gun shop) shows a full-size 9mm and a compact 9mm. The compact 9mm is smaller in barrel length and height compared to the full-size according to EAA's website spec sheet.

 

[hags]

Well, the current Witness use a large frame. The 9mm is no smaller than the .45. So if compact is the way you are leaning, I would choose something different. Maybe a Baby Eagle, or the Compact CZ polycoat. It is all steel also.

Wrong, they do make (import) all steel compacts. Also, if you're refering to the P-01, it has an alloy frame.

You can also get small framed Tanfoglios now, but not through EAA.

 

[Don357]

As you stated, both are the same design, along with CZ's, AR-24's, Buls, and several others. They are what they are. All are very good handguns and I don't believe that there is a significant difference in the internals. The Witness', as I'm sure you already know, is quite the rage in European competitions. Why they don't use the other guns only they know. Do they know something we don't yet? I have a Witness Poly Compact .45acp. I love everything about it except the rear sights. The only real difference between it and the two larger versions is grip and barrel lengths. If it were me, I would choose the Witness, not because of quality issues, but why pay more for essentially the same gun?