Swiss Phoenix pistols...

[bc1023]

I bought a couple of these recently and I'm extremely impressed. Phoenix was started a couple of years ago by the former owner of Sphinx. Their shop is in Interlaken, Switzerland.

They have four models currently, all of which are based on the CZ 75 design:

Fusion - Duty pistol
Redback - Competition pistol
Drake - Limited pistol
Raptor - Open gun

Unfortunately, the Drake and Raptor aren't approved for import yet, but I'll have a Drake as soon as they are. The Fusion is a new and improved Sphinx SDP, while the Redback is a new and improved Sphinx 3000.

The Fusion is available in a Compact, Tactical, or Standard. The Tactical is basically a Compact with some additions. The Standard is the full size gun. All Fusions are a combination of three materials. The slide is steel, the frame is aluminum, and the grip is polymer. Its also available in all black or with an FDE frame and grip. Mine is an all black Standard (ST) model.

The Redback is available in DA/SA or SAO. Its also available in all steel or a couple combinations of steel and aluminum. The Light has an aluminum grip. The Ultra Light has an aluminum grip and frame. They are also available in all silver, all black, or two tone. Mine is a silver, all steel, DA/SA pistol.

Build quality is second to none. I'm fortunate enough to own examples of all the high end pistols built over the past several decades and I would put the Redback right at or near the top of the list. Its certainly nicer than any other high end "production" or semi custom pistol I have in my collection. Even Sig Mastershop pistols and Smith & Wesson PC pistols can't match the quality of the Redback. I have Pardinis, high end CZ's, Alien Pistols, many high end 1911's, and a bunch of others to compare it to. They don't match this gun. That's how good it is.

The Fusion uses less expensive materials and has less machining, but the build quality and fitting is just as nice as the Redback.

I know Phoenix is relatively unknown. They are a small company that only produces a limited amount of guns per month and per year. However, I'm here to say that you won't find a nicer production/semi custom semi auto handgun produced today.

Does anyone else have hands on experience with these pistols?

Enjoy the pics...

 

[Ru4real]

Hey, pretty good looking pistols! Thank you for bringing them up. How do they shoot?

 

[bc1023]

Hey, pretty good looking pistols! Thank you for bringing them up. How do they shoot?

They are very accurate guns.

Much like a CZ, but better.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The Fusion doesnt do it for me, but the Redback looks awesome! Never even heard of these before, very cool!

 

[hemiram]

I wish I had the $$$ for a Redback!

I do have a Sphinx SDP. It's very nice. I would like to see if Phoenix actually really did anything different on it.

 

[sabbfan]

I just watched a video on YouTube by Honest Outlaw on the Redback a week ago, first I’d heard of it. He was a big fan, sounds like an excellent pistol.

 

[bannockburn]

bc1023

Very interesting! I agree with NIGHTLORD40K in that the polymer frame Fusion doesn't do much for me either but that the Redback and Redback Light models look to be extremely well designed and constructed! Would love to check one out sometime! As always thanks for sharing these fine Swiss halbautomatische pistolen!

 

[bc1023]

bc1023

Very interesting! I agree with NIGHTLORD40K in that the polymer frame Fusion doesn't do much for me either but that the Redback and Redback Light models look to be extremely well designed and constructed! Would love to check one out sometime! As always thanks for sharing these fine Swiss halbautomatische pistolen!

Thanks and no problem

The Fusion’s frame is aluminum. Only the grip is polymer. It has three parts, much like a 2011.

 

[bannockburn]

bc1023

The Fusion’s frame is aluminum. Only the grip is polymer. It has three parts, much like a 2011.

Yeah I was kind of wondering about that in the Technical Specifications what they meant by Material Upper Frame/Lower frame, then across from it Alu (Aluminum)/Polymer. Is the slide material the same across both the Redback and Fusion Series?

 

[bc1023]

Yes all the slides are steel. In fact, just about every center fire pistol has a steel slide these days.

 

[Mauser lover]

Not doubting, just curious. What is a high end CZ to you? Czechmate? Tactical Sport, or perhaps Shadow two?

Again, not trying to cast doubt on these admittedly nice looking new pistols, just looking for a common data point.

And can you remove the slide and show us the guts? I’d like to see inside both the slide and the area around the sear in the frame if you feel like posting that.

 

[bannockburn]

bc1023

Yes all the slides are steel. In fact, just about every center fire pistol has a steel slide these days.

Yes I know that; what I wanted to know was there any difference in the steel they use to make the different models or is the difference just with the Upper and Lower frames material?

 

[SwampWolf]

Price(s)? I suppose they're like yachts in that if you have to ask, you probably can't afford one. But I'll ask anyway. How much, say, for the Redback?

 

[bc1023]

bc1023


Yes I know that; what I wanted to know was there any difference in the steel they use to make the different models or is the difference just with the Upper and Lower frames material?

As far as I know the steel is all the same very high grade material. The Redback's slide has a good deal more machining put into, top serrations being an example.

 

[bc1023]

Price(s)? I suppose they're like yachts in that if you have to ask, you probably can't afford one. But I'll ask anyway. How much, say, for the Redback?

They range for about $3000 for an Ultra Light model to over $4000 for an all steel optics ready model.

Not to bad actually for the quality you get.

 

[bc1023]

Not doubting, just curious. What is a high end CZ to you? Czechmate? Tactical Sport, or perhaps Shadow two?

Again, not trying to cast doubt on these admittedly nice looking new pistols, just looking for a common data point.

Here it is with two high end CZ's (Czechmate and Shadow 2 Orange) I own and a CZC A01-LD. The CZ pistols are great and the CZ Custom gun is outstanding. They aren't put together like the Phoenix, however.

I will say the A01-LD has the nicest DA pull of all four of these.