Posted: 5/21/2009 9:50:41 AM EDT
What's the hive mind think about European American Armory? I saw their ad in American Rifleman and thought that this handgun looked like a good value.
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Couple issues here:
-EAA does not make guns. They only IMPORT guns made primarily by Tanfoglio. -Tanfoglios sold by EAA are re-labled "witness." -Some Tanfoglios are TOP OF THE LINE - like the ultra expensive Gold Team - and the top of the line guns are very good quality (gee). Plain jane "witness" for under $400 is not as good quality as a Top of the Line (Gee) Tanfoglios are jsut "75s" - just like "1911s". Not all 1911s are Colts. 75s have been made by more than a dozen companies around the world; Tanfoglio and CZ are just 2 of them. If you want a USA made 75, then buy an old Bren 10, or wait for the new Fortis copy of the old Bren 10. If you want a 75 imported from Turkey, then go buy the Armalite AR-24 since its also a 75. Or buy a gun imported by CZ. They are also good (though not the only game in town). |
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If you want a CZ, get a CZ. It's not like they're expensive. You'll be better off in the long run.
Now if it's a certain caliber that CZ doesn't offer (10mm or .38 Super), I could see buying a Witness instead. However, the QC is hit or miss and getting parts and/or service can be a bitch. They're kind of like Taurus in that regard, but better. |
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ive got several of them. Some NIB, some LNIB
I got the 45/22 NIB and i like it alot. its not a small /compact gun ,but it fun too shoot and came with the conversion. i also got a 10mm LNIB. Its also the large frame and handles the 10mm really nice. the last one i got was a 9mm smaller frame that holds the 16 rounds. I got it cuz i got one of the 22lr conversion kits that fits the smaller frame guns. ihavent had a chance to try them out yet, but i dont think i will have any problems. |
I bought my EAA Witness used. Its a .45. I bought 4 extra mags and went to the range. It worked great. No problems with feeding or extracting. Its all steel and heavy. I have $285 into the whole package including a holster. It was fun to shoot and accurate. I guess I have a good one
I use it as a third gun in the bottom of my BOB with the mags loaded and ready to go. I have shot the CZ and the ones I have handled worked just fine. I like them. RLTW 
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They're great guns. You should go fondle one at a store. Smooth as butter and a great value. Plus you can get uppers in just about any caliber for that puppy. I can show you a bone stock 10mm Wonder Finish Witness that cost $900.00...( 400.00 for the gun, and 500.00 in shipping to send the POS back to EAA 6 times) |
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They're great guns. You should go fondle one at a store. Smooth as butter and a great value. Plus you can get uppers in just about any caliber for that puppy. I can show you a bone stock 10mm Wonder Finish Witness that cost $900.00...( 400.00 for the gun, and 500.00 in shipping to send the POS back to EAA 6 times) Damn! That sucks... |
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I had a Witness in 10mm. While I at first liked the gun, after 6 months many flaws began showing. Mag springs began having issues, so I had to swap in Wolf +10% mag springs. Then its accuracy never really took hold like it should have. 6-8" groups is NOT my idea of accurate in a handgun, especially when I can get 2-3" groups in virtually every Beretta, H&K, CZ or whatever that I own.
I ended up trading it in on a Glock 20 & never looked back. I also had a REAL difficult time getting them to answer a simple GD question via e-mail. 
I am now the proud & loving owner of 2 CZ handguns & one CZ shottie. 
A Witness? Never again! 
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I also got one in 10mm, the full-size version, couldn't beat the price. The only issue I have with it so far is only 1 magazine included with the gun, but I bought a 3 pack from EAA directly, and the prices were good.
Took it to the range and I had some bullet up failures out of the mag, where the slide would lock back and the bullet would be tipped up and jammed in on the inside of the slide instead of going into the chamber the way it's supposed too. I'm not too worried yet, as it's only had the 50 rounds through it so far and most guns can use a break-in period of several hundred rounds, but we'll wait and see... 
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I also got one in 10mm, the full-size version, couldn't beat the price. The only issue I have with it so far is only 1 magazine included with the gun, but I bought a 3 pack from EAA directly, and the prices were good. Took it to the range and I had some bullet up failures out of the mag, where the slide would lock back and the bullet would be tipped up and jammed in on the inside of the slide instead of going into the chamber the way it's supposed too. I'm not too worried yet, as it's only had the 50 rounds through it so far and most guns can use a break-in period of several hundred rounds, but we'll wait and see... Rack the slide a few hundred times and save ammo during break in. |
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The full sized Tangfolio is supposed to be a pretty good gun, but some of the others are kinda hit-or-miss, from what I hear. They're basically CZ clones, so you're probably better off just getting a CZ. +1 I like the idea of getting a full size Witness in .38 super to convert to 9x23 (18 rounds of .357 magnum performance  ), but what I've read and heard about their QC has put me off so far. I wish CZ-USA would make something with a 10mm sized mag well. 
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Got five witness'. One basic model in 45 acp which has ridden in my dad's truck and in the woods w/o a spec of oil in like 6 yrs. I still functions perfectly. Atleast once you break the slide free. My dad and I have matching witness targets in 9 mm. Fit and finish is great and accuracy is excelent. I've pulled off 1" groups of five at 25 yards. I have clark custom 1911's that can't shoot with this pistol. Couldn't be happier with their performance. Dad has a witness polymer. We havn't shot it yet, so no feedback. Finally I have a witness limited in 10mm that my dad got me when I graduated high school. I'm just gonna say (to keep from taking up the next four pages) I am thoroughly pleased with it's fit, finish, and performance. 
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I also got one in 10mm, the full-size version, couldn't beat the price. The only issue I have with it so far is only 1 magazine included with the gun, but I bought a 3 pack from EAA directly, and the prices were good. Took it to the range and I had some bullet up failures out of the mag, where the slide would lock back and the bullet would be tipped up and jammed in on the inside of the slide instead of going into the chamber the way it's supposed too. I'm not too worried yet, as it's only had the 50 rounds through it so far and most guns can use a break-in period of several hundred rounds, but we'll wait and see... Good luck with that...Let me know how the customer svc. is. (Slides crack by ejection port, and frames on left rear frame rail) Oh yea... Don't be a Double Tap he- man either, the gun cannot handle nuclear 1200 fps 200 gr or for that matter full power 10mm.. YOU NEED A BUFFER IN THAT GUN... Not a heavier spring. A buffer. 10mm Witness will beat itself to death without one. |
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I shoot 9x23 in my .38 Super Witness with only a heavier recoil spring. Only issue is that the mags don't like certain rounds loaded past a certain OAL.
It is not the equal of a CZ or any other top of the line pistol for that matter. But for $300 NIB I can't complain. |
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I shoot 9x23 in my .38 Super Witness with only a heavier recoil spring. Only issue is that the mags don't like certain rounds loaded past a certain OAL. It is not the equal of a CZ or any other top of the line pistol for that matter. But for $300 NIB I can't complain. That will not stop the slide from hammering the frame. |
I know some people  that have a 1991 TA-90 which was the old CZ75 Excam copy from Tanfoglio. Those are available generally cheap, and might be a starting point to see if you like the platform. It's a great 9mm shooter, and uses CZ-75 Mags all day long. CZ-75 parts are a direct replacement, speaking from experience (those people screwed up a trigger job, and had to buy a new sear.) Those same people have a S/A Witness match in 9mm, 19 rounds in the mag, as Ithey recall, that is a an incredibly accurate pistol (Ragged single hole at 25yrds after a mag). It is very important to note the Witness Match 9mm Mags are not interchangable with standard CZ-75 mags. For $489+tax is the most accurate pistol I've "seen." Replacement (extra) mags were purchased direct on-line from EAA.
Also another CZ-75 copy is the Sarsilmaz imported by Academy Sports and Outdoors from the same company that makes the Armalite AR-24. They also are nice for a shooter grade gun, and again, CZ75 mags fit. |
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I shoot 9x23 in my .38 Super Witness with only a heavier recoil spring. Only issue is that the mags don't like certain rounds loaded past a certain OAL. It is not the equal of a CZ or any other top of the line pistol for that matter. But for $300 NIB I can't complain. That will not stop the slide from hammering the frame. I don't shoot it that much so I'm not too worried. Recoil is very light but I was concerned about the spent casings flying 25+ feet. |
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10mm cases fly into the next week... It really zings them, and its a bitch to find them if I shoot outside. I think that applies to any pistol in 10mm. No it doesn't.. Brens throw them back right over your head. 8 feet or so, in a nice little pile. |
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10mm cases fly into the next week... It really zings them, and its a bitch to find them if I shoot outside. I think that applies to any pistol in 10mm. No it doesn't.. Brens throw them back right over your head. 8 feet or so, in a nice little pile. +1, Never seen a pistol zing brass the way my 10mm Match will. Tosses it farther than my HK91 rifle clone. And it has a 22lb spring in it. BTW, I saw mention of a buffer for the 10mm's. Where can one be found at? |
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i dunno, but I wish they'd change up the model in their Ad photo's ... That white trashy looking blonde needs to be updated or fed a cheeseburger...I remember a dark haired hottie they used to have in their adds
Anyway I had a witness P years ago that was 100% except for one brand of ammo, cant remember now which. The slide would hang up about a 1/4 inch from going closed every once in awhile with that brand, otherwise good pistol. |
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10mm cases fly into the next week... It really zings them, and its a bitch to find them if I shoot outside. I think that applies to any pistol in 10mm. No it doesn't.. Brens throw them back right over your head. 8 feet or so, in a nice little pile. +1, Never seen a pistol zing brass the way my 10mm Match will. Tosses it farther than my HK91 rifle clone. And it has a 22lb spring in it. BTW, I saw mention of a buffer for the 10mm's. Where can one be found at? I use the Wilson Combat blue 1911 buffers. That was me that started the buffer discussion... Just put one of those in the gun, and look at it after just 100 rds. Those buffers get the shit bea tout of them. |