EAA Steel Witness 9mm

**plouffedaddy** · December 4th, 2012, 06:54 PM

I originally purchase the EAA Steel Witness 9mm (also known as the Tanfoglio T95 in some countries) a year or so ago because the I like the CZ75-type platform, the price was right, and it easily converted to 22lr. Here's what I've found so far:

Pros:
-Reliable. When the gun is in its' original 9mm configuration it's extremely reliable (I've personally never had a malfunction but my buddy borrowed the gun for a week and claimed he had one with his reloads).
-Accurate. Most CZC75 variants are very accurate guns and this pistol is no exception.
-Ergonomic. It feels great in the hand and the extended beaver tail allows you to get your hand very high up on the frame.
-Modularity. Current production EAA Witness guns are built on what was formerly known as the 'large frame.' You can purchase a separate slide assembly (40, 45, 22, ect....) and they will all work on the same frame. The frame is the serial numbered parts so there's no need to go though a FFL.
-Many (not all) of the aftermarket parts developed for the CZ75 will also work on the Witness.
-Standard 1913 rail for mounting lights/lasers/bayonets/whatever else tickles your fancy.
-It has a relatively low bore axis for a DA/SA gun due to the way the slide rides in the frame.
-Weight. The all steel version weighs 33oz unloaded which makes it a pleasure to shoot.
-Ability to be carried 'cocked and locked.' For many shooters this is a system we're used to and operating it is second nature.
-Price. I purchased mine for under $400 with the 22lr kit included. They've gone up since then but they're still very affordable.

Cons:
-No decocker.
-Only comes with 1 magazine
-Finish. It's just a paint type finish that wears relatively easily.
-The trigger has a little more overtravel than I'd like. That said, it does break crisply.

Chronograph numbers:
Winchester Ranger 115gr JHP: 1123fps, 322 ft/lbs energy
Federal HST 124gr JHP: 1145fps, 361 ft/lbs energy
Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P: 1253fps, 432 ft/lbs energy

Here's a video with some shooting, disassembly/assembly, a discussion of the pros/cons, and a chronograph test:

**harold63** · December 4th, 2012, 09:05 PM

I have a 'short list' and a 'very short list'. The P226 X5 Comp. and the EAA Witness Elite Match are on the 'very short list'. Both are guns I will go into the cookie jar to buy if I can just find them.

**harold63** · December 4th, 2012, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by plouffedaddy

Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P: 1253fps, 432 ft/lbs energy

Well, I see no reason to trade my nines for a .40 cal...

Nice review. Sucks about the decocker, though, but if you use 1911's very much, it won't be too much of an issue.

**plouffedaddy** · December 5th, 2012, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by 300WM

I have a 'short list' and a 'very short list'. The P226 X5 Comp. and the EAA Witness Elite Match are on the 'very short list'. Both are guns I will go into the cookie jar to buy if I can just find them.

Good luck finding that X5. You may want to post over in at sigforum.com and see if any of those guys (many are dealers) have a lead on one....

**harold63** · December 5th, 2012, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by plouffedaddy

Good luck finding that X5. You may want to post over in at sigforum.com and see if any of those guys (many are dealers) have a lead on one....

Yea, did that, already, a while ago. I've dealt with a guy in Miami that can get "anything" and he can't find one. The WEM is just about as hard.

**joseywales** · December 5th, 2012, 07:46 PM

I have an older Witness in 40. really like it.

I have a Springfield P9C in 40. really like it and very accurate.

I had a 45 Match Witness. It was more accurate, in my hands anyway, than the HK 45 Full Size I owned. I can't recall a more accurate factory gun that I ever had.

**harold63** · December 5th, 2012, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by joseywales

I can't recall a more accurate factory gun that I ever had.

Word on the street is the EAAW Match Elite 9mm is P226 X5 Comp. accurate. This is one of three guns (the CZ 75 SA being the third I didn't mention) that will complete my X cutter pistol collection, other than the P210, which will be a wish list or lotto gun.

**mrnyman** · December 6th, 2012, 02:34 AM

Good short review, i own one Tangfoglio and 6 CZ's, and one MR baby eagle, i like the Guns, feel very nice in my hand and accurate.

THe faults you listed are actually pluses (1) lack of a decocker, actually many people buy these Guns for this very reason, unlike most da/sa guns these can be carried cocked and locked like a 1911, that is why Col. Cooper remarked that the CZ 75 is the only 9mm worth owning.

(2) Over travel in the trigger, this is actually desirable in a Combat Pistol to alleviate combat stress in a gunfight being that these guns were designed with combat in mind.