EAA Witness Polymer

B

brianidaho

New member
I'm considering purchase of a EAA Witness Compact Polymer (p-series)in 45ACP. Does anyone have any experience with one? Looks like I'm going to have to order it, local shop doesn't have in stock (in 45), am considering the Wonder Finish (I assume nickel plated) slide-good or bad?? The gun feels really nice to me, the poly grip is thinner than that on the steel one. I also like the price ($279 at a local shop). If the gun is a POS please let me know, I don't mind spending more if necessary. My next choice is a compact Springfield or Kimber, looked at the Ruger, seems kinda thick for concealed carry. I'd like to know soon, just sold my Redhawk tonight and the moneys kinda burning a hole in my pocket (also gotta spend it before the wife does). Thanks for any comments.

Bri
 
Sorry I can't tell you much about the compact polymer, I do have a full size and like it. It's had about 600 rounds through it and the only thing I've found it doesn't like are semi-wadcutters.
Wonderfinish isn't nickel plated, isn't exactly stainless either, not sure what it is but it looks good. Mines blued, dealer didn't have anything else at the time. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks SK, does help. Does anyone know what that "Wonderfinish" is? EAA's catalog isn't worth much from a technical standpoint. I've also seen some posts about Witnesses cracking parts, supposedly due to a too-hard (or untempered) heat treat. Is this even more of a problem with the WF guns? The catalog claims wonderfinish is a "heat treat process that makes steel very hard, self-lubricating and corrsive resistant". I've worked around tool rooms quite a lot and can't say I'm familiar with a "heat treat" process that does this. Thanks.
 
Cannot tell you much about the witness however did have a bad experience with
EAA, they import guns from different
companies and I purchased a Bounty Hunter
22/22mag. it was bad from the very start
and I have owned many guns over the past
30 years.It was repaired 3 times and I
requested a refund it was finally received.
I do own a Springfield ultra compact which
is great, accurate and never fails plus the
customer service at SA. just can't be beat.
I believe customer service is very important
as there is just "so much" poor quality
products on the market now. Cannot go
wrong with Springfield or Ruger.!!
 
Well, I ordered the gun yesterday, should be in in about a week. Hope I didn't make a mistake. I see some quite negative comments about the Witness on some posts, others say it is fantastic. Sounds like you take your chances, not the way I like to buy a firearm, but I'm hoping for the best. Should know in about a week. My dealer claims good things (don't they all??). Will post a update when I get some rounds through it.

Bri
 
Does anyone have any experience carring one of these cocked and locked? It isn't that big a deal with the single/double mode of operation, but the consistant trigger pull would be nice.

Thanks.

Bri
 
The Witness is a CZ-75 clone manufactured in Italy by Tanfoglio. The CZ-75 is one of the better double-action pistol designs, and usually strong as a tank. The 1999 Guns & Ammo Handgun Annual gave the Witness .45 compact polymer a good review, for what that's worth. Their major objection was the lack of a decocker. It can be carried cocked and locked, or you can fire the first round double action if you VERY CAREFULLY lower the hammer on a full chamber.

"Wonder Finish" is some kind of rust-resistant metal finish, like Tenifer on Glocks but silver-colored.

Let us know how it works out.
 
I own a Witness and love it.

It fits my hand very well.
It is very well balanced.
I can shoot it very quickly and manage close groups. :D

However,
Only thing I dislike about it is that the 15rnd magazine will not feed the first 3/4 rnds of any holopoint ammunition. Everything I have tried to correct this problem has not resulted in a fix.

That being said, we are talking about a 9x19 full-size here. I imagine the .45s aren't much more different.

------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!

oberkommando sez:
"We lost the first and third and now they are after the Second!(no pun intended)"
 
Don't forget the .22lr or the 9mm conversion kits for the Witness too.

------------------
The Seattle SharpShooter - TFL/GT/UGW/PCT/KTOG
 
I own an EAA Witness in .40 SW with the wonderfinish. It functions flawlessly, but prefers factory mags. I really like the wonderfinish, it never seems to wear out. I use this weapon nearly 100% of the time to shoot IPSC, so there is plenty of dirty magazines, etc run through the gun. Although I too have heard mixed reviews on the Witness, I own two (also have one in 9mm with the blue finish---wish it was also wonderfinsihed) and they're both great shooters!

spike
 
Well, my dealer didn't get the order placed when he said, I now should see the Witness next Wednesday. Darn, I was planning to play this weekend... Does anyone know if the slides/caliber conversions for the steel frame Witness works on the polymer? Can the "full-size" slide be used on a compact frame? If I really like the gun I'd consider a steel frame for plinking, range shooting and home defense and the compact for CCW. I know there are other posts on holsters, but does anyone have thoughts specifically for a CCW holster for the compact Witness/CZ? Will primarily be worn under a light dress shirt or t-shirt. Any thoughts appreciated-thanks.
 
Regarding my previous post..

I actually found some old home-brew 9mm reloads in a hollowpoint that will feed well in the magazine. How about that. I suppose all I needed to do what whine about it, and I was sure to find a solution.

Too bad that don't work for the GF. :D

------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!

oberkommando sez:
"We lost the first and third and now they are after the Second!(no pun intended)"
 
I got the Witness today!!! The dealer got it in earlier than he thought they would. Got home and gave it a quick cleaning, wiped the barrel. Got to put about 40 rounds through it before dark, performed flawlessly. Real nice single action pull, OK double. Recoil mild for a lightweight .45. Wonderfinish with black poly makes a nice looking combination. Machine work is pretty decent, there are a couple of what look like peen marks in the side of the slide, may only be in the finish. Only complaint so far. I'll stop at the dealer tomorrow and see if they will replace the slide. Will let you know more as I get more rounds through it.

Bri
 
OK, talked with the dealer and looked at the marks I was complaining about under a magnifing glass. I'm willing to buy into these just being the stamped "proof" marks. Somewhat embarrased, though they were not too clear. We looked at a blued gun, much crisper, the nickel is probably harder to stamp (maybe??).

Anyway, have put 100 rounds through the gun now, no failures of any kind. Happy with everything about the gun, especially considering the price. Red dot front site hard to see in dim light, will paint white-like these no-$$ fixes.

Does anyone know of a low-profile Novak-style sight for this gun? Also, how about a night sight?

Bri

[This message has been edited by brianidaho (edited September 15, 2000).]
 
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