EAA Witness

[1911texan]

I have just recently become the new owner of a EAA Witness..from the research I have done, it is a Full size steel frame in 9mm..the first two letters of the serial # is AE which I believe was made in 1979 ?..I have been looking all over the forum trying to see exactly what I have..I seen blued ones and what is called the wonder finish..mine is stainless with polished sides on the slide..I also found out the slide is a Elite slide..front and rear sights are dovetailed..I want to put a front fiber optic and a wide notch rear sight on..could someone help me with the sight cuts..I have always had 1911's and this is the first non 1911..I will have to say this pistol shoots like a dream..I decided I like it so well I want to turn it into a target gun..any help I could get would be greatly appreciated..
Thanks
New Member but I believe I like these guns

[draftpick]

I have just recently become the new owner of a EAA Witness..from the research I have done, it is a Full size steel frame in 9mm..the first two letters of the serial # is AE which I believe was made in 1979 ?..I have been looking all over the forum trying to see exactly what I have..I seen blued ones and what is called the wonder finish..mine is stainless with polished sides on the slide..I also found out the slide is a Elite slide..front and rear sights are dovetailed..I want to put a front fiber optic and a wide notch rear sight on..could someone help me with the sight cuts..I have always had 1911's and this is the first non 1911..I will have to say this pistol shoots like a dream..I decided I like it so well I want to turn it into a target gun..any help I could get would be greatly appreciated..
Thanks
New Member but I believe I like these guns

  I think you might be wrong on the date. The serial number is not what dates the gun, there should be a box with 2 letters right around the trigger guard  look at post #5 bottom pic in post #5 has a pic of what you should be looking for. http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=59289.0   And EAA was not in business til around 2005, and your gun Is made after that. And are you sure it's stainless, eaa makes a wonderfinish that is a hard chrome that a lot of people confuse with stainless? Im not up to speed on the witness elites so it could be stainless, but Tanfoglio is not known for making stainless guns.

[1911texan]

Thanks for your response..that is one thing I forgot to mention..there is no type of markings around the trigger guard..I have looked at several examples on the forum and rechecked your reference..I promise there is nothing..this is also one thing that is confusing..as for the finish..I have compared the hard chrome and wonder finsh pictures posted on here..I am still convinced mine is stainless..also Tanfoglio is not stamped anywhere..I will try to get some pictures posted..Again thanks for the help

[jwc007]

Welcome to the Forum, 1911texan!   

  And EAA was not in business til around 2005,

EAA was formed around 1988 or so, from the remnants of FIE Corp and EXCAM, both which imported Tanfoglio and other Firearms.

   And are you sure it's stainless, eaa makes a wonderfinish that is a hard chrome that a lot of people confuse with stainless? Im not up to speed on the witness elites so it could be stainless, but Tanfoglio is not known for making stainless guns.

There were some very rare Stainless Steel Witnesses in 9mm and .45 ACP made in the early 1990's prior to the introduction of the Wonder Finish, the latter which is a Silver Grey Tenifer Finish. Prior to that, the alternative finish to Blue was an Industrial Hard Chrome, which can often be mistaken for Stainless Steel.

To find out exactly when your Pistol was imported, go to the Tanfoglio Website and email Tanfoglio directly with the Serial Number.  http://www.tanfoglio.it/eng/home.php

[draftpick]

Welcome to the Forum, 1911texan!   

  And EAA was not in business til around 2005,

EAA was formed around 1988 or so, from the remnants of FIE Corp and EXCAM, both which imported Tanfoglio and other Firearms.

   And are you sure it's stainless, eaa makes a wonderfinish that is a hard chrome that a lot of people confuse with stainless? Im not up to speed on the witness elites so it could be stainless, but Tanfoglio is not known for making stainless guns.

There were some very rare Stainless Steel Witnesses in 9mm and .45 ACP made in the early 1990's prior to the introduction of the Wonder Finish, the latter which is a Silver Grey Tenifer Finish. Prior to that, the alternative finish to Blue was an Industrial Hard Chrome, which can often be mistaken for Stainless Steel.

To find out exactly when your Pistol was imported, go to the Tanfoglio Website and email Tanfoglio directly with the Serial Number.  http://www.tanfoglio.it/eng/home.php

Your right I got it confused when they trasitioned to the large frame, my bad..

[1911texan]

I just e-mailed Tanfoglio with my serial # to get the skinny on the pistol..I will post the response when I get it..

[darink300zx]

1911texan, something else no one has mentioned is that on some older witness models the date code box is not in the trigger guard area but around the bottom of the mag well.  I don't have any like this, so it's hard to explain where it is.  You may want to get a flashlight and check for the date code box around and even in the mag well. 

Darin.

[1911texan]

Tanfoglio returned my e-mail..my pistol was made in July of 2008..,also it is Stainless not the wonder finish..I understand a lot of the SS were not made..I really dont care about the finish..was at the range yesterday..ran 200rds thru her and I got to say...she is a shooter..I have several 9mm Target guns that cost a lot more that my Witness but the Witness is amazing..very glad I picked it up

[jwc007]

Glad to read that it is shooting well for you  and yes, Tanfoglio Pistols usually deliver stellar accuracy! 

Tanfoglio returned my e-mail..my pistol was made in July of 2008..,also it is Stainless not the wonder finish..I understand a lot of the SS were not made..

Interesting to know that the Elite Series Pistols can be had in Stainless!

Now we would like to see this fine Pistol!

[1911texan]

they are coming..I promise..as soon as I can figure out my new camera