Several months back I purchased an old beat up Tanfoglio "Combat" off Gunbroker. It was incorrectly import marked as a "TZ25" which Tanfoglio never made. I had suspicions of what it most likely was and they were confirmed after an email exchange with Tanfoglio in Italy. The Tanfoglio "Combat" is date coded "AU" for 1989 and is a pistol built with leftover parts from the contract between Tanfoglio and ITM in Solothurn, Switzerland to supply parts for the ITM AT84S. I recently had the gun refinished during which they removed the God-Awful and incorrect import mark. After receiving the gun from the gunsmith it was covered in grease from being stored so I completely disassembled the gun and stripped it of all the grease and oil so I could oil it to my liking. When I stripped the frame I was excited to see the remnance of the original "Solothurn + ITM + Switzerland" markings on the frame. That was completely unexpected and shows how close this particular frame came to becoming an AT84S. I like the rear sights on both and really dig the bobbed spur hammer on the Tanfoglio. The Tanfoglio "TZ75 Custom 90" is also built from some of the ITM contract parts. I've gotten into the history of Tanfoglio and other "clones" with the help of JWC007 and other members so thanks guys.
Tanfoglio Combat top and ITM AT84S bottom:
AT84S markings:
Remnance of the original ITM markings on the stripped Tanfoglio frame:
Incorrect "TZ25" import mark that was removed:
Tanfoglio TZ75 Custom 90:
