My intention in sharing this is capturing for posterity what upgrades work and which don’t, along with links to all the items. This has been a fun / crazy journey and want to give back to the community.
First: a special shout out to Henning Wallgren (of Henning Group) who patiently helped me at various points on this journey, and who actually has a SAR K12 and could test fit certain items (rather than just guess).
Main Points (I go into more detail later):
• Most (not all) internal parts for the Tanfoglio Small Frame will work
Henning Group and Patriot Defense are a great source of upgrades for Tanfoglio
I’ve been told that it’s most similar to a Tanfoglio Witness Elite Limited, but I can’t confirm that
• Magazines: takes standard CZ 75 magazines
• Rear sight: EAA SUPER SIGHT (LPA/Bomar style)
• Front sight: some weird Tanfo-specific thing (you’ll be surprised which Dawson front sight actually works… see below)
What DIDN’T work (so you learn from my mistakes)
• Henning Base pads on OEM SAR K12 mags
Issue: They will slide on but they will just pop right off when they hit the ground.
Easy solution: just buy regular Mec-Gar CZ75 mags and put the same Henning Base pads on those. They work perfectly.
• Henning extended firing pin (H051-TL X-Long Firing Pin for Tanfoglio,
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1284167&CAT=9244)
Issue: It would have required modification for both length and taper
Easy solution: Patriot Defense has one that just drops in
• RedX Gear holster
Issue: really tight fit, and terrible customer service (that’s a whole saga in itself)
Easy solution: modify it or buy a different one (perhaps there are more options now?)
What DID work (so you learn from my successes)
INTERNALS
• Henning Group (I ended up with a 2.4 lb trigger)
Flat Trigger System:
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1284156 Wolff Hammer Spring - 14lb:
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1291020 EGW Prepped Hammer:
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1290154 EGW Prepped Sear:
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1290155 • Patriot Defense
Patriot Defense Optimized Firing Pin Spring:
https://patriotdefense.com/patriot-defense-tanfoglio-optimized-firing-pin-spring/?mc_cid=1f9faa20df&mc_eid=e02c5586c7 Patriot Defense Extra Power Extractor Spring:
https://patriotdefense.com/patriot-defense-tanfoglio-cz-extra-power-extractor-spring/?mc_cid=1f9faa20df&mc_eid=e02c5586c7 Tanfoglio Extractor (11.1):
https://patriotdefense.com/tanfoglio-witness-extractor-11-1/?mc_cid=1f9faa20df&mc_eid=e02c5586c7 Tanfoglio Extractor Pin:
https://patriotdefense.com/tanfoglio-witness-extractor-pin-11-2/?mc_cid=1f9faa20df&mc_eid=e02c5586c7 Tanfoglio Firing Pin - Extended:
https://patriotdefense.com/patriot-defense-tanfoglio-firing-pin-extended/?mc_cid=1f9faa20df&mc_eid=e02c5586c7 EXTERNALS
• Front Sights: after much research, turns out that a suitable replacement is for the Desert Baby Eagle
Dawson Precision Desert Eagle Baby Eagle Fiber Optic Front Sights (.135" Tall x .125" Wide Ramped Serrated) 050-970:
https://dawsonprecision.com/dawson-precision-desert-eagle-baby-eagle-fiber-optic-front-sights/ These are the OEM fiber optic upgrades, but they are always out out of stock:
https://store.eaacorp.com/shop/product/303011-witness-standard-fiber-optic-front-sight-179?category=15#attr=27829,27830,27831 • Rear Sights: EAA SUPER SIGHT (LPA/Bomar style)
OEM is an LPA TRT96TA07:
http://www.lpasights.com/en/products/trt96ta07/ I wanted to mount a red dot, so went with EGW Red Dot Mount for Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Mount:
https://www.egwguns.com/trijicon-rmr-sro-holosun-407c-507c-mount-for-eaa-super-sight • LOK Grips Tanfoglio Palm Swell Bogies (select Small Frame and Short Length):
https://lokgrips.com/tanfoglio/palm-swell/bogies/tanfoglio-palm-swell-bogies/ • Magazines
Mec-Gar CZ-75 Magazine:
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1290132&CAT=10065 Henning Magazine Extension:
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1464117&CAT=10024 Henning Grams Format Follower Kit:
https://www.henningshop.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1295253&CAT=10024 In case you’re really set on getting OEM Mags, this is where to get them:
https://luckysnipe.com/sar-usa-by-sarsilmaz-pistol-magazines/ FYI… I worked with a gunsmith who is also a competition shooter who understands performance and tuning. In addition to installing and fitting all of these parts, he also
• Chamfered outside edge of firing pin hole
• Polished breech face and rails
• Ramped and polished the feed ramp
• Magwell: perfect blending of removal of any edges (see photo)
• Overall polish and deburr