EAA Tanfoglio Witness Police seizure. Project gun?

[Gunnerdad80]

I don’t remember exactly how much the refinishing was, but I believe it was somewhere around $800. I had it re-blued, which was far more expensive than the gun was valued at. I just really liked it and wanted to have it redone. It’s hard to tell the overall condition of yours without seeing it in person but you most likely will have some pitting still showing after the refinishing process. I would probably just have it cerakoted. Then again, maybe just give it a light-handed scrub with some really fine steel wool and some WD-40. Then clean it real good and oil it. It may not look too bad.

[jwc007]

Were this my "Project" Pistol, I would have it Cerakoted in "Armorers Black or Dark Blue.  Also, if this Pistol is actually rusted, I would remove the Grips and soak it in Vinegar for about a week to kill the Rust.  Consult your local CeraKote applicator.

I had a Pistols Slide CeraKoted and as long as I did the stripping of the Slide, he only charged me $80.
Sadly he is no longer in business.

[KneverKnew]

I’m thinking, due to the rust and pitting present, ceramide would probably be better. Not wanting to put a lot of money into this already cheap beater gun is a factor also. I really need to verify what exactly this gun is though. That will have a great bearing on how much I’m willing to invest.

[jwc007]

I’m thinking, due to the rust and pitting present, ceramide would probably be better. Not wanting to put a lot of money into this already cheap beater gun is a factor also. I really need to verify what exactly this gun is though. That will have a great bearing on how much I’m willing to invest.

What you have is a Tanfoglio "Parts" Pistol that has a Swiss Contract Frame and a regular production early Series 88 Tanfoglio Slide. The Take Down Markers, with a Dot on the Slide and a Line on the Frame, not to mention the nice rounded Frame Trigger Guard are dead give aways to that. Quite a number of these Pistols were so assembled after the Swiss decided not to renew it's Production Contracts with Tanfoglio. Still, these Pistols are very functional and accurate. Current small Frame Tanfoglio Magazines or Mec-Gar Cz75B 17 and 19 round Magazines may work. Standard 16 round Cz75B Magazines may be a bit short to completely seat.

Other refinishing possibilities are Gun Kote and Black Epoxy Paint, if you are handy and want to try it yourself.  Preparation is the one of the most important factors in successful refinishing. I recently finished some surplus Russian AK47 Magazines, which were blued, in Black Appliance Epoxy Paint. Came out great!

If the Pistol is in functional/shootable condition, take it out and shoot it, and see what you think of it.

[KneverKnew]

Thank you. That information should help me locate a usable magazine or two. I’ve already been in contact with Cote LLC.

[Steve Menegon]

I’m thinking, due to the rust and pitting present, ceramide would probably be better. Not wanting to put a lot of money into this already cheap beater gun is a factor also. I really need to verify what exactly this gun is though. That will have a great bearing on how much I’m willing to invest.

I recently finished some surplus Russian AK47 Magazines, which were blued, in Black Appliance Epoxy Paint. Came out great!

I recently refinished a pistol in black appliance epoxy. It turned out pretty nice and so far has held up well. Sorry for the link to another site, but lots of photos there.

https://www.rugerforum.net/threads/good-grief-i-bought-a-project.413153/

[KneverKnew]

As mentioned, this pistol does have a bit of rust and pitting. It was used by criminals and a court ordered sale. No telling what “activities” it’s been involved in. The auction company replied to my request for further info saying that no other import marks are present other than the FIE roll mark on the left slide flat.

I’m leaning towards having it down in Cerakote to hopefully hide some of the pitting. Maybe the majority can be huffed out. I can afford some investment since I didn’t spend much in the first place. How much do you think a gun like this is worth even in its shabby condition?

[mrcabinet]

Oh, I would have been all over that for a project. But then again, I have a soft spot for these neglected orphans. Or is that a soft spot on my skull? Anyway, if it was mine, the first thing I'd do is tear it apart, blast the snot out of it with carb cleaner, and give it a soak in Evap O Rust for a few hours. It will strip off the bluing, remove/neutralize the rust, and leave the bare metal with a protective coating. I would then spend days sanding it out to 600 grit, then take a day off work to rust blue it. But I am, admittedly, a glutton for punishment, lol. My second option would be a satin Duracoat spray finish. Dress it up with some new grips (CZ will not fit) and it would be gtg.

Honestly, if you strip it down, I'd find it hard to believe that a bead blast and Ceracoat from someone local would be more than $150. Ceracoat used to provide contact info for certified applicators in your area if you called them. Don't know if they still do that or not.

I think you'll be surprised at what a sweet gun you'll end up with.

[KneverKnew]

Mrcabinet I like you thinking. Evaporust I have in gallons. I’ll clean it thoroughly first and see how she shoots. Once I get a magazine that is. I have a feeling, ceracoat will be the route.

[mrcabinet]

Ceracoat now has this on their website.

https://www.cerakote.com/find-applicator

[KneverKnew]

Ceracoat now has this on their website.

https://www.cerakote.com/find-applicator

Wonderful. Thanks.


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[Born2vette]

I recently purchased really cheap a Smith & Wesson 10-5 revolver that was reportedly a Puerto Rican police seizure. There is a case number etched in 4 places on the gun and the finish looks pretty ratty. I plan to refinish by sanding, filing, wire wheeling and then rust blue. I plan on making it a winter project.




This is the CZ 82 I refinished last winter.

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=124306.0


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[KneverKnew]

When you say rust blue, what chemicals and method do you use? Can you explain process please?

[KneverKnew]

I recently purchased really cheap a Smith & Wesson 10-5 revolver that was reportedly a Puerto Rican police seizure. There is a case number etched in 4 places on the gun and the finish looks pretty ratty. I plan to refinish by sanding, filing, wire wheeling and then rust blue. I plan on making it a winter project.




This is the CZ 82 I refinished last winter.

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=124306.0


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Cz82 looks nice.


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[mrcabinet]

Rust bluing is a very old school method of protecting metal. It's surprisingly durable, and nothing like modern nitride blue. It's a process of prepping the metal to 400 - 600 grit sanding, then applying a mild acid to it, which begins to rust it. There's slow blue, which can take a day to rust, and fast blue, which can do it in 1/2 to 1 hour. I use Mark Lee's Express Blue. Either one does require humidity to work right.

Once an even layer of fine rust is achieved, you boil the parts in distilled/purified water for 10 minutes or so. The rust will turn into black oxide when boiled. When you remove the parts, they will have a fine velvety look to them. You then "card" them with a fine brush or steel wool to remove the velvet. Then repeat the process over and over, until it just won't rust anymore and has a nice deep blackish blue finish. The number of cycles will vary, depending on the steel. I've had some take as few as 4 cycles, and others take 15.