EAA Tanfoglio Witness Police seizure. Project gun?

[Born2vette]

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.

This^^^

I used Mark Lee express blue on my 82 and plan to do the same on 10-5.  The 82 was treaded and painted metal which was not as uniform as I would have liked once preped but the 10-5 was originally blued so I am hoping to get a little better result when I do it.

[mrcabinet]

Starting with a blued gun, like OP's, is so much easier than one with a painted finish. Here's a painted Argentine Hi Power I did a few years back - before, prepped and after.

[KneverKnew]

Very nice refinish job.

Here is the magazine Greg Cote suggests for this pistol. He does say if I mine is an 88 series frame I will need a CZ pre B mag. Let me know please if this mag should work.

Witness Small Frame or Rock Island Armory Armscor MAPP1 FS/MS (Full Size or Mid-Size) 9mm or 22TCM 9R 16 RD Full Size or Mid-Size Blued Armscor 56057. This is a Tanfoglio factory small frame magazine, sold by Armscor.
UPC 812285021324

The magazines also fits the Tanfoglio TZ-75, EAA Witness Small frame Tanfoglio TA90, (Not for the pre 88 series models, the pre B CZ 75 factory magazines should work in those.), EAA Witness PS, Springfield Armory P9, Jericho 941 (also imported as the Uzi Eagle, Baby Eagle and the Desert Eagle Pistol built with Tanfoglio supplied parts, (a Tanfoglio CZ 75B clone), Baby Desert Eagle III, ITM AT-84.

[KneverKnew]

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[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.

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.

So what “model” would my Swiss contract frame with Series 88 slide with regard to selecting a proper magazine? Do I search for series 88 magazines? Would that be considered a pre B magazine? I’m really getting a bit confused. Sounds like I’m going to have to order something and return it if it’s wrong. I’ll have to eat the shipping both ways. 


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[jwc007]

Very nice refinish job.

Here is the magazine Greg Cote suggests for this pistol. He does say if I mine is an 88 series frame I will need a CZ pre B mag. Let me know please if this mag should work.

Witness Small Frame or Rock Island Armory Armscor MAPP1 FS/MS (Full Size or Mid-Size) 9mm or 22TCM 9R 16 RD Full Size or Mid-Size Blued Armscor 56057. This is a Tanfoglio factory small frame magazine, sold by Armscor.
UPC 812285021324

The magazines also fits the Tanfoglio TZ-75, EAA Witness Small frame Tanfoglio TA90, (Not for the pre 88 series models, the pre B CZ 75 factory magazines should work in those.), EAA Witness PS, Springfield Armory P9, Jericho 941 (also imported as the Uzi Eagle, Baby Eagle and the Desert Eagle Pistol built with Tanfoglio supplied parts, (a Tanfoglio CZ 75B clone), Baby Desert Eagle III, ITM AT-84.

WRONG!    The Series 88 Frame Pistols take the current small Frame Defiant/Witness Magazines or current Mec-Gar Cz75B 17 and 19 round Magazines!!!  Also, DO NOT buy Armscor Magazines!!! They are Trash! I tend to stick with the Mec-Gar Made Magazines and the 17 and 19 rounders in particular.


Tanfoglio Series 88 TA90 and Armscor/RIA/Tanfoglio MAP1 FS with 19 round Mec-Gar Cz75B Magazines

Note that the Armscor 16 round Magazines that came with my Armscor/RIA/Tanfoglio MAP1 FS and MS were tossed in the recycling bin after proving very unreliable! 


Armscor/RIA/Tanfoglio MAP1 MS with Mec-Gar Cz75B 17 round Magazine
One of my absolute favorite "Carry" Pistols!!! 

[KneverKnew]

Very nice refinish job.

Here is the magazine Greg Cote suggests for this pistol. He does say if I mine is an 88 series frame I will need a CZ pre B mag. Let me know please if this mag should work.

Witness Small Frame or Rock Island Armory Armscor MAPP1 FS/MS (Full Size or Mid-Size) 9mm or 22TCM 9R 16 RD Full Size or Mid-Size Blued Armscor 56057. This is a Tanfoglio factory small frame magazine, sold by Armscor.
UPC 812285021324

The magazines also fits the Tanfoglio TZ-75, EAA Witness Small frame Tanfoglio TA90, (Not for the pre 88 series models, the pre B CZ 75 factory magazines should work in those.), EAA Witness PS, Springfield Armory P9, Jericho 941 (also imported as the Uzi Eagle, Baby Eagle and the Desert Eagle Pistol built with Tanfoglio supplied parts, (a Tanfoglio CZ 75B clone), Baby Desert Eagle III, ITM AT-84.

WRONG!    The Series 88 Frame Pistols take the current small Frame Defiant/Witness Magazines or current Mec-Gar Cz75B 17 and 19 round Magazines!!!  Also, DO NOT buy Armscor Magazines!!! They are Trash! I tend to stick with the Mec-Gar Made Magazines and the 17 and 19 rounders in particular.


Tanfoglio Series 88 TA90 and Armscor/RIA/Tanfoglio MAP1 FS with 19 round Mec-Gar Cz75B Magazines

Note that the Armscor 16 round Magazines that came with my Armscor/RIA/Tanfoglio MAP1 FS and MS were tossed in the recycling bin after proving very unreliable! 


Armscor/RIA/Tanfoglio MAP1 MS with Mec-Gar Cz75B 17 round Magazine
One of my absolute favorite "Carry" Pistols!!! 

Ok. Is this the correct magazine for my pistol?


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[KneverKnew]

Or this one?




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[mrcabinet]

You want the 17 round Mec Gar mags. These are what I run in mine.
https://mec-gar.com/shop/magazines/witness-tanfoglio/witness-tanfoglio-small-frame-9mm-17-round/

[KneverKnew]

You want the 17 round Mec Gar mags. These are what I run in mine.
https://mec-gar.com/shop/magazines/witness-tanfoglio/witness-tanfoglio-small-frame-9mm-17-round/

Well alright then. I guess I’ll order two and hope for the best. So are you saying the mag in picture above with flat metal base plate will not work in mine?
I’m just thinking it would be more like the original mag for this older pistol.


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[KneverKnew]

I just found what I believe to be the same thing that I have although in much better condition. Apparently, if I am correct, my pistol is a Tanfoglio TZ75 CUSTOM 90.
This would support the comments made earlier by everyone. Thanks for all the help.
The serial number of the one I found even starts with an “H” too.

So am I good ordering the same mags as above? Small frame witness?


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[mrcabinet]

Yes, small frame Witness mags.

[KneverKnew]

Does anyone have the contact information/email address to write Tanfoglio to try and get information on this pistol, primarily manufactured date? Thanks.


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[Born2vette]

Does anyone have the contact information/email address to write Tanfoglio to try and get information on this pistol, primarily manufactured date? Thanks.


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https://www.italianfirearmsgroup.com/contact-us

[KneverKnew]

Does anyone have the contact information/email address to write Tanfoglio to try and get information on this pistol, primarily manufactured date? Thanks.


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https://www.italianfirearmsgroup.com/contact-us

Thank you.  Message sent.


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