Another witness for the safe, EA9B, small frame

[darink300zx]

For anyone interested, I finally completed a video on this small frame all steel witness.  It's lengthier than I'd like but I also discuss some about the small frame vs large frame witnesses and some difference between the witness and CZ design.

https://youtu.be/M6JpCV9XFp4

[Mr HH]

Excellent video. Thanks! I recently bought one as well.  I'm surprised at your trigger pull measurements. You may want to try it again while holding the pistol firmly against the table and pulling on a plane parallel with the slide. Out of the box my DA was 10+ and my SA was about 5.5. I've since polished the internals, installed a Wolff 13lb hammer spring, 18lb plunger spring, and a CGW reduced power trigger return spring. DA is now right at 8lbs and SA is 3.5lbs. My only disappointment is it shoots an inch low at 15 yards. Not huge but I prefer a six o clock hold. I found a new LPA two dot adjustable sight that looks exactly like the stock one and installed it the other night. Now I'll be able to bring the POI up to match my other pistols.

[darink300zx]

Excellent video. Thanks! I recently bought one as well.  I'm surprised at your trigger pull measurements. You may want to try it again while holding the pistol firmly against the table and pulling on a plane parallel with the slide. Out of the box my DA was 10+ and my SA was about 5.5. I've since polished the internals, installed a Wolff 13lb hammer spring, 18lb plunger spring, and a CGW reduced power trigger return spring. DA is now right at 8lbs and SA is 3.5lbs. My only disappointment is it shoots an inch low at 15 yards. Not huge but I prefer a six o clock hold. I found a new LPA two dot adjustable sight that looks exactly like the stock one and installed it the other night. Now I'll be able to bring the POI up to match my other pistols.

Yeah, I was having a time doing the trigger pulls with how I was trying to hold it in frame with the camera.  I may try some more to see if I can get more accurate results.  What was the part number on that lpa sight you got? 

[Mr HH]

Having done a few YouTube videos myself with an iPhone in one hand and a pistol in the other, I can totally relate.
I bought my sight on eBay, new in box but second hand. The exact part number wasn't checked on the package where they are supposed to check mark it. I can tell you it is the LPA SPR series and looks identical to the stock sight other than the adjustability. elevation and windage) I did have to shim it as it was a pretty loose fit. Correct sight and cut I'm sure, but loose in my dovetail.

[darink300zx]

Having done a few YouTube videos myself with an iPhone in one hand and a pistol in the other, I can totally relate.
I bought my sight on eBay, new in box but second hand. The exact part number wasn't checked on the package where they are supposed to check mark it. I can tell you it is the LPA SPR series and looks identical to the stock sight other than the adjustability. elevation and windage) I did have to shim it as it was a pretty loose fit. Correct sight and cut I'm sure, but loose in my dovetail.

I may have to look for some of those.  I like having some adjustability to offset my terrible pistol handling, lol. 

[arkadi]

Referring to the video posted.

Ability to engage safety on Tanfoglio with hammer down is minor design nuisance, more of a fitting issue.

Racking the slide with hammer down and safety on may damage the sear. When hammer is cocked by slide, the sear is raised a little bit - probably depends on the hammer hooks profile. Sear leg is pushed onto safety. It just happens that the model / particular gun you have allows that. I have 4 Tanfoglio-s - both large and small frame, none is happy to cock the hammer with safety on.

CZ mags won't work for lefties who have reversed mag catch. The notches on CZ mags have different offset from the mag top. Even better, old mags or ProMag's, or 26-round CZUB mag may not have a notch for lefties at all.

[Mr HH]

I consider the safety on with hammer down a design feature and not a nuisance. And who wouldn't like to be able to rack the slide and chamber a round with the safety on the whole time?? I see no evidence that it causes problems with the sear. Tanfoglio, SAR, and Jericho all use this sear cage design. It's superior to the CZ design IMHO. The firing in block works with the trigger pull instead of against it, and the overall design is simpler with less moving parts.

[arkadi]

Well, I'm reporting what I see. Stock II and 2x Stock III small frame, Limited Custom large frame - it's not possible to cock the hammer with safety on.
Pretty sure I can fit CZ sear to safety, or both to each other so it would engage in hammer down yet would be functional. It may not be a very tight fit, and not for all types of hammers. Didn't see obvious reason why not.

Just a datapoint: racking the slide with safety on have no meaningful functionality for me. YMMV

[Mr HH]

Maybe there was some confusion. You can't cock the hammer with the safety on. But you can have the hammer cocked, safety on, and still rack the slide to chamber a round, press check, etc. You can't do that on a CZ.

[arkadi]

Indeed, I was confused. Around 11min of darink's video the slide is cycled with hammer already cocked, missed that.

[jd1]

Is there an extended slide release for this model or a CZ version that will work?

jd1

[Mr HH]

Is there an extended slide release for this model or a CZ version that will work?

jd1

Totally different mag release mechanism than CZ so no on that one. I don't know if an extended one from one of the Tanfo competition models would work or not. They have a larger frame.

[Mr HH]

Oops. You said slide, not mag. Sorry about that.

[jd1]

Oops. You said slide, not mag. Sorry about that.

Thanks. Maybe someone else will know about the slide release.

jd1

[Mr HH]

Oops. You said slide, not mag. Sorry about that.

Thanks. Maybe someone else will know about the slide release.

jd1

Ok. I grabbed my SP-01 which as the extended slide release and popped it in the EA9B. It fit and functions.  Interestingly, the extended CZ slide release lever is maybe only 1/8" longer than the stock Tanfo lever. Any gains would be negligible.