Anyone familiar with Tanfoglio Pistols?

[GeoJelly]

Given the paucity of small pistol primers, and the fact that I have some 10mm brass from many years ago, I am considering getting a polymer-frame Tanfoglio 10mm. I hope and assume they are pretty well-made, and engineered, but I thought I would check here first. Not so much worried about lifespan, but it would be good to know ahead of time if they are more like Hi-Points or Rugers! I have looked around quite a bit for a Glock 29, and they aren’t available around here or even for a Blue Label buy ...

 

[03hemi]

They're great guns!
Made in Italy for competition mainly, I have the EAA Witness, Compact 10mm in all stainless with their "Wonder Finish" which is just a heat treated stainless for the color results.
Mine's very accurate and very well made. Somewhat of a clone of the CZ, and also get's high praises.
Make sure the 10mm you're looking at DOES NOT have the old model "scalloped" slide and has the beefier solid slide. The old one's were prone to cracking under the 10mm pressure, but they remedied the problem by beefing up the slide.
I had a choice of either stainless or plastic when I purchased mine, but for like $50 bucks more it was a no brainer, plus I just detest plastic guns myself.
They're more like Rugers in terms of build and fit.

 

[tlawler]

When I got rid of my last Glock, a 29, I still wanted a nice high cap 10mm and the EAA fit the bill nicely. Mine’s all steel, and I agree with 03Hemi, that the metal ones are better. I’ve had good reliability with it and it’s very soft shooting. I like the look and feel of the Tanfoglios.

 

[65Whelen]

I've got the steel model and a buddy has the polymer, both of us are very happy with them. Great gun, highly recommend it. Only grip, mag only holds 13 not 14 as advertised.

 

[GeoJelly]

As Gomer used to say, Golllie Sarge, those metal frame Tanfoglio’s look great! Thanks for posting Gents, now I know that I want one for sure. That said, the steel-frame ones are unobtainium now - but I am hoping to survive a few more years & can wait a while. By the way, is the Glock 29 not a good idea?

Edit 1 - OMG - Great pics Gents - there is a whole world out there about which I have been oblivious! Breaking out my Para-Ord P13 got me started on trying to get a couple of 10mils. After owning it for 20+ years I finally took it to the range last week. Even with my mild-ish reloads, the recoil was borderline brutal. So, I decided to investigate 10mm. I still have a NIB 1006 but decided to let it continue to let it appreciate.

Edit 2 - Great pictures and great looking handguns. I think for me, though, Sr Hemi’s steel compact is the Shinola. But unfortunately, I am not made out of money. So, I think I’ll put up one of my 3-in 64’s in order to come up with the diñero. I don’t shoot them and I would shoot the 10mm ...

 

[StephenWhoDat]

Excellent firearms. Fine Italian craftsmanship. You won't be disappointed.

 

[colt_saa]

I have been shooting Tangfolios for probably 30 years. All of mine came into America through EAA. EAA used to be about 15 minutes from my Uncle's gun shop and range. Many of the staff came to our monthly IPSC match

Their products are well made and have an excellent fit and finish

These two are my oldest. One is 45 ACP while the other is 38 SUPER

I am a very big fan of their Elite series of pistols. They are amazing firearms considering the price. This is the Elite Match. I have one of these in 10MM Auto and another in 45 ACP

This is their superbly accurate Elite Limited, also chambered in 10MM Autp

This is the Witness Hunter, gain chambered in 10MM Auto. The 6" barrel gets that extra bit of performance out of the 10MM Auto cartridge

For the most part I am not a fan of plastic guns so I have never bought or even shot one of the Tangfolio polymer framed firearms. I have no doubt that the polymer Witness pistols are built to the same quality as the more traditional metal firearms.

 

[mikerjf]

Nothing wrong with a Glock 29 if you can handle the recoil of the lighter gun. A whole different thing than the Tanfoglio, of course.

 

[huthike]

I’m with ColtSAA - the Elite Match guns are great and reasonably priced - or at least used to be. I have one in 10mm - great feel in the hand. 15 rounds of 10mm and great ergonomics. The Glocks are great guns but feel like holding a brick by comparison.


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[Sevens]

I’m with ColtSAA - the Elite Match guns are great and reasonably priced - or at least used to be.

Took the words right out of my mouth! I suppose that I wouldn't say they are horribly priced now, but they definitely aren't as phenomenal a deal. I got my Elite Match 9mm in 2011, ordered it from a Gunbroker dealer in Minnesota and I paid $519 for it brand new, plus $20 to ship to my dealer. This pistol is amazing and hangs very nearly with my Performance Center 9mm guns that market for over $2,000. In late 2015 I grabbed a barely used Elite Match .45 from a local guy and it's a sweetheart also.

These days it takes over $700 to grab one of these, and they seem to get snapped up when a new load of them arrives. I can't see a single one on Gunbroker currently, but it's been my experience that they do hit the shores in bundles.

EAA seems to change and evolve the model names of these guns. Just for the sake of info, the "Elite Match" and specifically the two-tone pistol that colt_saa shows in his post is the lowest level of Tanfoglio "elite" line. Or at least... the formerly named "elite" line. I won't say they are custom guns, but these are not ordinary high volume production guns. The trigger, the fitment and the accuracy of these distinguish themselves beyond the fixed sight steel and polymer guns. And the price will reflect that.

 

[diyj98]

Any company can put out a lemon, but the EAA Witness I owned years ago showed shoddy workmanship on the internals. I wasn't impress with it, but quality may have improved over the years.

 

[Sammy]

Great Pistols! I have a Witness Elite Match in 9mm. It is an older model that had the adjustable target iron rear sight. Use it as a competition gun from time to time. I also have the 6" barreled Hunter in 10mm. Exactly like the one pictured above by Colt_SSA. Neither have ever let me down. Quality pistols on both accounts. Fit and finish is good on both. A bit of a CZ inspired design. The poly guns are similar but closer to a Sar I would say. I had an EAA witness polygun a while back in .40 but never shot it much. Never had issues with it though.

 

[Dvus]

Tanfo/Witness = Top notch shooters. You can't go wrong with them. Plus, the wider grip of the Witness really softens the 10mm recoil over a 1911! Neither is bad, but it's like the difference between a model 19 and a 27 with full house .357s.

 

[Trooper224]

They're pretty good pistols, not great but pretty good. They're widely popular in Europe for competition use. If you go 10mm you may want to check the recoil spring. For some reason they typically seem to be a bit undersprung from the factory. The only real downside is dealing with EAA, the US distributor. The company has what is undoubtedly the worst customer service in the industry.

 

[Exaviator]

I owned a metal "Combat" model for several years and found it a reliable and accurate pistol. Also very easy to field strip.

 

[dsf]

I bought my first one many years back. LGS had changed hands a few times and a TA 90 in 41AE was perpetually for sale. Finally ribbed the new owner and he finally said "I hate having that here, how much $$$$?" and I told him $100.00. SOLD

Added a 9mm barrel from Numrich and got a great little shooter. My boss gave me 500 rounds of AE ammo, which I'll probably never use even though I reload.

Few years back got the Witness Match Ultra with 9mm, 40 S&W and 22 kits for $800.00, added a 45 ACP slide that is perfectly mated to the frame. Beautiful SA trigger pull.

I'm not into the polymer types but would buy up pretty much any steel framed type I could get my hands on.

 

[bananaman]

I have owned 2 9mm Witnesses, at different times. I really liked them. They are not that well known. re-sale value not too good!

 

[LVSteve]

When you start with the CZ-75 design as your baseline, how can you go wrong?

 

[03hemi]

They're pretty good pistols, not great but pretty good. They're widely popular in Europe for competition use. If you go 10mm you may want to check the recoil spring. For some reason they typically seem to be a bit undersprung from the factory. The only real downside is dealing with EAA, the US distributor. The company has what is undoubtedly the worst customer service in the industry.

You've obviously never dealt with Kimber then? lol

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I have a Witness Stock III in 38 Super .Out of the box it was an extremely accurate piece . It can hold it's own against my 945's , which is saying quite a lot . I've been thinking of getting the slide and barrel so I can also shoot 9mm , which is a nice point in their favour also .