The Tanfoglio Combat or Standard, also known as T(A)95 or EAA Witness Steel, is a modified clone of the
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
* Czech, ...
CZ-75
The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Czech firearm manufacturer ČZUB. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original " wonder nines" and features a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel. I ...
/
CZ-85 pistol
A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, an ...
. It is made in
Gardone Val Trompia
Gardone Val Trompia (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is bounded by the comunes of Marcheno and Sarezzo. It is located in the Trompia valley. Gardone received the honorary title of ci ...
near
Brescia
Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo. ...
, Italy by
Fratelli Tanfoglio S.N.C.
Design details
The Tanfoglio Combat/Standard models are evolved copies of the famous
CZ-75 pistol design, with manufacturing improvements. Tanfoglio introduced the firing pin block before CZ, and its operation is different from what is employed in modern CZs. The firing pin block is kept in an upwards position, blocking the firing pin until the trigger is pulled. This causes the pin to fall, allowing the firing pin to move. As a result, the overall trigger operation is improved by the block (the CZ design actively pushes the block out of the way when the trigger is pulled, increasing overall weight to the pull). The Browning-style safety is improved to allow operation with hammer cocked or down (the CZ allows the safety to operate only when the hammer is cocked). The frame is simplified by omitting the magazine brake, reducing complexity as well as simplifying machining. The Tanfoglio Combat/Standard is offered in several variants in full sized, compact and subcompact pistol frame sizes. The steel surface finish can be military blued, polished "Wonder" finish, blue "Wonder" finish or hard chromed finish.
The Tanfoglio Combat/Standard is a
short recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistol
A semi-automatic pistol is a type of repeating single-chamber handgun ( pistol) that automatically cycles its action to insert the subsequent cartridge into the chamber (self-loading), but requires manual actuation of the trigger to actuall ...
that uses a
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol available in the 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W calibers. It was based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at FN Herstal. ...
style linkless system.
All T95 Standard and Combat models have the capability of being fired
single- and
double-action
Double action (or double-action) refers to one of two systems in firearms where the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer.
* Double-action only (DAO) firearms trigger: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. There is no single-action ...
.
The T95 Combat models feature an ambidextrous frame-mounted combat "switch" style
manual safety that locks the sear so the trigger cannot be moved rearward as well as an internal firing pin block safety which stops the firing pin from traveling forward. The manual safety allows the Combat models to be carried with the hammer back, ready for use just by switching the safety off, a configuration known as ''
condition one
John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (May 10, 1920 – September 25, 2006) was a United States Marine, the creator of a "modern technique" of handgun shooting, and an expert on the use and history of small arms.
Early life and education
Cooper was ...
''.
The T95 Standard models feature slide mounted hammer drop safety/decocker lever (ambidextrous as an option).
Unlike most other semi-automatic pistols, the Tanfoglio Combat/Standard slide rides inside the frame rails rather than outside, similar to the
SIG P210
The SIG P210 (Swiss Army designation Pistole 49, the civilian model was known as SP47/8 prior to 1957) is a locked breech self loading, semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured in Neuhausen am Rheinfall (Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerl ...
. This provides a very tight slide-to-frame fit, very good barrel lock-up and contributes to accuracy. A new slide with a slide-mounted safety/decocker lever is available as a factory option. Most variants have fixed
iron sights
Iron sights are a system of physical alignment markers (usually made of metallic material) used as a sighting device to assist the accurate aiming of ranged weapons (such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow or even compound bow), or less commonly ...
with three dots for increased visibility that can be adjusted for windage. The Tanfoglio Combat/Standard models feature high capacity "double stack" magazines.
Magazines
The capacity of the detachable box
magazine
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
s of the Tanfoglio Combat/Standard pistols varies from chambering to chambering and the exact Tanfoglio Combat/Standard pistol variant. Technically the length of the magazine well in the handgrip dictates the shortest possible magazine length and accompanying minimum ammunition capacity. The maximum capacity of handgun magazines can however also be restricted by law in some jurisdictions.
In newer pistols the magazines are positioned higher in the gun to get the rounds nearer to the
feeding ramp
A feed ramp is a basic feature of many breech loading cartridge firearm designs. It is a tightly machined and polished piece of metal which guides a cartridge from the top of the magazine into the firing chamber of the barrel. The feed ramp m ...
. The required replacement part to position the magazine higher in older pistols that exhibit feeding problems is offered by Tanfoglio Germany for their customers without charge.
Tanfoglio and EAA offer the following magazine capacities:
There are also "semi-factory" parts and modified magazines available to optimize Tanfoglio pistols for
IPSC competition and other
racegun
A racegun or race gun is a firearm that has been modified for accuracy, speed, and reliability. Often a semi-automatic pistol, raceguns are used primarily in practical shooting competitions and are modified to function best within a certain set of ...
usage.
tanfoglioparts.com
/ref>
Significant differences from the CZ-75
The biggest difference between the Tanfoglio Combat/Standard and the CZ-75
The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Czech firearm manufacturer ČZUB. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original " wonder nines" and features a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel. I ...
is chamberings; while the CZ-75 is available in 9×19mm Parabellum
The 9×19mm Parabellum (also known as 9mm Parabellum or 9mm Luger or simply 9mm) is a rimless, tapered firearms cartridge.
Originally designed by Austrian firearm designer Georg Luger in 1901, it is widely considered the most popular handgun a ...
, .40 S&W, and .22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smo ...
(in its Kadet model), the Combat/Standard can interchange calibers between 9×19mm Parabellum
The 9×19mm Parabellum (also known as 9mm Parabellum or 9mm Luger or simply 9mm) is a rimless, tapered firearms cartridge.
Originally designed by Austrian firearm designer Georg Luger in 1901, it is widely considered the most popular handgun a ...
, 9×21mm
The 9×21mm pistol cartridge (also known as the 9×21mm IMI, 9mm IMI, 9x21mm Italian, or 9mm Italian) was designed by Jager (Loano, Italy), then adopted and commercialised by Israel Military Industries for those jurisdictions where military servi ...
, .38 Super Auto
The .38 Super, also known as .38 Super +P, .38 Super Auto, .38 Super Automatic, .38 Super Automatic +P, or 9×23mmSR, is a pistol cartridge that fires a bullet. It was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP, al ...
, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto
The 10mm Auto (10×25mm, official C.I.P. nomenclature: 10 mm Auto, official SAAMI nomenclature: 10mm Automatic) is a semi-automatic pistol cartridge introduced in 1983. Its design was adopted and later produced by ammunition manufacturer ...
, .45 ACP
The .45 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) or .45 Auto (11.43×23mm) is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol. After successful military trials, it ...
and .22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smo ...
.
To convert between chamberings requires only the removal and installation of the appropriate barrel/slide/spring ("top end") group and the insertion of the corresponding magazine. This enables a user to switch from 9 mm to .38 Super Auto or 10 mm Auto to .45 ACP—in other words, from one caliber to any of the others—in a few seconds, allowing shooters the flexibility of several calibers on one serialized frame. The top end kits are readily available, and cost less than half the price of the complete pistol. Another advantage of this capability is that each caliber change is independent of any custom trigger fitting, stocks, etc. done to the lower part of the pistol. This allows a shooter to practice with inexpensive and ubiquitous .22 Long Rifle ammunition, then swap top ends and be ready for "social carry" or competition with no change in ergonomics or feel.
Another capability that the interchangeable top end groups provide is the different slide/barrel lengths. The shorter "Compact" top end can be mounted on the Standard frame, and vice versa. Thus, the most versatile frame is the Compact, which can be used with all lengths of slide as well as both Compact and Standard magazines.
Due to its larger magazine width, the Tanfoglio Combat/Standard pistol can be somewhat uncomfortable for shooters with smaller hands but with aftermarket grips can be made to be as thin as the M1911
The M1911 (Colt 1911 or Colt Government) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was ''Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911'' for th ...
while carrying an extra 3 rounds in .45 ACP. Also, the steel versions are heavier than their composite counterparts and pistols made by other manufacturers, such as Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH (HK; ) is a German defense manufacturing company that manufactures handguns, rifles, submachine guns, and grenade launchers. The company is located in Oberndorf am Neckar in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, and also ...
and Glock
Glock is a brand of polymer- framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H. The firearm entered Austrian military and police service by 1982 after it was th ...
, although this increased weight also reduces felt recoil. Accuracy varies but out of box the Tanfoglio Combat/Standard types are similar in accuracy to other semi-automatic service pistols. There are factory accurized variants such as the Gold, Gold Match, Limited & Combat Sport versions (known as the "Witness Elite" in the United States).
Some models feature frames with integral Picatinny rail
The Picatinny rail ( or ), or Pic rail for short, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, 1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail (cancelled), is a military standard rail interface system that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It was o ...
s. While such rails can be useful for mounting accessories (such as lights
Light is an electromagnetic radiation, part of which stimulates the sense of vision.
Light or Lights may also refer to:
Illumination
* Light bulb
* Traffic light
Arts and entertainment Music
* Lights (musician) (born 1987), Canadian singer-son ...
and lasers
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fir ...
), they increase the size of the frame, making it impractical to use many common holsters (such as those for the M1911-type pistols) even when no accessories are mounted.
Variants
The Tanfoglio Force is produced in several variants. The ammunition capacity of the default magazine of the variant (number of cartridges in the magazine + 1 in the chamber) is expressed after the chambering between brackets.
A table is shown below for quick reference, with each model listed with its capacity in each of its chamberings.
Combat
Full-size self-defence pistol with a steel frame and a high-capacity magazine. The pistol has a "cocked and locked" safety on the frame with an automatic firing pin safety, double-action trigger, standard reversible magazine catch, standard hammer, three-dots sights, and standard magazine. The Combat is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (16), 9×21mm (16), .38 Super Auto (17), .40 S&W (14), 10mm Auto (11) and .45 ACP (10).
Combat Sport
Action shooting and self-defence-orientated full-size pistol with a steel frame and a standard-capacity magazine. The pistol has a "cocked and locked" safety on the frame with an automatic firing pin safety, double-action trigger, standard reversible magazine catch, standard hammer three-dots sights, and standard magazine. The Combat Sport is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (16), 9×21mm (16), .38 Super Auto (17), .40 S&W (12), 10mm Auto (11) and .45 ACP (10).
Compact
Self-defence-orientated compact pocket-size pistol with a steel frame and a compact-capacity magazine. The pistol has a "cocked and locked" safety on the frame with an automatic firing pin safety, double-action trigger, standard reversible magazine catch, standard hammer and three-dots sights. The Compact is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (13), 9×21mm (13), .38 Super Auto (13), .40 S&W (11), 10mm Auto (11) and .45 ACP (8).
Carry
Self-defence-orientated subcompact-size pistol with a steel frame and a compact-capacity magazine. The pistol has a double-action trigger, frame with rounded trigger guard, standard reversible magazine catch, extended beavertail, standard safety, standard hammer, rubber grips, three-dots sights, standard magazine. The CARRY is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (16), 9×21mm (16) and .40 S&W (12).
Standard
Self-defence-orientated full-size pistol with a steel frame and a standard-capacity magazine. The pistol has a "hammer drop safety/decocking system" safety on the slide, double-action trigger, standard reversible magazine catch, standard hammer three-dots sights, and standard magazine. The Standard is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (16), 9×21mm (16), .38 Super Auto (17), .40 S&W (14), 10mm Auto (14) and .45 ACP (10).
Compact Standard
Self-defence-orientated compact pocket-size pistol with a steel frame and a compact-capacity magazine. The pistol has a "hammer drop safety/decocking system" safety on the slide, double-action trigger, standard reversible magazine catch, standard hammer and three-dots sights. The Compact Standard is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (13), 9×21mm (13), .38 Super Auto (13), .40 S&W (11), 10mm Auto (11) and .45 ACP (8).
Carry Standard
Self-defence-orientated subcompact-size pistol with a steel frame and a compact-capacity magazine. The pistol has a "hammer drop safety/decocking system" safety on the slide, double-action trigger, frame with rounded trigger guard, standard reversible magazine catch, extended beavertail, standard safety, standard hammer, rubber grips, three-dots sights, standard magazine.
The Carry Standard is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (16), 9×21mm (16) and .40 S&W (12).
L
Target and action shooting-orientated full-size pistol, long slide, double-action trigger, frame with rounded trigger guard, standard reversible magazine catch, extended beavertail, extended safety, standard hammer, rubber grips, super sight (adjustable micrometer rear sight), dovetail front sight and a standard magazine.
The L is available in 9×19mm Parabellum (15), 9×21mm (15), .38 Super Auto (17), .40 S&W (12), 10mm Auto (11) and .45 ACP (10).
Parts availability in the United States
Due to the limited number of pistols imported into the US and their popularity, the Tanfoglio Combat/Standard pistol (while relatively inexpensive to buy) is more difficult to find parts for than some similar handguns. Most parts such as barrels or caliber conversion kits are only available through the US importer, European American Armory Corporation (EAA). Some aftermarket parts are available from Henning Wallgren, a Tanfoglio-sponsored pro shooter, and manufacturers such as Evolution Gun Works (EGW), Mec-Gar magazines and Wolff Gunsprings.
See also
*Bren Ten
The Bren Ten is a semi-automatic pistol chambered for 10mm Auto that was made by Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises Inc. from 1983 to 1986. While the Bren Ten's design has an appearance similar to the 9×19mm Parabellum CZ-75, it is larger and stronger ...
*Tanfoglio
Fratelli Tanfoglio S.N.C. is an Italian firearms manufacturing company. Their current weapons are used extensively in sport competitions and for personal defence. Tanfoglio is located in Gardone Val Trompia (Brescia), Italy, and is known for its ...
*Tanfoglio Force
The Tanfoglio Force, also known as Force 99, Force 2002, EAA Witness Polymer or EAA Witness P-Carry, is a modified clone of the Czech CZ-75/ CZ-85 semi-automatic pistol. It is made in Gardone Val Trompia near Brescia, Italy by Fratelli Tanfoglio ...
References
External links
Tanfoglio Forum
*
** {{in lang, en
European American Armory Corporation company website
Tanfoglio/EAA Witness manual
EAA Catalog
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20110706233228/http://www.gunmanuals.ch/source02b/Tanfoglio%20Combat.pdf Tanfoglio Combat Manual (German)br>Tanfoglio T95 Pictorial
.22 LR pistols
.38 Super semi-automatic pistols
.40 S&W semi-automatic pistols
.45 ACP semi-automatic pistols
9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols
9×21mm IMI semi-automatic pistols
10mm Auto semi-automatic pistols
Semi-automatic pistols of Italy
T95, Tanfoglio