Tanfoglio Buzz
Notes: This is
basically a Tanfoglio Witness with a ported barrel to fight recoil.
It was introduced in 1994 in 9mm Parabellum, 9x21mm, 10mm Colt, and .45
ACP calibers, and in 1995 a .38 Super chambering was added, and in 1999, a .40
Smith & Wesson version was added.
The .40 Smith & Wesson is unusual in that when it first came out, it had a
magazine capacity of 15 rounds, but the magazine spring became fatigued easily
and the magazine capacity was reduced to 12 rounds later that year.
The barrel is coned to fit tightly to the slide.
The magazine release is enlarged, and the controls are clearly finished
in black (on what is otherwise a matte chrome-finished weapon).
The magazine release can also be reversed to the opposite side of the
weapon (it is normally on the left).
The rear of the pistol has an extended beavertail.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The .38 Super and .40 Smith & Wesson designs never appeared.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Buzz |
9mm Parabellum |
0.92 kg |
16 |
$267 |
Buzz |
9x21mm |
0.95 kg |
16 |
$284 |
Buzz |
.38 Super |
0.98 kg |
17 |
$303 |
Buzz |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
1.03 kg |
12, 15 |
$341 |
Buzz |
10mm Colt |
1.09 kg |
11 |
$381 |
Buzz |
.45 ACP |
1.15 kg |
10 |
$426 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Buzz (9mm Para) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
11 |
Buzz (9x21mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
Buzz (.38) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
Buzz (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
Buzz (10mm) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
10 |
Buzz (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
Tanfoglio Force
Notes: The first
Force pistols were introduced in 1997.
They have a black polymer frame and matte black-finished steel slide.
The safety is on the left, as is the magazine release, but the magazine
release can be moved to the right side of the frame.
The Force is chambered for a large amount of calibers, including some
proprietary ones. In 1997, it was
introduced in 9mm Parabellum, 9x21mm, and .45 ACP; in 1999, .38 Super, .40 Smith
& Wesson, and 10mm Colt chamberings were added, and in 2001, the proprietary 9mm
FAR and 10mm FAR chamberings were added.
The Force
Compact is the same as the standard Force, but is smaller with a shorter barrel
and the 9mm FAR and 10mm FAR chamberings are not available.
A variant of the Force Compact is the Lady Force; this version is
available in a rainbow of colors, has a smaller grip, and smoothed contours.
(It is identical to the Force Compact for game purposes.)
The Force ’99
was, as the name indicates, introduced in 1999 and is an improved version
of the Force. It is a double-action
pistol with a more ergonomic shape to its polymer frame.
It was meant to be a service weapon for police or military forces and is
not available in as many calibers.
It has an automatic firing pin safety.
Along with the Force ’99 came a training weapon, the Force ’99-22,
chambered for .22 Long Rifle and has a longer barrel to roughly match the ranges
of the heavier caliber versions of the Force ’99.
It also has a micrometer rear sight, and the slide is light alloy instead
of steel. The standard Force ’99 is
otherwise identical to the Force for game purposes, but the only chamberings of
the Force ’99 are 9mm Parabellum, 9x21mm, and .40 Smith & Wesson, and the .40
Smith & Wesson version uses a 12-round magazine.
Twilight 2000
Notes: These pistols do not exist.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Force |
9mm Parabellum |
0.85 kg |
16 |
$243 |
Force |
9x21mm |
0.87 kg |
16 |
$260 |
Force |
.38 Super |
0.89 kg |
16 |
$279 |
Force |
9mm FAR |
0.9 kg |
16 |
$287 |
Force |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
0.94 kg |
14 |
$317 |
Force |
10mm Colt |
0.96 kg |
10 |
$358 |
Force |
10mm FAR |
0.97 kg |
11 |
$367 |
Force |
.45 ACP |
1.01 kg |
10 |
$403 |
Force Compact |
9mm Parabellum |
0.75 kg |
13 |
$235 |
Force Compact |
9x21mm |
0.77 kg |
13 |
$252 |
Force Compact |
.38 Super |
0.79 kg |
13 |
$271 |
Force Compact |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
0.83 kg |
12 |
$309 |
Force Compact |
10mm Colt |
0.85 kg |
8 |
$350 |
Force Compact |
.45 ACP |
0.89 kg |
8 |
$395 |
Force ’99-22 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.6 kg |
10 |
$133 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Force (9mm Para) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
11 |
Force (9x21mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
Force (.38) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
Force (9mm FAR) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
11 |
Force (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
Force (10mm Colt) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
Force (10mm FAR) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
Force (.45 ACP) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
Force Compact (9mm Para) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Force Compact (9x21mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Force Compact (.38) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Force Compact (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Force Compact (10mm Colt) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
Force Compact (.45 ACP) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Force ’99-22 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Tanfoglio GT-21/41
Notes:
The GT-21 is basically a TA-90 that is chambered for the 9x21mm
cartridge, but there are some small styling differences in the shape of the
trigger guard and butt. It was made
primarily for those countries where the 9mm Parabellum round is considered a
military/police round and is prohibited to civilians by law.
The GT-21 Combat is the same weapon, but the safety is moved to the frame
and the slide stop does not stick out so much.
The GT-21 Baby and Baby Combat are the same as the above two pistols, but
smaller. The GT-41 uses the .41
Action Express round, and there is a Combat model as well as the standard model.
These pistols
were imported by FIE in the US in the late-1980s and sold under their name of
the Titan.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
GT-21/GT-21 Combat |
9x21mm |
1.02 kg |
15 |
$264 |
GT-21 Baby/Baby Combat |
9x21mm |
0.85 kg |
13 |
$252 |
GT-41/GT-41 Combat |
.41 Action Express |
1.02 kg |
11 |
$338 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
GT-21/GT-21 Combat |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
11 |
GT-21 Baby/Baby Combat |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
GT-41/GT-41 Combat |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
15 |
Tanfoglio GT-27
Notes: The GT-27
was introduced in 1992. The GT-27 is an unusual weapon for production these days
– a pistol firing the anemic .25 ACP round.
This is mostly due to its format; it is very small with a short 2.48-inch
barrel. It’s operation is by
blowback with a single-action trigger. It’s construction is mostly of stamped
steel, with a with a passive trigger safety that works unless the trigger is
pulled deliberately. It’s
single-column magazine has a grip extension at the bottom. Grip plates may be of
wood or plastic; they are generally checkered. The
finish may be chromed or blued.
A
nearly-identical pistol, the GT-28, is a flare pistol in 8mm caliber.
Treat these shells as a light flare, but with half the range, density,
and duration. It is otherwise identical to the GT-27.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
GT-27 |
.25 ACP |
0.35 kg |
6 |
$86 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
GT-27 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
0 |
4 |
Nil |
4 |
Tanfoglio GT-32/380
Notes: This is
one of Tanfoglio’s older weapons that is still in production.
It is a compact weapon firing smaller cartridges and is made from blued
steel. The magazine release is at
the heel of the grip, as in many old-style European pistols.
It is a lightweight, easy-to-use and conceal weapon.
The GT-380 was imported by FIE in the US in the late-1980s and sold under their
name of the Titan II. FIE also sold
a variant called the SSP that differs only in finish and a slight weight
difference (it weighs 0.73 kg), due to extra passive safeties and details of
construction.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
GT-32 |
.32 ACP |
0.65 kg |
7 |
$117 |
GT-380 |
.380 ACP |
0.7 kg |
7 |
$136 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
GT-32 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
0 |
3 |
Nil |
7 |
GT-380 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
Tanfoglio Limited
Notes: This is a
modified form of the TA-90 series of weapons, and was also known as the Match
for about a year. The Limited is
drilled and tapped for a telescopic sight or other optics, and has a squared
trigger guard. It was introduced in
1997 in 9mm Parabellum, .38 Super, and .45 ACP; in 1999, a .40 Smith & Wesson
chambering was added, and the 9mm FAR and 10mm FAR versions were added in 2001.
The barrel is polygonal and heavy, and ported to fight recoil.
Twilight 2000
Notes: These pistols do not exist.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Limited P19 |
9mm Parabellum |
0.96 kg |
16 |
$272 |
Limited P38 |
.38 Super |
1.02 kg |
16 |
$308 |
Limited P29 |
9mm FAR |
1.03 kg |
17 |
$315 |
Limited P40-HC |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
1.08 kg |
15 |
$345 |
Limited P10 |
10mm FAR |
1.15 kg |
11 |
$395 |
Limited P45 |
.45 ACP |
1.2 kg |
10 |
$431 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Limited P19 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
Limited P38 |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Limited P29 |
SA |
3 |
2-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Limited P40-HC |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Limited P10 |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Limited P45 |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
14 |
Tanfoglio Witness Pavona
Notes: When many
firearms manufacturers make a women’s pistol, they simply take one of their
standard compacts of subcompacts, shorten the barrel a bit, maybe lighten it by
strategic saving of metal, and paint it pink.
That’s not what the Pavona is.
It was designed from the start for women (and those with not a lot of
grip strength). The Pavona has an
easier to actuate slide which is also easier to grip.
The hammer and recoil springs allow the hammer to be pulled back more
easily and give less felt recoil.
The weapon may be carried with the hammer back, cocked and locked.
The Pavona is actually heavier than a Witness Polymer Compact, another
concession to felt recoil and muzzle rise.
However, despite the higher weight and same dimensions as the Witness
Polymer Compact, the magazine capacity is smaller.
Hmmm…
The Pavona also
has a chambering for .380 ACP, something the Polymer Compact is not.
The frames may be colored blue, charcoal gray, Fandango (lavender),
Imperial (dark blue), flecked with metal, while the slides may be blue,
gold-plated, or chromed. The grips
are sized for smaller hands, despite the double-column magazines, allowing for a
high-strong grip. Several female
shooters, however, noticed that the slide lock is not in a place easily reached
by the firing hand or the non-firing hand from the gripping position.
The Pavona is also a bit heavy to carry around all day for many women.
The rear sight is adjustable for windage, and the pistol is almost totally
dehorned. Barrels are 3.6 inches.
Much of the pistol is polymer, despite the weight.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Pavona |
.380 ACP |
0.86 kg |
13 |
$140 |
Pavona |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.86 kg |
13 |
$148 |
Pavona |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
0.86 kg |
9 |
$185 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Pavona (.380) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
9 |
Pavona (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
8 |
Pavona (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
Tanfoglio Professional
Defense
Notes: The
Professional Defense was designed with military special operations and police
SRT-type units in mind, but was also available to regular military and police
units. It was also available to
civilians. The Professional Defense
was introduced in 1994, but is no longer in production; unfortunately, I haven’t
been able to find out when production stopped, only that it is no longer in
production. The Professional
Defense seems a bit large for a personal defense pistol; it has a barrel length
of 5.25 inches and a total length of 210 millimeters, and it is heavy.
It has a muzzle compensator to further reduce felt recoil. The
Professional Defense is primarily of stainless steel construction (on the frame
and slide, as well as some internal parts). It has cocking grips on both the
front and back of the slide; these are checkered instead of being simple
grooves. The grip plates are of checkered rubber. The operation is by blowback,
as well as DAO, allowing it to be cocked and loaded while carrying safely. The
Professional Defense has a rear night sight; it is dovetailed in.
The Carry is, as
the name would indicate, a much smaller version of the Professional Defense. It
was introduced in 1994, also meant primarily for special operations and police
SRTs. Despite the smaller size, it has a trigger guard big enough for a gloved
hand; the grip is also nearly the size as the one on the Professional Defense;
though the pistol overall is smaller than the Professional Defense. The Carry
does chare one thing with it’s big brother: it is heavy for its size. Barrel
length is 3.66 inches, almost putting it in the subcompact category. The barrel
does not have a compensator. The sights are of the three-dot type.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Professional Defense |
9mm
Parabellum |
1.15 kg |
10,
12, 16 |
$300 |
Professional Defense |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.15 kg |
10,
12, 14 |
$374 |
Professional Defense |
.45
ACP |
1.15 kg |
10,
12, 14 |
$460 |
Carry |
9mm
Parabellum |
1.1
kg |
10,
12, 16 |
$234 |
Carry |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.1
kg |
10,
12, 14 |
$308 |
Carry |
.45
ACP |
1.1
kg |
10,
12, 14 |
$389 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Professional Defense (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Professional Defense (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
16 |
Professional Defense (.45) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
Carry (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
9 |
Carry (.40) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
11 |
Carry (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
9 |
Tanfoglio TA-382
Notes:
This was a controversial weapon when introduced in the mid-1950s; it was
designed especially for the “Saturday Night Special” market in the US, and
called the Titan at the time. The
Gun Control Act of 1968 stopped importation of the Titan into the US.
An unnamed American company was all set to import the unassembled parts
into the US and then assemble and market the pistol, but Congress stopped that
too. Tanfoglio completely rebuilt
the weapon to change the looks, changed the name to the TA-382, and then got
permission to sell it in the United States.
The TA-382 is a basic, no-frills design for personal defense.
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
TA-382 |
.32
ACP |
0.79 kg |
12 |
$122 |
TA-382 |
.380 ACP |
0.79 kg |
11 |
$142 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
TA-382 (.32) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
TA-382 (.380) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Tanfoglio TZ-75/TA-90
Notes: In the early
1980s, the Czech CZ-75 pistol had become a worldwide sensation, and demand for
the CZ-75 far outstripped Ceska Zbrojovka’s manufacturing capabilities, or those
of any other single firm for that matter.
Ceska Zbrojovka therefore began selling licenses to several other
European arms manufactures – both Eastern and Western, and also gave most of
wide latitude to alter the basic CZ-75 design.
Tanfoglio was one of these companies, with their version being called the
TZ-75, and produced primarily for export to the US.
Early export versions sold in the US by FIE were sold as the “TZ-75,” but
most of these weapons, imported later by a succession of companies, were sold as
the “TA-90”and are designed to appear more like the CZ-75.
The TZ-75
differs from the CZ-75 in several ways.
The original TZ-75, in fact, was externally quite different in appearance
from the CZ-75, with a sleeker overall shape, a more ergonomic grip, a squared
trigger guard, and a larger spur-type hammer.
The sights were also of the three-dot type, and larger than those of the
CZ-75 (the CZ-75’s tiny sights are one of the few consistent criticisms it has
received). The TZ-75 also added a
slide-mounted safety/decocker, with ambidextrous controls being an option.
The TZ-75 was available in several different finishes; the most common
were blued and chromed. Grip plates
were of walnut or rubber, and the walnut grips could be had checkered or smooth.
The barrel of the TZ-75 is also just a little bit longer than that of the
CZ-75’s 4.7-inch barrel – the TZ-75’s barrel length is 4.75-inches.
The TZ-75 was later altered to make it look more like an actual CZ-75;
though this mostly consisted of restyling, the manual safety was also moved to
the frame, deleted the decocking feature, and simply locked the slide, hammer
and sear. This later production
TZ-75 was designated by Tanfoglio the TZ-75 ’88; for game purposes, it is
identical to the TZ-75.
Further
restyling and improvement led to the TA-90 series.
The TA-90 is for all intents and purposes internally identical to the
TZ-75 ’88 (except for a slightly greater weight).
In addition to blued and chromed finishes, deluxe engraved versions of
the TA-90 are available. The TA-90
has a micrometer-adjustable rear sight, and an extended magazine release and
beavertail, and is available in several calibers.
The base TA-90 is often referred to as the Tanfoglio Match.
Several variants
of the TA-90 are also available.
The TA-90B, also called the Baby TA-90, is a compact version with a shorter grip
and a 3.5-inch barrel. The grips
are also of wrap-around Neoprene rubber.
The TA-90SS is a TA-90 with an extended 5-inch barrel that is ported; it
typically is found with a two-tone finish.
The TA-90S is a match version with a better-quality 5.9-inch barrel that
is fitted with a muzzle compensator and a muzzle counterweight.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
TZ-75 |
9mm Parabellum |
0.99 kg |
15 |
$245 |
9mm Parabellum |
1.02 kg |
15 |
$245 |
|
TA-40 |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
1.18 kg |
12 |
$319 |
TA-10 |
10mm Colt Auto |
1.27 kg |
12 |
$359 |
TA-41 |
.41 Action Express |
1.22 kg |
11 |
$336 |
TA-45 |
.45 ACP |
1.36 kg |
10 |
$401 |
TA-90B |
9mm Parabellum |
0.85 kg |
12 |
$232 |
TA-40B |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
1.01 kg |
9 |
$306 |
TA-10B |
10mm Colt Auto |
1.1 kg |
9 |
$346 |
TA-41B |
.41 Action Express |
1.05 kg |
8 |
$323 |
TA-45B |
.45 ACP |
1.19 kg |
7 |
$392 |
TA-90SS |
9mm Parabellum |
0.95 kg |
15 |
$273 |
TA-40SS |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
1.13 kg |
12 |
$346 |
TA-10SS |
10mm Colt Auto |
1.23 kg |
12 |
$387 |
TA-41SS |
.41 Action Express |
1.17 kg |
11 |
$363 |
TA-45SS |
.45 ACP |
1.33 kg |
10 |
$427 |
TA-90S |
9mm Parabellum |
1.2 kg |
15 |
$308 |
TA-40S |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
1.36 kg |
12 |
$382 |
TA-10S |
10mm Colt Auto |
1.45 kg |
12 |
$422 |
TA-45S |
.45 ACP |
1.54 kg |
10 |
$468 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
TZ-45 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
TA-90 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
TA-40 |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
TA-10 |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
TA-41 |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
TA-45 |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
TA-90B |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
TA-40B |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
TA-10B |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
TA-41B |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
TA-45B |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
TA-90SS |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
TA-40SS |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
16 |
TA-10SS |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
14 |
TA-41SS |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
16 |
TA-45SS |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
14 |
TA-90S |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
TA-40S |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
19 |
TA-10S |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
17 |
TA-45S |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
17 |
Tanfoglio Witness
Notes: Tanfoglio
acquired the patents to the Witness series in 1995, and began selling its own
version of the Witness. In North
and South America, the Witness is imported by a company called European American
Company, and called the EAA Witness; in Europe, it is known as the Tanfoglio
Witness. It is a basic sort
of pistol, available in several calibers, with a steel frame and slide and
polygonal barrel.
The design of
the Witness, like many modern European (and increasingly, pistol designs of
other countries) pistols, has been inspired by the Czech CZ-75 pistol (which
itself takes many design cues from the Browning HP-35 High-Power and SiG-Sauer
P-210). This means that the Witness
uses a modified Browning short-recoil operation, and has a relatively slim,
low-profile slide and a high-capacity magazine.
The slide of the Witness uses cocking grooves on both the front and rear
of the slide. The Witness is a
double-action pistol, with a manual safety/slide lock as well as a half-cock
safety and a passive firing pin safety and a chamber-loaded indicator.
The sights are of the three-dot type; the rear sight, however is a bit
tall and is known to snag on clothing sometimes when being drawn, even from a
holster. Tanfoglio-made magazines for the Witness have particularly powerful
springs in them; though this helps fight “follower spring fatigue,” that and
sharp feed lips make loading the magazines difficult, and most shooters will put
one less round in the magazines than their full capacity.
Construction of the standard Witness (called the Witness Stock) is of
steel, with a barrel length of 4.5 inches.
Finishes include blued, two-tone, chrome, and stainless steel.
Witness Carry Comp is a somewhat smaller version, with a 4.1-inch barrel,
and finishes are only blued or two-tone blue/chrome.
The barrel, however, is equipped with a large muzzle compensator.
Another compact version, the Witness Subcompact, uses a 3.66-inch barrel
(without a compensator) and a shorter grip with a smaller magazine; finishes are
the same as the Witness Stock.
The Witness
Sport is also similar to the Witness Stock, but has an adjustable rear sight, an
extended safety, and is available only in a two-tone finish.
(The Sport is identical to the Stock for game purposes.)
The Witness L/S Sport uses a 4.75-inch barrel, a slightly longer grip
with larger magazines, an adjustable rear sight, and an extended safety.
A ported barrel is an option on the L/S Sport.
The Witness Hunter has a 6-inch barrel, but uses a single-stack magazine.
It has an adjustable rear sight and is drilled and tapped for scope
rings. The most striking thing
about the Witness Hunter is its finish – normally one of several available
all-over camouflage patterns. (A
blued version is also available.)
The Witness
Combo 9/40 is a version of the Witness that comes a kit allowing conversion
between 9mm Parabellum and .40 Smith & Wesson.
It can be had with either a Stock-length or Carry Comp-length barrel,
with the exchange kits consisting of a slide, barrel, recoil slide and guide,
and two magazines for the appropriate calibers.
Tanfoglio’s
version of the Witness also includes several polymer-framed models; these are
collectively known as the Witness P Series.
The P Series is quite similar in general design to the steel-framed
Witness series, except for that polymer frame; however, the P Series pistols
have rear sights adjustable for windage as a standard feature, and feature a
different combination of calibers.
The standard Witness P uses a 4.55-inch barrel, but single-stack magazines
instead of the double-stack magazines of the Witness Stock.
The Witness P Carry Comp uses a 4.25-inch barrel, but uses the same
compensator as the steel-framed Witness Carry Comp.
The Witness PC (also called the Witness P Compact) uses a 3.55-inch
barrel (with no compensator). The
Witness PS is built on a somewhat smaller frame, but still uses a 4.55-inch
barrel. Despite their polymer
frames, the P Series pistols are almost as heavy as steel-framed Witnesses.
Tanfoglio also
makes a number of match-quality Witnesses.
All of these use steel frames and specially-built match quality heavy
barrels. The Witness Silver Team
Match uses a 5.25-inch barrel with a muzzle compensator, a single-action
trigger, a competition-type loop hammer, a paddle-type magazine release, an
extended safety, sights that are dovetailed in (with the rear sight being
adjustable), walnut grip plates, and drilling and tapping for scope rings.
The grip length is a little longer then that of a standard Witness Stock,
but the magazine is also extended and the bottom covered with rubber.
The Witness Gold Team Match is a deluxe version of the Silver Team Match,
and has the addition of an extended beavertail and grip safety, a squared
trigger guard, and a checkered frontstrap, backstrap, and rubber grip plates.
Most use a hard-chromed finish, but they are also available in a
gold-plated finish. The Witness
Limited Class has less features (for those competitions that don’t allow them),
using only the competition grips of the Gold Team Match, an extended safety and
magazine release, sights, and the single action trigger.
In 2007,
Tanfoglio introduced a highly-customized version of its Witness Gold Team Match,
called the Gold Custom Eric version.
The “Eric” in its name refers to Eric Grauffel; the Gold Custom Eric was
designed with his input, based on the custom modifications he made to the pistol
he used during his win of the 2005 IPSC World Championship.
The Gold Custom Eric uses a 5.25-inch barrel tipped with a beefy muzzle
brake; depending on the chambering, this brake may have six or eight holes.
The slide has four slots cut into it; these not only cool the barrel, but
remove some weight. Construction is
largely of steel, with the exception of the control levers, the grip plates, and
the trigger. The magazine released
can be easily reversed for left-handed shooters.
The trigger itself is adjustable for travel with a simple screw (and can
therefore be adjusted by shooters in the field or as they break the pistol
in).The magazines are proprietary; the grip itself is somewhat short, but the
magazines include a grip extension.
On the side of the frame, drilling and tapping are provided to allow the
mounting of a bracket for an optics mount or MIL-STD-1913 rail to rise above the
slide; iron sights are not provided.
Though Eric Grauffel used 9mm Parabellum, several chamberings are
available for the production version.
It’s a big, heavy, costly pistol, but well worth it if you can afford it.
(And note that the real-life cost is far higher than the
Twilight 2000 cost.)
In 2016, The
Witness Elite Steel 1911 was introduced.
As the name would indicate, The Witness Elite Steel features all-steel
construction, and a two-tone finish with a blackened slide and a matte stainless
steel frame. Controls are blackened
and extended; the grip safety has an extended beavertail and grip bump. The
manual safety is ambidextrous. Grip plates are finely checkered and of dark
cocobolo. The entire effect is
striking. Magazines for the Witness Elite Steel have a bump pad on the bottom,
though other 1911 magazines of an appropriate capacity will also fit.
The magazine well is beveled.
The rear sight is a fully adjustable Super Sight and the front sight is
dovetailed blade. The hammer is a large loop hammer.
Some hand-fitting is done, and the barrel is stainless steel. The Witness
Elite Steel is designed primarily for competition use, particularly in IPSC and
IDPA-type competitions.
A variant model
is the Witness Elite 1011P Polymer; this is a Witness Elite Steel 1911 with a
polymer frame instead of the all-steel construction of the Witness Elite Steel
1911. The Witness 1911P is geared
more toward personal defense than competition, which is a good placement due to
it’s light weight. The frame isn’t
totally of polymer; it has steel inserts under the frontstrap and backstrap. The
trigger is not totally arched or straight, but somewhere between. Fit and finish
is excellent, as with most Tanfoglio pistols. The front sight is dovetailed in
place. The 1911P has a rail under
the dust cover. The 5-inch barrel is stainless steel and the same barrel as on
the Witness Steel 1911.
Unfortunately, the Witness 1911P is not known for its accuracy with the stock
sights and the slide can be a little stiff to rack.
The factory magazine also tends to lead to failures to feed, and this is
fixed by using another single-stack 1911-type magazine. The magazine release can
stick, but this is a rare malfunction.
Twilight 2000
Notes: These versions of the Witness does not exist in the Twilight 2000
timeline.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Witness Stock |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.94 kg |
16 |
$243 |
Witness Stock |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.06 kg |
12 |
$316 |
Witness Stock |
.41
Action Express |
1.09 kg |
11 |
$333 |
Witness Stock |
.45
ACP |
1.19 kg |
10 |
$402 |
Witness Carry Comp |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.96 kg |
16 |
$289 |
Witness Carry Comp |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.08 kg |
12 |
$362 |
Witness Carry Comp |
.41
Action Express |
1.11 kg |
11 |
$379 |
Witness Carry Comp |
.45
ACP |
1.21 kg |
10 |
$448 |
Witness Subcompact |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.85 kg |
13 |
$234 |
Witness Subcompact |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
0.96 kg |
9 |
$308 |
Witness Subcompact |
.41
Action Express |
0.98 kg |
9 |
$325 |
Witness Subcompact |
.45
ACP |
1.08 kg |
8 |
$393 |
Witness L/S Sport |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.98 kg |
19 |
$245 |
Witness L/S Sport |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.1
kg |
14 |
$319 |
Witness L/S Sport |
.41
Action Express |
1.13 kg |
13 |
$336 |
Witness L/S Sport |
.45
ACP |
1.24 kg |
11 |
$404 |
Witness Hunter |
10mm Colt |
1.16 kg |
10 |
$372 |
Witness Hunter |
.45
ACP |
1.23 kg |
10 |
$414 |
Witness P |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.88 kg |
10 |
$244 |
Witness P |
.38
Super |
0.93 kg |
10 |
$280 |
Witness P |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
0.99 kg |
10 |
$318 |
Witness P |
10mm Colt |
1.05 kg |
10 |
$359 |
Witness P |
.45
ACP |
1.11 kg |
8 |
$404 |
Witness P Carry Comp |
.45
ACP |
1.13 kg |
8 |
$451 |
Witness PC |
.45
ACP |
0.74 kg |
8 |
$394 |
Witness PS |
.22
Long Rifle |
0.72 kg |
10 |
$125 |
Witness PS |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.88 kg |
10 |
$244 |
Witness PS |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
0.99 kg |
10 |
$318 |
Witness Silver Team Match |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.96 kg |
19 |
$305 |
Witness Silver Team Match |
9x21mm |
0.98 kg |
19 |
$323 |
Witness Silver Team Match |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.08 kg |
14 |
$379 |
Witness Silver Team Match |
.41
Action Express |
1.11 kg |
13 |
$396 |
Witness Silver Team Match |
.45
ACP |
1.22 kg |
11 |
$463 |
Witness Gold Team Match |
9mm
Parabellum |
1.08 kg |
19 |
$309 |
Witness Gold Team Match |
9x21mm |
1.1
kg |
19 |
$327 |
Witness Gold Team Match |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.22 kg |
14 |
$383 |
Witness Gold Team Match |
.41
Action Express |
1.25 kg |
13 |
$400 |
Witness Gold Team Match |
.45
ACP |
1.37 kg |
11 |
$468 |
Witness Limited Class |
9mm
Parabellum |
0.95 kg |
19 |
$254 |
Witness Limited Class |
.38
Super |
1
kg |
19 |
$272 |
Witness Limited Class |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.07 kg |
14 |
$329 |
Witness Limited Class |
.45
ACP |
1.17 kg |
11 |
$416 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric |
9mm
Parabellum |
1.25 kg |
16 |
$471 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric |
9x21mm |
1.25 kg |
16 |
$488 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric |
.38
Super |
1.25 kg |
17 |
$508 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric |
.40
Smith & Wesson |
1.25 kg |
12 |
$545 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric |
10mm Colt |
1.25 kg |
11 |
$586 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric |
.45
ACP |
1.25 kg |
10 |
$632 |
Witness Elite Steel 1911 |
.45
ACP |
0.91 kg |
7,
8 |
$407 |
Witness Elite 1911P Polymer |
.45
ACP |
0.91 kg |
7,
8 |
$409 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Witness (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
11 |
Witness (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
14 |
Witness (.41) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
14 |
Witness (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
13 |
Witness Carry Comp (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
10 |
Witness Carry Comp (.40) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Witness Carry Comp (.41) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Witness Carry Comp (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
11 |
Witness Subcompact (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Witness Subcompact (.40) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
11 |
Witness Subcompact (.41) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
11 |
Witness Subcompact (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Witness L/S Sport (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
Witness L/S Sport (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
15 |
Witness L/S Sport (.41) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
15 |
Witness L/S Sport (.45) |
SA |
2 |
2-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
16 |
Witness Hunter (10mm) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
17 |
Witness Hunter (.45) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
17 |
Witness P (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
11 |
Witness P (.38) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
Witness P (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
14 |
Witness P (10mm) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
13 |
Witness P (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
13 |
Witness P Carry Comp |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
Witness PC |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
9 |
Witness PS (.22) |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
8 |
Witness PS (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
11 |
Witness PS (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
14 |
Witness Silver/Gold Team Match (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
13 |
Witness Silver/Gold Team Match (9x21mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
Witness Silver/Gold Team Match (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
17 |
Witness Silver/Gold Team Match (.41) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
17 |
Witness Silver/Gold Team Match (.45) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
Witness Limited Class (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
13 |
Witness Limited Class (.38) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
Witness Limited Class (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
17 |
Witness Limited Class (.45) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
15 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric (9mm) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
2 |
1 |
Nil |
17 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric (9x21mm) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
1 |
Nil |
19 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric (.38) |
SA |
2 |
1-2-Nil |
2 |
1 |
Nil |
19 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
22 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric (10mm) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
20 |
Witness Gold Custom Eric (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
19 |
Witness Elite Steel 1911 |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
14 |
Witness Elite 1911P Polymer |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
14 |