EAA Witness .10mm Stainless?

[vinny]

Hi guys and gals.  I have a chance to get a nice looking used EAA witness .10.  The owner says it is stainless but I thought they were only Wonder finish or blue/black.  How long has eaa been making a .10mm witness and were the first ones stainless?

Thanks
Vince

[sqlbullet]

I am not aware of any of the standard models being stainless.  I think some owners think they have stainless when they get the wonder finish.

If in doubt, a call to EAA with the model or serial number should clear it up.

To be honest, I question some of the custom shop guns.  It has never been clear to me if the guns are hard chromed or stainless.  I have heard both.

I would add that I didn't find the wonder finish that wonderful.  I ended up sandblasting it off and parkerizing then cerakoting my gun.

[vinny]

Just talking to the guy at the lgs he said stainless.  It looks a little different than the wonder finish guns.  I don't know I'll take a magnet.  I'm going to trade for it probably tomorrow. I've got a compact polymer in .9mm I'm going to trade on it.  Only polymer gun I have. Just can't make myself love a polymer.

Vince

[The_Shadow]

EAA had the wonder finish its not a Stainless steel as it can and does rust without proper care.  Not that its a bad gun!
One thing to be concerned about is the older contoured top ends...  Some of those did experience cracking, not to be confused with the solid round slides...
Contoured slide


Round top slide

[sqlbullet]

If I had a nickel every time I encountered a gun store clerk that didn't know what they were saying....Well, I would have more nickels.

[vinny]

This gun has flat sides on the slide like the bottom picture but not the serrations or rail.  I suppose these were not as prone to cracking?

Vince

[sqlbullet]

Correct.  It actually had nothing to do with the slide profile, it had to do with a lot of slides that got a bad heat treatment.  Too little time annealing and they were brittle.

But, that batch of slides had the then new "scalloped" profile that was like a bell curve on top and so that profile got a bad rap.  Personally, I would not run from that slide shape if I were getting a deal...Say $300 or less.  But I would not pay over $300 for one since there is a fair chance I would have to deal with EAA CS.

[Bluefish]

I was under the impression my limited pro was hard chromed.
   It seems very similar to the finish on my american classic 2 which is advertised  as hard chrome.
  Inquiring minds want to know.

    Regards, Russ

[pacapcop]

Just rewarded via GunBroker a 2002 Matte Slab Slide. Been wanting the true model for years. 475.00 bid.