Tanfoglio Cohai

[Marxman]

I was wondering if anyone had experience with this CZ-75 clone and if anyone knew whether or not it's considered one of our oh-so-treasured "safe handguns." I apologize if it's been covered before but a cursory search brought nothing up and the DOJ website is less than helpful when it comes to dealing with clones. Any input is appreciated.

The pistol in question here

[JeremyS]

...and the DOJ website is less than helpful when it comes to dealing with clones.

It's perfectly helpful. The firearm must be approved exactly, down to the model number. Clones cannot get in just because they are the same as some other gun that is on the roster. The manufacturer must submit it for testing themselves. Century is not on the roster and Tangfolio is not on the roster. Therefore, neither is this gun. ...although... EAA imports some Tangfolio guns and the company is on the roster but not very many gun models are...

http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/

Heck, is a manufacturer adds a C to the end of the model number to designate a chrome version instead of a blued version of an otherwise-identical gun, they would have to submit that model for testing also. The roster is very, very precise with rare exception. Clones don't count.



...that said, it's a cool looking gun at a low price and, if it really is a CZ75 clone, then there are plenty of places that could do a single shot exemption for you...

[tacticalcity]

You can get it SSE (Single Shot Exemption) if you can find a shop to do it for you. See the sticky at the top of the handguns sub-forum here on Calguns. Or you can find somebody who already has one here in CA and get them to do a PPT with you. The roster only applies to what an FFL can sell you directly without doing a SSE.

[morrcarr67]

Problem with this gun and SSE is the it is at Bud's and they will not ship an off roster gun to CA for SSE conversion. Nor will they ship to a dealer outside of CA if the buyer is in CA.

Your best bet would be to call Ryan @ Table Rock Arms in OR and see if he will order it and convert it for you.

[railroader]

You can get it SSE (Single Shot Exemption) if you can find a shop to do it for you. See the sticky at the top of the handguns sub-forum here on Calguns. Or you can find somebody who already has one here in CA and get them to do a PPT with you. The roster only applies to what an FFL can sell you directly without doing a SSE.

That gun is only $270. If you could how much is going to be after a SSE? A SSE might work with mainstream guns like 1911s and glocks but what about more obscure guns. The roster is a pain in the ****.

[zfields]

Interesting......


Sadly in CA, would probably just be cheaper to buy the real deal.

[tacticalcity]

That gun is only $270. If you could how much is going to be after a SSE? A SSE might work with mainstream guns like 1911s and glocks but what about more obscure guns. The roster is a pain in the ****.

Some shops will do SSE for free...if they already have the parts. Problem is with this one they probably will need to make the parts.

But people want what people want. Sometimes it isn't about the money.

[morrcarr67]

Some shops will do SSE for free...if they already have the parts. Problem is with this one they probably will need to make the parts.

But people want what people want. Sometimes it isn't about the money.

And, seeing that this is a CZ clone and there are CZ's that are not on the roster and have to be SSE I would bet that one could use the same parts you would for an off roster CZ.

[SilverTauron]

That's actually a Tanfoglio TA90/TZ75. That one is marked "Cohai Combat Shooting" on the left side of the frame, hence the name in the ad. Buds mislabeled the model of the gun.

I had a TA90 once. Decent gun, well machined with VERY tight tolerances.Worked and cycled well enough, but it had flaws which ill get to. One serious downside is that the early Tanfoglio clones such as the 5578, TA90, TZ75s aren't supported by EAA for service and parts like the later Witness models, since a handful of fly-by-night importers brought those guns in 'back in the day' and all of those companies are out of business now. U.S. customers who contact Tanfoglio directly don't get responses back, and EAA for the most part won't touch the guns they didn't import.

On the example I had, a sear pin was cracked and the slide stop lever failed . Both parts I ordered from Numitch, but they are literally the ONLY ONES who sell parts. If they run out, game over. Theoretically CZ and Witness parts will fit, but if something internal breaks on one of those early clones you have a $250 paperweight on your hands. Note these pistols were made in the late 1980s, so odds are SOMETHING will have worn out enough to require replacement.

Oh, and EAA magazines didn't work right on my example. My "Cohai" marked pistol reliably suffered three-point failures to extract if I loaded the 9mm EAA witness magazine with more than 13 rounds out of its 16 round capacity. I bought a Pro-Mag CZ75 15 rounder and it worked well enough, except the last spent casing would be sitting in the chamber loose. I do not mean it failed to come out-the casing would be sitting on top of the magazine with the slide locked open, very much clear of the chamber. Those issues are why I wouldn't buy a Tanfoglio clone again, and I live in a free state which doesn't have a roster.

Being in CA,you would not only have to find someone to make a SSE barrel for that clone pistol-remember these guns are orphans without support by EAA or Tanfoglio-but you would need to find a 10 round magazine which reliably works in the frickin' thing. I had problems finding standard cap mags which could pull that off.

In summary, id pass.