Last updated July 2026 · By Nick Hall, covers new handguns for USA Gun Shop
Quick take: EAA and Girsan are billing the Witness2311 CMXX as a compact, factory-compensated, double-stack 2011 chambered in 10mm Auto, which is a rare combination at any price. It carries a $1,149 MSRP and feeds from standard double-stack magazines, so it undercuts the boutique 2011 crowd by roughly half. See the full spec sheet at EAA for the exact configuration.
What EAA actually built
The Witness2311 CMXX is EAA Corp’s compensated take on the 2011 pistol, made by Girsan in Turkey and imported into the States by EAA. It pairs a double-stack 1911-style frame with a 4.25-inch bull barrel that has a compensator machined into it from solid stock. EAA lists it in 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto, and it is the 10mm that turns heads, because a factory-comped double-stack in a hard-hitting chambering almost never shows up near this price. If you have followed the double-stack boom in our next-gen 1911 roundup, this is that same family pushed into big-bore territory. The budget-2011 wars have mostly played out in 9mm so far, with brands racing to the bottom on price. The CMXX changes the terms by adding a serious caliber and a comp to the value pitch.
The specs that matter
Per EAA, the 10mm CMXX holds 15+1 in standard double-stack magazines and lists at $1,149. The slide carries an RMSc optic cut under a removable rear sight plate, with a fiber-optic front for iron-sight work. There is an automatic firing-pin block for drop safety, an ambidextrous thumb safety, a full accessory rail, and Cerakote over the metal. It runs as a single-action gun with lightening cuts in the slide and high-texture grips, the sort of feature list that used to live only on pistols costing twice as much. EAA rates the tuned trigger at 4.5 pounds. GunsAmerica, which put rounds through the 9mm version, measured the pull heavier out of the box before it smoothed toward roughly five pounds with use, so read 4.5 pounds as a goal rather than a guarantee.
Where it breaks from 1911 tradition
EAA redesigned the frame and dropped the classic 1911 grip safety, trading the beavertail for a slimmer grip. That is a real departure for a 1911 platform, and it is a deliberate one aimed at a thinner profile and a cleaner draw. Purists will grumble about losing the grip safety. Buyers who want a more carry-friendly double-stack may not miss it at all. The automatic firing-pin block still handles drop safety, so the redesign does not leave the gun without a safety net.
Why the factory comp is the story
A compensator vents gas to fight muzzle rise, and on a 10mm that work counts for a lot. Full-power 10mm loads kick hard, and a comp keeps the sights flatter between shots. On most pistols a comp is an aftermarket add-on that costs extra and often needs a gunsmith, so getting one machined into the barrel from the factory is a genuine value. GunsAmerica called the comped gun notably flat-shooting, though the reviewer noted that very soft reloads can run short on gas because the comp is doing its job so well. If you shoot the round across platforms, from a handgun to a 10mm carbine, this is a pistol built to tame the recoil rather than just endure it.
How it stacks up, and who it is for
The pitch is blunt: 2011 features at a fraction of the boutique price. A Staccato or Springfield Prodigy climbs well past two grand once you option it, and our Staccato vs Prodigy breakdown shows how fast that tier adds up. The CMXX asks $1,149 and folds in a factory comp and an optic cut, which is a lot of hardware for the money. The trade-offs, per hands-on reviews, include a proprietary-width accessory rail that snubs some standard lights and a barrel finish that showed wear quickly. This is a value play for the shooter who wants a comped, optics-ready 10mm double-stack without custom-shop money, not a proven match gun with a decade of round counts behind it. Budget for some break-in on the trigger, and know that the CMXX drags the budget-2011 fight into 10mm with a comp bolted on at the factory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What calibers does the EAA Witness2311 CMXX come in?
EAA lists the CMXX in 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto. The 10mm version is the one drawing the most attention because factory-comped 10mm double-stacks are rare.
What is the MSRP of the Witness2311 CMXX?
EAA lists a starting MSRP of $1,149. Street prices tend to run a bit under that, based on early retail listings and reviews.
What is the magazine capacity in 10mm?
EAA lists the 10mm CMXX at 15+1 using standard double-stack magazines. The 9mm holds 17+1 and the .45 ACP holds 11+1.
Does the Witness2311 CMXX have a grip safety?
No. EAA redesigned the frame and removed the traditional 1911 grip safety to give the pistol a slimmer grip and cleaner draw.
Is it optics-ready?
Yes. The slide has an RMSc optic cut under a removable rear sight plate, so you can mount a compatible micro red dot without milling.
How long is the barrel and does the comp add length?
It uses a 4.25-inch bull barrel with a compensator machined integrally from solid stock, so the comp is part of the barrel rather than a separate bolt-on.
What is the real trigger pull weight?
EAA rates the tuned trigger at 4.5 pounds. A GunsAmerica hands-on review measured it heavier out of the box, settling toward roughly five pounds after break-in, so treat 4.5 as a target.
Who makes the Witness2311 CMXX?
It is manufactured by Girsan in Turkey and imported and sold in the United States by EAA Corp, which backs it with a limited lifetime warranty.
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