FIE Titan .25 ACP

[Speaker]

I had never heard of this gun until my mom showed me hers a few months ago. It's nickle and in pristine shape. She's in her 80's and couldn't rack it so wanted something else. I got her a Beretta 3032.

Anyone know the history behind FIE and the Titan?

 

[bannockburn]

Speaker

Courtesy of J. B. Woods' book "Troubleshooting Your Handgun", the Titan was made in Italy by Tanfoglio Giuseppe Fabrica d'Armi for some time before 1968. After importation was limited by the GCA68, Excam imported the parts and with the addition of a U.S. made frame, assembled the guns here as the Targa Model GT27. The frame and a few other parts were probably made from some sort of zinc aluminum alloy (Zamak). The slide, barrel, and other internal parts were made of steel. According to the author the gun itself was not very well designed and a number of parts were prone to breakage. Overall fit and finish also left something to be desired.

 

[Speaker]

thanks for your response. Yes, it does feel like a Saturday Night Spc'l

 

[bikerdoc]

Good job replacing that junk with something else for mom.

 

[NorthBorder]

I have one and it shoots. In fact I have been shooting the bullets that are as old as it is. I wouldn't carry it although my FIL did at times before he passed. If I point it north it will shoot in generally that direction. But there hasn't been any malfunctions with it. Speaker, just enjoy it for what it is, a little range gun.

 

[bumbazine]

I have one too and I wouldn't even call it a range gun. It's terribly inaccurate. Or maybe I am.
Unfortunately, what with transfer fees and all, it isn't worth trying to sell. I'm saving it for the next gun buy-back that comes around.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I found that the one that my uncle "lost" was pretty accurate - I used it to shoot rats in the abandoned buildings in south central L. A.
It was only fair - he had arranged the "loss" of several of my guns over the previous years... .

 

[lincen]

My father had several FIE Titans back in the 1970’s. I bought two Titans a couple years ago with full knowledge of what they are and what to expect. My two shoot flawlessly, so far, and are fairly accurate at 7 yards. I collect 25acp mouse guns........for fun, not for carry.

 

[wnycollector]

I picked up a two tone FIE Titan a few years ago for $96 after tax. Fit and finish are not great but mine at least does go bang every time I pull the crappy trigger. I would never carry it, but if push came to shove, it's better than nothing.

 

[Armybrat]

Good job replacing that junk with something else for mom.

When I found out that my MIL had used one of those to scare off a would-be intruder over 30 years ago, I bought her a new S&W Model 36 Chief’s Special.
My son now owns the little pot metal Titan as a momento of his feisty grandma. He also owns her S&W.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I have an FIE Titan II in 22LR.
got it for nothin, and that's exactly what it did well.

I tinkered with it and it's actually fairly accurate, and feeds, goes bang, extracts and spits em out most of the time.
It's now a shiny turd, that I still wouldnt trust for anything serious.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Kind of a junky lil pistol but I find them eye pleasing. I might would get one for playing with at the range. But I wouldn’t carry it. Beretta has been the name I trust for small autos. Good call on getting mom the tomcat.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I bought one for $50 back around 2005. Sold it for the same amount a couple years later. Not interested in owning another, would put them in the same class as the Lorcin/Davis/Jennings stuff.

 

[Speaker]

Thanks for all the responses. Apparently it was popular with a couple people cause it went for over $150.00. It was in excellent condition though.