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Ref. Firearms developed and manufactured in Southern Africa 1949-2000. By Kenn Gillie. Credit for this information goes to Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Ass. All rights are reserved. No part of this information may be reproduced, stored, manipulated in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any mechanical, electronic or digital form or by any other means, without prior written permission of the publishers. Any person who engage in any unauthorised activity in relation to this publication shall be liable to criminal prosecution and cliams for civil and criminal damages 

Continental Weapons (the trading name of Continental Technology Enterprises) in Midrand, Gauteng was an importer of Chinese manufactured firearms. They were at the time importing for the Chinese Norinco M1911A1, a 45 ACP, a Colt 1911A1 copy, and assembling those firearms in South Africa. Gary Barnes a South African gunsmith and firearm manufacturer, along with Chu-Cheng Kan the owner of Continental Weapons, formed a partnership to develop a local Colt clone which would be based on the Norinco M1911A1C  (Commander), and which would be known as the Griffon.

Two Griffon models were manufactured by Continental Weapons. These were the Griffon 1911 A1 Combat in 45 ACP and the Griffon CW11 in 9x19 mm Para, which were based on an obscure Chinese manufactured Tokarev type pistol. 

Unlike the Griffon 1911A1 Combat model, which only has cocking serrations at the rear of the slide, the CW11 9x19 mm model has both front and back serrations on both sides of the slide. The Griffon CW11 has a wrap around grip as opposed to the standard side panel grips of the Griffon 1911A1 Combat. Grip styles vary with some having the Griffon logo. In contrast to the extended frame mounted safety catch of the 1911 A1 Combat, the CW11 has retained the Tokarev type safety catch positioned on the slide. When locked, when locked, this prevents hamer drop as well as blocking firing pin protrution. 

The Griffon CW11 is a single-action pistol, chambered for the 9x19 mm cartridge. It has a steel frame and slide and uses the Colt parallel rule lock-up system, with a link. It has an external hammer and skeleton trigger like the Griffon 1911 A1 Combat. The magazine release is located behind the trigger guard, but there is no grip safety. The trigger guard and magazine shoe are hooked for finger hold. The frame is also extended to the rear to prevent hammer bite. The finish on these pistols are eithermatte blue or combination of blued slide and chromed frame. The pistol were 196 mm long and 135 mm high, with an 8 round magazine.

Both the Griffon 1911 A1 Combatand the CW11 have modified three dot MMC style sights with white paint. Other sights with tritium inserts were optional. The name Grffon and the model are engraved into the front left-hand side of the slide, with the logo of a stylished, winged Griffon further back. The firearm’s serial number is stamped directly underneath on the frame.

The project stopped before it got to the stage where all Griffon components were locally manufactured. This was despite a pending export order to the United States of America. Approximately 2000 Griffon 1911 A1 Combat pistols and 700 Griffon CW11 pistols were manufactured. All of these still included some imported components.

Ref. Firearms developed and manufactured in Southern Africa 1949-2000. By Kenn Gillie. Credit for this information goes to Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Ass. All rights are reserved. No part of this information may be reproduced, stored, manipulated in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any mechanical, electronic or digital form or by any other means, without prior written permission of the publishers. Any person who engage in any unauthorised activity in relation to this publication shall be liable to criminal prosecution and cliams for civil and criminal damages
De Wilde Firearms
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