The name Canik is not just another name in the heavy world of handguns. It has, during the last 10 years, built a powerful, silent but steady reputation as a reliable choice for professionals, police, and ordinary shooters not only in the US but worldwide. Those who are familiar with the handgun industry will agree that the Canik brand took the market by storm in a place that was already heavily dominated by Glock, Sig Sauer, etc.
It was not long before the company became one of the top players by simply giving customers firearms that provided far more than one would expect from their price – a shock to the industry which was based on the tradition of high prices for high-quality guns/successful engineering, excellent reliability, and even thoughtful design oftentimes already catching your eye if you are used to more expensive pistols.
Before entering the firearms market, however, Canik was the name associated with aerospace manufacturing. This experience laid the foundation for the company in precision and quality control, which is now reflected in every pistol it makes.
Advanced CNC machines and extremely precise measuring tools in the production plant in Samsun give the go-ahead for every component to be machined to the required standards. The outcome is not just mass-produced hardware but a blend of craftsmanship refined with technology whereby every handgun feels as if it has been made carefully and not hectically off an assembly line.
The breakthrough came in 2012, sensorial with the launch of the TP9 family. This was Canik’s hoot of challenge to the existing players. Canik then went on to produce different variations of the TP9 for the different needs, from the compact carry guns like the TP9 Elite SC to the full-size performance models like the TP9SFX.
Particularly, the TP9SF grabbed the spotlight for passing a 60,000-round NATO standard endurance test with flying colors without even one failure. Such a kind of reliability is rare at any price, and it was this that enabled Canik to be put on the map by firearm lovers from various parts of the world.
One of the major points that constantly brings Canik into the discussion among the shooting fraternity is the trigger that Canik fitted in their guns. The triggers of TP9 and the Rival series are very close to perfection; they have short, smooth pulls and are very fast to reset.
It is exactly the trigger that is responsible for the shooting qualities of those pistols, which are comparable to much higher-priced models. The consistent and responsive feeling, which is what the shooter gets, thus giving him confidence shot after shot, whether it is competition or defensive use, can very well be the point for those who become believers only after they have tried it personally.
An instance of the TP9 Elite SC, Canik’s outstanding commitment to ergonomics and usability, a beautiful compact and concealed carry pistol from the company. The gun still feels like a full-size one inside despite the smaller frame.
The availability of features like interchangeable backstraps, textured grips, ambidextrous controls, and optics-ready slide is a clear indication that every inch of the design has been constructed with the end-user in mind. It’s tiny enough to be easy to hide, yet it still maintains a 15-round capacity—making it an attractive option against the much more expensive carry pistols.
When firearm companies started to adopt optics-ready platforms, Canik was also on board. Presently, most of the Mete and TP9 models have standard slides that are pre-cut for red dot sights. Canik is the one who puts it there from the very beginning, while other brands might require you to pay for it separately or to have your firearm modified. The company even came up with an accessory division of its own called MeCanik, which caters to shooting enthusiasts that want to easily customize their setups shooting with reflex sights and lata