CANiK: Where Aerospace Technology Meets Handgun Engineering

What do Lockheed Martin, Airbus, and Boeing all have in common? If you guessed they’ve all done business with the firearms manufacturer CANiK, then you guessed right! If that was news to you, don’t worry; you’re not alone.

Based in Turkey, CANiK has been in the aerospace defense industry for decades, but they’re a relative newcomer to the firearms world, hitting the 15-year mark in 2024. While some are quick to dismiss Turkish guns as being imported junk, they’d be much better served by taking a look at the arms industry as a whole and seeing just how many solid firearms exist on the American market that are actually imported - many of which come from Turkey, just like CANiK.

Despite their young age, CANiK and the pistols they produce have proven incredibly popular both at home in Turkey and abroad here in the United States.

Through a partnership with Century Arms, CANiK began importing their TP series pistols into the United States in 2012. It didn’t take long for them to get noticed here, and they’ve developed a bit of a cult following.

By far, their most impressive feat is pulling off a collaboration with one of the biggest names in the arms industry right now: Taran Butler of Taran Tactical Innovations. The two teamed up to release a pistol called the TTI Combat, which is visually striking with the two-tone black and bronze finish. However, the gun is far more than just something that’s nice to look at. This gun is built to run.

Built on a completely new polymer frame designed by Taran Butler, the TTI Combat brings a one-of-a-kind performance package to the CANiK lineup. This gun is packed with features: aggressive grip texturing, integrated flared magwell, removable aluminum competition magwell, ported and spiral-fluted barrel, diamond cut and flat-faced 90-degree break trigger, fully adjustable sights, two 18 round magazines (one flush fit TTI base pad and one +3 TTI base pad), serrated and ambidextrous slide release, three back strap size options, and a low profile optics cut for the MECANIK line of optics as well as the Trijicon SRO. Plus, it is also fitted with the first CANiK compensator.

This unique handgun also comes with a custom holster, hard travel case, cleaning kit, tool kit, custom punch, magazine speed loader, trigger lock, and three optic plate interfaces. To finish off this collectable - and also amazingly shootable - package, there’s a custom challenge coin. The CANiK TTI Combat is a testament to innovative design and craftsmanship, making it a standout choice for discerning shooters.

Aside from their latest collaboration, CANiK has been putting out solid guns for shooters of all different needs within a variety of different series of pistols.

The TP series is their first offering in the world of handguns. It’s their flagship line of guns, if you will. These models have a fiber reinforced polymer frame, interchangeable backstraps for different sized hands, a wide trigger guard to accommodate gloves, nickel plated fire control components, an integrated rail, and a lightweight serrated trigger. The series offers more than half a dozen different models.

The Rival series was designed to level the playing field for the competitive shooter without breaking the bank. These models feature ambidextrous and/or reversible controls, a serrated and ported slide for a lighter weight and better grip, double undercut trigger guard, interchangeable backstraps, and more. Guns in the Rival series can compete in IDPA, IPSC, and USPSA without restrictions.

The METE series builds off of the TP series success and is based on consumer and engineering feedback that were not only desired enhancements but also functional improvements. The changes are subtle but instantly noticeable when you get the gun in your hands: an integrally flared magwell, aggressive grip texturing in more places, a double undercut trigger guard, low profile slide stop, and a co-witness optics-ready slide that can accept a Trijicon RMRcc without needing an adapter plate.

The Signature series are a yearly limited run of guns with special design features that won’t be found on any other gun offered from CANiK. Each gun is individually numbered and, unlike other CANiK pistols that are designed to be the workhorses in your collection, the Signature series guns are designed to be the gem of your collection - something that will appreciate in value over time; they are modern day collectibles.

So far, they’ve offered WHITEOUT, which is a TP9SFX that has an eye-popping almost entirely white finish with black accents; MIAMI, which uses a METE SFT to pay tribute to the iconic US city by depicting the skyline, flamingos, palm trees, and a retro color scheme and is available in a white base color for MIAMI DAYS and a black base color for MIAMI NIGHTS; and APOCALYPSE, which is a METE SF pistol that has a custom worn finish and is accompanied by a limited edition angled knife and Zippo lighter not available anywhere else.

Last but not least are the CANiK Creations series, which is a partnership with Cerakote to create unique finishes and design patterns not found on other CANiK pistols. You can choose from Reptile Green, Woodland Green, Woodland Bronze, and Tiger Dark Grey to really set your TP9SF apart from the crowd.

While the guns don’t necessarily need any upgrades, CANiK’s pistols are readily supported in the aftermarket parts world. You can get magazines that hold up to 20 rounds, plenty of holster options, threaded barrels, upgraded sights, and more.