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2/28/2013 3:49:33 PM
 
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Section 8: Handguns Subject: Canik C-100 Msg# 851733
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There may be no interest in this topic but I thought I'd add a little more to this thread anyway. The Canik and the Sarsilmaz are just two more versions of CZ clones that have been pretty popular in the US. Number one of course have been the Italian Tanfoglio clones, the FIE TZ 75, and then after FIE went bankrupt, the re-established EAA Witness, slightly tweaked but essentially the same pistols. these shores have also seen the Jericho 941, a Tanfoglio-IMI partnership, and the short-lived Springfield Armory P9. then there was the Swiss-made Sphinx, your high-end CZ 75 clone. There've also been "CZ 75s" made in the UK and other places, I'm sure some of which I'm not aware.
Point is, the CZ 75 is undoubtedly one of the most-copied pistols in existence. The Colt Single-action Army is probably a distant fourth here. the top three are easily the M1911, the Browning P35, and the CZ 75. And since the CZ 75 has been in existence much less time that is pretty impressive. The reason is because the CZ 75 was designed behind the Iron Curtain, and was simply unavailable in the USA. The story goes that Jeff Cooper, the top gun guru at the time, had managed to get his hands on one somehow, and while he didn't care for the caliber, he thought the pistol was great in other ways, especially because--although being a DA--it could be carried cocked and locked. In those days no other DA auto had that option. Suddenly people wanted the CZ 75, and they couldn't get them. Some managed to come in via Canada, I'm not sure how, and the word is that a few were somehow legally imported, but in general the CZ 75 was pistola non grata. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the establishment of democracy in The Czech Republik, the CZ 75 began to trickle in (no CZ-USA early on). This big void, both before and after the fall of communism, was filled with CZ clones. Interestingly enough, they are still hugely popular. Today, no one even thinks in terms of "clone" with a 1911, but if it isn't a Colt it is technically a clone, as Colt invented the pistol. We don't even call them Colt clones, we call them 1911s now, after the military model. The Hi-Powers are still called Hi-Powers (or High Powers), though they've been made in many different places. Most of the CZ 75 clones have had different names. I thought there would be some resistance to the Turkish models, but if you look at a dedicated CZ forum you'll find they a very popular. I suppose it isn't too surprising as the Turkish 1911 models have been selling well for a few years now. Regent, etc. And Turkish shotguns are also abundant on the US market. Some of us older guys might be a little resistant to Turkish arms but the more I look the more I think they are well-made and worth considering, not second rate guns at all. I remember when the Italians first started making clone guns. They were awful. Today you can pay two grand for some of the better Italian clones of 19th Century firearms. And they are probably worth it. Anyway, enough of that. I'm not really a big CZ 75 guy, but they do have one more reason why they are so popular; it's not just their selective DA/SA carry options. Between them, the Hi-Power and the CZ 75 are widely known as having perhaps the most comfortable double-stack grip frames going. For my money, the CZ feels better in the hand, at least until you add custom stocks to the Hi-Power. Try one. |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: My son picked up two Canik C100 pistols a few weeks ago. Due to being sick I've not been out to the range with them, and due to my photo area being piled with junk  I haven't been able to take a quality photo. In the meantime the parent site, Canik in Turkey, has some nice pix of all their models, so I uploaded a couple to our photo albums. The US importer, Tristar, has a web site as well, and it can tell you which models they import. Here is the model Eric purchased, and in 9mm as shown:
As you can see, they look for all the world like CZ75 Compacts. They are shipped with two Mec-Gar magazines, and hold 15 rounds. (The L-120, the full-size counterpart to the CZ-75B, holds 17 rounds). CZ Magazines will work. I did some research and found that CZ grips will work with some very minor adjustments--but a couple of the reports said that the grips they used, such as VZ G10 grips also needed fitting to their actual CZs as well. Mostly I read that the screw hole needed slight widening for the Caniks. I also found that the sight dovetails will accept sights made for CZs. That's all good to know. As you can see by comparing the Canik C100 at the top of this message with the CZ75 Compact satin nickel model CZ shown above, there is very little difference in appearance. The hammers looks a little different, the muzzle treatments are a little different, and CZ-USA lists their mag capacity as 14. Also, CZ-USA only offers black Polycoat now, which is obviously some sort of polymer finish. They make the full-size guns in stainless but not the Compact. (Eric has a P-01, which is a beefed up Compact with a heavy frame to meet NATO specs and an accessory rail, and it is finished in OD Polycoat). In contrast, Canik finishes their carbon steel in either hard chrome, or black chrome. The internals are hard chromed on both models. I believe this might be why the trigger pulls are significantly better on these Caniks than on any of the CZs or Tanfoglios we've ever owned (now up to five). Oh, Canik says "REAR SIGHT AND FRONT SIGHT EQUIPPED WITH TRITIUM SYSTEM," but they don't have Tritium vials. They do have some sort of light-absorbent material on them that glows brightly when exposed to bright light. They seem nearly identical to the "Lumidot" sights marketed by Ameriglo. I can't believe they could be imported with Tritium unless it was contained, but perhaps something was lost in the translation. Tristar has very little to say--although they do contradict Canik and say the black version of the C-100 is "Black Polycoated." Besides that probably being a CZ trademark, Canik clearly says on their website that the black C-100 is "black-chrome coated." I don't know how you confuse chrome with plastic (but there's that Tritium thing, eh?). I looked at the black pistol carefully and it doesn't look anything like the CZ Polycoat, the finish is much thinner and smoother. Here is the black C-100, BTW: I wish I could tell you more but at this point I have to wait until I can breathe better so I can get to the range. Believe me I'm chomping at the bit because I have a few guns I want to shoot. |
