Turkish pistol manufacturers have long stood at the forefront of the global firearms industry. Due to the political atmosphere of the time, pistol manufacturing in Turkey has made significant progress since the 1980s and has reached a level where it can compete in worldwide markets. Pistol manufacturing, which began with handcrafting in local workshops, particularly in Turkey’s Black Sea region, has now advanced to the point where it can compete in the international market with mass production and an R&D department. “Eastern Black Sea Weapons Project” serves as the foundation for this leap.
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Eastern Black Sea Weapons Project and Canik Arms
The Eastern Black Sea Weapons Project is critical for better understanding Turkish pistol manufacturers. The Turkish government initiated this project in 1991 (source: Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation Small Arms Weapon Factory)
The goal of the Eastern Black Sea Region Weapon Project is to integrate the weapon types identified by the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation into traditional Turkish weapon production in the Eastern Black Sea Region and to raise weapon production to international quality and manufacturing standards (source: Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Hundreds of weapons production factories were developed in the Black Sea Region as a result of the initiative. The Canik brand can be credited to this initiative because the Canik firearms plant was formed in 1998 as the Samsun leg of the project. The Canik brand alone accounts for 75% of Turkey’s weapons exports. The Canik brand is named after the Canik mountain, which is located inside Samsun province. The Canik brand is owned by Samsun Yurt Savunma Sanayi ve Ticaret AS., the largest corporation among Turkish pistol manufacturers.
Major Turkish Pistol Manufacturers
Although we already mentioned Canik Arms, the major Turkish pistol manufacturers can be listed as below:
Samsun Homeland Defense Industry and Trade Inc
With the Canik brand, the company has established a presence in both the national and international arms markets. It ranks 7th in the world for handgun sales. The Canik TP9 series, in particular, is regularly refreshed and developed. The Mete series, the most recent version of the TP9 series, is one of the weapons with the shortest target deviation distance of up to 50,000 shots. The company has 750 employees and exports 95% of its production. We should also mention that several government agencies, from the Polish Police to the Ukrainian Border Service, use CANiK-branded weaponry.
Girsan Machinery and Light Weapon Industry Trade Inc. (GIRSAN)
It exports weapons to more than 30 countries. Yavuz, Bora, Tuğra, and Zirve are the main pistol models. They are extremely powerful and ergonomic weapons.
Sarsılmaz Arms Industry Inc.
Sarslmaz is the oldest arms maker among Turkish pistol manufacturers, with a long history. It provides firearms to the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish Police. The company supplies firearms to over 70 nations. In 2020, the Sar 9 model pistol was named the best pistol of the year in the United States.
Trabzon Weapon Industry Corp. (TISAS)
Focusing on two gun models, the Kanuni and Zigana, the company has continuously developed versions of these two models. Kanuni and Zigana models are manufactured in accordance with ATF Form 4590 Gun Production Criteria.
Turkish Pistols’ Superiority
Turkish pistol manufacturers are in high demand in worldwide markets due to factors like as high magazine capacity, ergonomic design, durability, ease of use, precise shooting ability, and pricing.
Conclusion
Turkish pistol manufacturers offer unparalleled quality, innovation, and value. With a wide range of products that meet the diverse needs of global customers, these manufacturers continue to shape the landscape of the firearms industry.
I also wrote about Turkish Shotgun Manufacturers. The top 10 manufacturing industries in Turkey include Turkish shotgun and pistol manufacturers, as well as Turkish drone manufacturers. Please take a moment to read our post titled “Manufacturing in Turkey: A Full Overview.” My next post is “Turkish Sofa Manufacturers.”
