Sarsilmaz, Turkish Firearms Manufacturer, Is Coming to America
While at IWA, I had the chance to sit down with two very knowledgeable guys from the Turkish firearms manufacturing company, Sarsilmaz. Semih, a sales executive, talked to me about the company itself and their plans to expand to the United States, while Ahmet, an engineer, discussed the various pistols, revolvers, and shotguns that the company makes.
The company was founded in 1880, and is thus just over 130 years old. Semih says “almost 150″ in the video, which is pretty optimistic, but I can’t fault him for being proud of the company he works for.
As noted in the video, Sarsilmaz exports to 66 different countries, and supplies handguns to the Turkish military. They’re also the company that manufactures the AR-24 for Armalite, which has been sold in the United States for several years. Many of their products are quite similar to firearms that exist today, such as the AR-24 being closely related to the CZ-75.
The company’s products, I think, will provide good competition for a pretty good number of firearms that are currently on the market. While most are going to be very competitive on price, there were several on display that, shall we say, were not easily affordable. One of these was a gold-plated, hand engraved pistol that I took a liking to..
I had a Sarsilmaz pistol when they were imported by Academy Sports in the Houston area. It was called the Hancer 2000, and was basically the generic AR24 compact. It was extremely well made, but weighed a ton for a compact pistol. I traded it on something lighter.
If they open their factory in Eastern New Mexico/West panhandle Texas, I’m applying for a job there!
CZ-75 is a great gun, let’s see if they can continue the comparisons.
I think he said 130, but he said “almost” instead of “about” so it primes the listener to hear a larger rather than a smaller number.
Great interview, and interesting looking firearms. Their website is a little rough, but shows the whole product line http://www.sarsilmaz.com/en
EAA is selling the SAR K2. I’ve got a laser eye on a 10mm myself. 17+1. Heavy (40 oz empty) but they look very well made. They remind me of a steel framed SIG with a CZ frame mounted safety. 14+1 in .45 btw. An MSRP of $599 means I can get one for under five bills.
If Sarsilmaz comes here would it stand to reason that EAA will no longer offer the SAR K2?
Sarsılmaz is the largest small arms facility in Turkey and has a past
of maximum 40 years as opposed the statement of 150 years by
his own claim which having no fortifiying records at any archieves.
Company has no desing of his own and so called six different patents
in International Field should be of “Application” stage since Removable
Slide Rails Inserts have alreadily granted patents in vairous countries.
On the other hand, in case of said patents being of Turkish Patent
Office, it should be clearly stated that, Turkey is not a Patent Country
requiring “Novelty” for patent applications. Anybody can have a patent
granted in any title applicated. It can be found live patents granted
“Polygonal Rifling”, “Colt 1911 type Grip Safety”, etc… Which all being
impossible to be patented since being of in public use for years and even
centuries.
Sarsılmaz made firearms are of good quality for exported items but are
of fair quality for Homeland Sales according to native users since
complaints being of much higher than any other firearm producing
company in Turkey.
Academy Sporting Goods imported some of their pistols for a while. I shot one that my brother-in-law bought for cheap and it was really quite good for the money.