Century Arms announced it was now importing and shipping the Canik TP9DA pistol to the United States market.

The TP9DA is a polymer framed pistol similar to the others in the Canik line. However, this model uses a double action/single action (DA/SA) operation similar to the SIG SAUER P226, Beretta 92/96 series and third generation Smith & Wesson autopistols. Unlike those guns, however, the Canik does not have an external hammer. Instead it uses a striker fired system.

Initial shots are longer, DA pulls of the trigger. Subsequent shots have shorter, lighter pulls. Traditional thinking justifies this kind of system as helping to prevent unintentional discharges under stress. Unfortunately, the anecdotal and statistical data I’ve reviewed suggests that the DA/SA system decreases the overall efficiency of the shooter as he or she must train to shoot the weapon in two distinctly different modes. Nevertheless, the systems can be learned, and there are many shooters who like this operation. So, it makes sense that Canik would make a pistol to cater to this niche.

Decocking the gun to return it to a double action mode is achieved by pressing a button on top of the slide. This same button ensures that you would not need to press the trigger to field strip the gun.

Canik builds the TP9DA with a 4.07″ match grade barrel. The polymer frame has interchangeable backstraps to allow the shooter to best fit the gun to his or her hand. There is a loaded chamber indicator and a striker status indicator.

The gun is available in two colors: black and burnt bronze. Guns ship with two 18 round magazines. The MSRP is $424.99 for either color.