Launched in 2014, the four-part John Wick action film franchise starring Keanu Reeves has been extremely successful and has also contributed to the fame of Taran Butler from Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI), which extends beyond the world of firearms. Why? There are videos circulating around the world wide web and on the TTI website showing how skilfully Keanu Reeves and many other actors and celebrities, such as Halle Berry, can handle weapons in "real life". They were taught these shooting skills by none other than Taran Butler, who is regarded as the shooting instructor for Hollywood stars in the US firearms industry. In addition to shooting training, TTI from Simi Valley in California also offers custom guns, above all the so-called "Movie Firearms" with model names based on the John Wick film series such as "JW2 Combat Master","JW3 Combat Master" or "JW4 Pit Viper". All these semi-automatic pistols (based on GLOCK and 1911/2011 platforms), rifles (based on AR-15 and SIG Sauer MPX) and auto-loading shotguns (based on Benelli M2/M4 and Genesis Arms Gen 12) were used in the films. (If you want to know more about the weapons used in the John Wick films or about film guns in general, we recommend the International Movie Firearms Database, which provides very reliable information.)
Incidentally, Sven Schlegel from 3GunSports offers the TTI Custom Guns, but they are not available from stock and can only be ordered on a firm order basis. The Hollywood exclusivity also has its price: a JW4 Combat Master based on the GLOCK G34 costs €3,790, a JW3 Combat Master and JW4 Pit Viper based on the 2011 even €7,990 or €9,100, while the JW 3 Benelli M2/JW 2 Benelli M4 shotguns are available for €3,950 and €4,650 respectively.
The Canik TTI Combat presented here with its special Hollywood flair for €1,299 is a real bargain! Born in Hollywood, Taran Butler grew up on a horse ranch in Southern California and shot his first Southwest Pistol League match in January 1995, finishing 7th out of 118 competitors. In just a year or so, he achieved the coveted, highest "Grand Master" status with his GLOCK pistol in the USPSA as a beginning "Unclassified" shooter. Today he is one of the world's best and most awarded IPSC/action shooters with countless trophies to his name. He is also known for his all-round talent with all types of guns, having won countless "Multi-Gun" and "3-Gun" titles with rifle, shotgun and pistol.
Canik TTI Combat 9mm pistol in detail
The attractive pistol is based on the technology of the Canik TP-9/Mete models, which have been tried and tested hundreds of thousands of times (click here for the Canik Mete SFX/SFT test on all4shooters.com). These series consist of polymer-framed striker-fired pistols with fully pre-cocked single-action trigger and consistent trigger characteristics from the first to the last shot. Incidentally, the Turkish manufacturer does not only know how to build "plastic pistols", as the affordable all-steel Rival-S pistol has clearly demonstrated (see our Rival-S test report). This model and the new TTI Combat are Canik's current flagships. Even at first glance, the TTI Combat catches the eye with its "Burnt Bronze" Cerakote finish, which is applied to the slide, the controls, the magwell, the magazine base pads and the grip backstrap of the otherwise black polymer frame. Another eye-catching feature is the compact compensator with a single expansion chamber, which emphasises the coolness factor. In the USA, compensators are all the rage even for sub-compact pistols for everyday concealed carry. A trend that is highly debatable.
Incidentally, the muzzle attachment is not screwed onto a barrel thread and additionally secured, but is fixed to the barrel with a form-fit plug-in connection and a spring-loaded latch. This means that the compensator can be removed in the truest sense of the word in next to no time after removing the captive recoil spring. In contrast to some other compensators, this steel version looks like a slide extension – elegantly realised! Typical Canik design features are the slide cut-outs and generous cocking serrations as well as the striking spiral fluting on the barrel. However, the successful appearance of the 120-mm barrel with square chamber/locking block and open locking cam remains mostly concealed under the slide. At around eight millimetres wide, the straight trigger blade has a generous and finely ribbed contact surface. This makes the trigger pull weight of around 1,800 grams seem subjectively much lighter. Other features include a long double-sided slide stop lever, modified in the design of the TTI Combat, a cocking indicator on the firing pin and a visible and tactile loaded chamber indicator on the top of the slide. Speaking of the top of the slide: this is also where the mounting interface for a mini red dot sight is located, with several adapter plates for different optics included in the scope of delivery.
The fixed mechanical HIVIZ sights consist of a raised, serrated rear sight and a front sight optimised for rapid target acquisition with a green fiber-optic insert. The two sheet steel magazines included are fitted with magazine base pads from TTI and have a capacity of 18 cartridges. They can be inserted cleanly even with the maximum fill level and the slide closed, while the easily removable, all-round magwell facilitates dynamic magazine changes. The aggressive surface grip texturing provides a very good purchase even with wet hands and plenty of control when firing. Only the slightly protruding magazine release was a little uncomfortable in our support hand, but this is probably an individual problem due to having "hands like excavator shovels".
Another standard feature of the Turkish manufacturer is the always very generous scope of delivery. In the case of the Canik TTI Combat, the beautifully made, robust hard case with inlaid TTI logo contains, among other things, a moulded plastic holster with infinitely adjustable angle and draw resistance, two magazines, optic adapter plates, tools and cleaning utensils.
TTI Combat in 9mm Luger technical specifications and price
Model: | Canik TTI Combat |
Caliber: | 9mm Luger |
Magazine Capacity: | 18 rounds |
Frame: | Polymer with steel inserts |
Slide: | Steel, Burnt Bronze Cerakote-coated |
Barrel Length/Rifling: | 120 mm/6 grooves |
Rear Sight: | Driftable, serrated, 3.05 mm notch |
Fron Sight: | Target type with green fiber optic insert, 2.6 mm wide |
Sight Radius: | 173 mm |
Safety: | Trigger safety, trigger-controlled firing pin safety |
Action, Trigger Pull Weight*: | SA, 1,871 g |
Weight**: | 832 g |
Dimensions (LxWxH): | 200x41x158 mm |
Extras: | Hard case with 2 magazines, adapter plates for MRDS, holster, cleaning tools |
Price (MSRP in the US): | $1,099.99 |
* Average of 10 measurements with the Manthei Trigger Scan System; ** Incl. magazine | |
On the shooting range with the 9mm Canik TTI Combat
To test the shooting performance, we quickly fitted a match-proven Holosun HS507 Competition red dot sight, which has an extra-large window to meet even the most sporting demands. Seven loads from 95 to 147 grains were to show whether the racy pistol shoots as well as it looks. We were amazed when the new GECO UTHP (Ultra Target Hollow Point) delivered a 23-mm and a 24-mm group at the 25-m distance. This was followed by the crisply loaded CCI 147-Grain FMJ with 40 mm, which delivers a whopping factor of 152 at 316 m/s.
In third place was our handload with the 145-grain H&N high-speed bullet and a 50-mm grouping. The only question that remained to be answered was to what extent the compensator would be effective. As it can be removed easily and without tools, a few drills with and without the muzzle attachment were quickly carried out. Not surprisingly, the muzzle flip was only minimally and not significantly dampened.
It is difficult to understand how much of this effect is due to the 54 grams of the compensator's own weight at the longest centre of gravity. A smoother shooting behaviour can be better achieved here with soft loads such as the S&B 140-grain used in the test or our handload with the 145-grain H&N bullet. There were no malfunctions during the 300 or so shots fired. Even with the two weakest loads, the compensated pistol had sufficient functional reserves.
Our conclusion: what does the Canik TTI Combat offer?
The Canik TTI Combat is a modern polymer-framed striker-fired pistol with an eye-catching appearance, cool features and a certain Hollywood flair. The complete equipment, functionality and accuracy are impressive, so that the pistol with a price of $1,099.99 (MSRP in the US) can only be described as excellent value for money.
