I purchased a Canik TP-9 through a licensed federally licensed firearms dealer. The gun was dangerous as it continually hang-fired. About every third or forth shot. I'd pull the trigger and 3-5 seconds later the gun discharged. A few times I pulled the trigger, the gun would not fire but if I tapped it or started to pull slide rearward it fired.
I called Century three times. Each time I was promised a return call from somebody in their gunsmithing dept. Never receiving the return call. I contacted the distributer that sold it to my dealer. The distributer gave me a back door number. Calling the other number twice just got me the same promise of a return call that never came. I have 24 hour voice mail and also left Century my cell number. The distributer realizing the possible liability from a dangerous firearm agreed to exchange it.
I cruised the net and found similar and numerous other complaints about Century's warranty service. Many internet posters on different gun boards claim firearms are returned to the customer not repaired or as in my case the return call never comes. I believe there are other reports on Century but with their various names there may be some confusion.
My complaint is not in regards to Canik brand firearms. The replacement and two other Canik firearms I own are excellent and operate perfectly. The problem with my first TP-9 was due to manufacturing residue caught in the firing pin. Not having the skills to make the repair myself it should have been repaired by Century as the pistol has a one year warranty. Possibly if Century had just once out of five promises returned my call. It may have been an easy fix. It was simply to dangerous for myself to attempt the repair.
Due to ATF and USPS regulations. I could not simply mail the firearm back to the distributer. I had to pay a federally licensed firearms dealer to ship the pistol. I had to pay the dealer to process the federal paper work and postage. I got a replacement item but had to pay in excess of $80.00 in fees to the licensed dealer to process the return and another fee to process paperwork and back ground check for the replacement pistol.
I ordered a Century Arms pistol from Centerfire Systems (Centerfire Systems is an excellent service oriented company I highly recomend) that was not simply defective but very dangerous to shoot. The Canik Model TP-9 striker or firing pin was sticky. Upon disassembly it appeared as though there was some machining debris in the striker's spring and inside the channel the pin resides. I did my best to clear the debris but discovered it would take the services of a gunsmith to remove the pin and properly remove the debris.
The sticky pin was causing 3-5 second hang-fires. Adding a few drops of oil improved the shooting but I could still feel a very slight delay. On my third mag the pin began stiking again. I held the muzzle down range for apx 30 seconds after pulling the trigger and nothing happened. The very moment I began pulling the slide rearward, bang. I tried firing the pistol one more time and got the same result. Apparently the striker was sticking and the moment the slide is pulled the striker is released.
Realiziing I had a serious accident waiting to happen I discontinued shooting it. The moment I got home from the shooting range I called Century. I asked the female operator for a return authorization number. She told me she did not have the authority and would transfer me to their gunsmithing department. I waited on hold for apx 10 minutes, didn't get an answer so I hung up and called back. When I called back I got a recording indicating they were closed for the day.
I called early the next morning and asked to speak to somebody in their gunsmithing dept. The female operator told me "we do not have a gunsmithing dept". I explained the problem again, told her of being put on hold the day prior and not getting a response. "oh you need to speak to one of our gunsmiths, please hold". I was again left hanging for about 10 minutes before calling back. Rather than explaining the entire situation again I told the operator I was left hanging on the phone for the gunsmith. I streched the truth saying we were cut off and the call dropped. She told me "sorry but he had to leave early today but I will have him call you tomorrow". The operator either hung up or disconnected the call as I was giving her my name and phone number. I called back again, pretty sure I got the same phone operator but briefly explained problem and that we were discinnected before I gave her my number. She took my name and number telling me he will call me the following day.
As expected I never got the return call so the next day I called agin. Explained the entire situation with the dangerouos pistol and failed attempts to get the gunsmith for a return authorization number. The operator explained the gunsmuuth was backed up on calls and assured me he would call. At my insistance I had her take my name and number again. Waiting two days, never getting the return call or being able to get through to the person that can authorize a return. I called Centerfire Systems asking if they had another phone number I could call to get a return authorization. Centerfire gave me two differnt phone numbers referring to them as distributer back door lines.
I called both numbers and explained the run-around, lack of return calls and having a dangerous to shoot pistol. The first back door number got me another promise of a return call. The second number I got another female voice but I was sure that this time it was not the same operator I had previously talked with. I told her please don't transfer me to the gunsmith telling her after several attempts nobody ever picks it up. I told her of being promised numerous times a return call that never comes. she proved herself to be knowledgable of guns asking several questions as I explained the malfuntion. Her response was "that don't sound like one of ours, does it say Century Arms on it". I told her I'm looking at it while we speak and it has a large CAI stamped on the slide. She then asked for the serial number and where it was purchased. She responded telling me "thats not one of ours". I again told her it has CAI stamped on it and about halfway through repeating the serial number the call disconnected. I believe she hung up. I immedialtely called back and the phone just rang, no answer. I waited about 5 minutes, this time calling from my cell knowing a different name would show on the caller ID. A male voice answered and after I explained. I got the she's away from her desk but I will have her call you back shortly. As you probably guessed the call was never returned.
I again contacted a salesman named Bill at Centerfire Systems. Bill although very polite and helpful I could tell by the tone of his voice he was really ticked off at Century Arms. "They're pretty good about that" Bill said about the lack of promised return calls. Bill told me to give him a day or two to see what he could do. Bill promptly returned my call the following day. Bill told me he would take it back and exchange it.
Have to say I'm fond of Centerfire Systems as I received another pistol 7 days from the day I sent the defective one. Centerfire apparently paid extra to have it shipped expeditiously. The replacement pistol had 250 rounds through it and not a single hick-up. The Canik TP-9 is a great pistol but unfortunately the first one I got simply had some debris or something causing the striker to jam up.
Century International Arms Inc Reviews
I purchased a Canik TP-9 through a licensed federally licensed firearms dealer. The gun was dangerous as it continually hang-fired. About every third or forth shot. I'd pull the trigger and 3-5 seconds later the gun discharged. A few times I pulled the trigger, the gun would not fire but if I tapped it or started to pull slide rearward it fired.
I called Century three times. Each time I was promised a return call from somebody in their gunsmithing dept. Never receiving the return call. I contacted the distributer that sold it to my dealer. The distributer gave me a back door number. Calling the other number twice just got me the same promise of a return call that never came. I have 24 hour voice mail and also left Century my cell number. The distributer realizing the possible liability from a dangerous firearm agreed to exchange it.
I cruised the net and found similar and numerous other complaints about Century's warranty service. Many internet posters on different gun boards claim firearms are returned to the customer not repaired or as in my case the return call never comes. I believe there are other reports on Century but with their various names there may be some confusion.
My complaint is not in regards to Canik brand firearms. The replacement and two other Canik firearms I own are excellent and operate perfectly. The problem with my first TP-9 was due to manufacturing residue caught in the firing pin. Not having the skills to make the repair myself it should have been repaired by Century as the pistol has a one year warranty. Possibly if Century had just once out of five promises returned my call. It may have been an easy fix. It was simply to dangerous for myself to attempt the repair.
Due to ATF and USPS regulations. I could not simply mail the firearm back to the distributer. I had to pay a federally licensed firearms dealer to ship the pistol. I had to pay the dealer to process the federal paper work and postage. I got a replacement item but had to pay in excess of $80.00 in fees to the licensed dealer to process the return and another fee to process paperwork and back ground check for the replacement pistol.
I ordered a Century Arms pistol from Centerfire Systems (Centerfire Systems is an excellent service oriented company I highly recomend) that was not simply defective but very dangerous to shoot. The Canik Model TP-9 striker or firing pin was sticky. Upon disassembly it appeared as though there was some machining debris in the striker's spring and inside the channel the pin resides. I did my best to clear the debris but discovered it would take the services of a gunsmith to remove the pin and properly remove the debris.
The sticky pin was causing 3-5 second hang-fires. Adding a few drops of oil improved the shooting but I could still feel a very slight delay. On my third mag the pin began stiking again. I held the muzzle down range for apx 30 seconds after pulling the trigger and nothing happened. The very moment I began pulling the slide rearward, bang. I tried firing the pistol one more time and got the same result. Apparently the striker was sticking and the moment the slide is pulled the striker is released.
Realiziing I had a serious accident waiting to happen I discontinued shooting it. The moment I got home from the shooting range I called Century. I asked the female operator for a return authorization number. She told me she did not have the authority and would transfer me to their gunsmithing department. I waited on hold for apx 10 minutes, didn't get an answer so I hung up and called back. When I called back I got a recording indicating they were closed for the day.
I called early the next morning and asked to speak to somebody in their gunsmithing dept. The female operator told me "we do not have a gunsmithing dept". I explained the problem again, told her of being put on hold the day prior and not getting a response. "oh you need to speak to one of our gunsmiths, please hold". I was again left hanging for about 10 minutes before calling back. Rather than explaining the entire situation again I told the operator I was left hanging on the phone for the gunsmith. I streched the truth saying we were cut off and the call dropped. She told me "sorry but he had to leave early today but I will have him call you tomorrow". The operator either hung up or disconnected the call as I was giving her my name and phone number. I called back again, pretty sure I got the same phone operator but briefly explained problem and that we were discinnected before I gave her my number. She took my name and number telling me he will call me the following day.
As expected I never got the return call so the next day I called agin. Explained the entire situation with the dangerouos pistol and failed attempts to get the gunsmith for a return authorization number. The operator explained the gunsmuuth was backed up on calls and assured me he would call. At my insistance I had her take my name and number again. Waiting two days, never getting the return call or being able to get through to the person that can authorize a return. I called Centerfire Systems asking if they had another phone number I could call to get a return authorization. Centerfire gave me two differnt phone numbers referring to them as distributer back door lines.
I called both numbers and explained the run-around, lack of return calls and having a dangerous to shoot pistol. The first back door number got me another promise of a return call. The second number I got another female voice but I was sure that this time it was not the same operator I had previously talked with. I told her please don't transfer me to the gunsmith telling her after several attempts nobody ever picks it up. I told her of being promised numerous times a return call that never comes. she proved herself to be knowledgable of guns asking several questions as I explained the malfuntion. Her response was "that don't sound like one of ours, does it say Century Arms on it". I told her I'm looking at it while we speak and it has a large CAI stamped on the slide. She then asked for the serial number and where it was purchased. She responded telling me "thats not one of ours". I again told her it has CAI stamped on it and about halfway through repeating the serial number the call disconnected. I believe she hung up. I immedialtely called back and the phone just rang, no answer. I waited about 5 minutes, this time calling from my cell knowing a different name would show on the caller ID. A male voice answered and after I explained. I got the she's away from her desk but I will have her call you back shortly. As you probably guessed the call was never returned.
I again contacted a salesman named Bill at Centerfire Systems. Bill although very polite and helpful I could tell by the tone of his voice he was really ticked off at Century Arms. "They're pretty good about that" Bill said about the lack of promised return calls. Bill told me to give him a day or two to see what he could do. Bill promptly returned my call the following day. Bill told me he would take it back and exchange it.
Have to say I'm fond of Centerfire Systems as I received another pistol 7 days from the day I sent the defective one. Centerfire apparently paid extra to have it shipped expeditiously. The replacement pistol had 250 rounds through it and not a single hick-up. The Canik TP-9 is a great pistol but unfortunately the first one I got simply had some debris or something causing the striker to jam up.