New For 2023: Canik SFx Rival-S

Jeremiah Knupp

posted on August 19, 2023

News, Guns, New For 2023

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Canik Sfx Rival S 01 — Image courtesy of Century Arms.

In 2022, the Canik brand of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic pistols added a competition-grade model with its SFx Rival. For 2023, the company is bringing out an all-metal version of the Rival, the SFx Rival-S.

Right side of the all-black Canik SFx Rival-S pistol. The Canik SFx Rival-S is a steel-frame version of the polymer-frame Rival pistol introduced last year. Image courtesy of Century Arms.

The Rival-S has all of the features of the original polymer-frame Rival. Its barrel is 5" long. The slide is ported and serrated and is optic-ready with a supplied plate mounting system. The iron sights are a fixed front blade with fiber-optic insert and fully adjustable rear. A slide release is present on both sides of the pistol.

The magazine release is reversible, and three sizes of release are supplied. The trigger is an aluminum flat-faced unit. The pistol is supplied with a removable magazine well. Magazine capacity is 18 rounds, and two magazines are supplied with each pistol. External dimensions of the two pistols are virtually identical, with the Rival-S having an overall length of 8.09”, a height of 5.75” and a width of 1.41”.

Checkered metal on the front strap of the silver-finished Canik SFx Rival-S pistol. The Rival-S’s forged steel frame features machined checkering on the frontstrap and trigger guard. Image courtesy of Century Arms.

The Rival-S uses a forged and machined steel frame and the complete pistol weighs 42.72 ozs., or about 13 ozs. heavier than the polymer-frame Rival. According to the manufacturer, the added frame weight helps control recoil and can reduce split times for the competitive shooter. A Picatinny accessory rail is machined into its dust cover. The frame has checkering on the front straps, as well as the front edge of the trigger guard. A removable textured polymer backstrap extends around the sides of the grip frame and three sizes are supplied.

Canik SFx Rival-S pistol shown inside a foam-lined black hard-sided travel case. The Rival-S comes in an airline-approved hardcase that houses all included accessories. Image courtesy of Century Arms.

The Rival-S is available with an all-black finish (MSRP $900) or brushed-chrome finish (MSRP $950). The Rival-S is also available with Canik’s Mecanik M02 red-dot sight factory-mounted for an additional $150. The Canik Rival-S comes in a hard case with holster, maintenance kit, magazine loader and all other supplied accessories. For more information, visit canikusa.com.