Caracal pistol The Caracal pistol is a series of semi - automatic pistols manufactured by Caracal International L . L . C . a subsidiary of Tawazun Holding from the United Arab Emirates . Newly arrived on a competitive market , the Caracal pistol series are the first pistols made in the United Arab Emirates . In 2007 , Tawazun Holding L . L . C . - the wholly owned subsidiary of the United Arab Emirates Offset Program Bureau ( OPB ) - has acquired the assets of Caracal International . As of 2011 Caracal pistols are also manufactured in Germany by Caracal GmbH operating from Suhl in Thuringia for the European market . Caracal GmbH is a subsidiary of the German hunting rifle and shotgun manufacturer Merkel GmbH which was acquired by Caracal International L . L . C . in 2007 . Beginning of 2012 , Caracal has open a subsidiary in the United States , Caracal USA . In September , 2013 , Caracal announced a recall of all C model pistols . The recall states that the pistols cannot be made safe , and will not be returned . Caracal is giving a full refund of the purchase price on all C model pistols . In October 2013 the original Caracal pistol line was delisted by the manufacturer . The original model line was replaced by the CP660 , CP661 and CP662 models that are very similar to the original Caracal F , C and SC pistol models , but feature redesigned slides . Development . Starting in 2002 , a team of European weapons designers and experts working in conjunction with the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces started the development of a range of modern pistols and accessories . The research and development team was led by the Austrian firearms designer Wilhelm Bubits who previously had designed the Steyr M pistol . Before being put into production the Caracal pistol was evaluated through independent tests . These tests were carried out by the Federal German Armed Forces Technical Center for Weapons and Ammunition ( WTD 91 ) in Meppen , Germany which included metallurgic and composite analysis , functional fitness - for - purpose and quality evaluation , endurance firing , environmental exposure , safety and accuracy tests . A certificate was issued by the Bundeswehr Technical Center for Weapons and Ammunition ( WTD 91 ) in May 2006 after the pistol successfully complied with the NATO D14 standard , the German Federal Police Standard and the German Federal Armed Forces Technical Purchasing requirements . These tests are the most stringent test protocols ever devised for a service firearm . By the end of 2006 , Caracal International L . L . C . was incorporated and registered as a company in Abu Dhabi . With that , the foundation of a pistol manufacturing industry was established for the first time in the GCC . The pistols were unveiled at the International Defence Exhibition , IDEX 2007 in Abu Dhabi . In February 2007 25 , 000 Caracal F pistols in 9 mm were ordered by various armies and security forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries . The Caracal pistol is now the new service pistol of the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain and Jordan as of April , 2008 . The United Arab Emirates and Algeria established on November , 17th , 2008 a joint committee in order to test the Caracal pistol for further adoption by Algeria . The Caracal pistols were originally slated to be introduced into the European market and made available to Austrian customers in early 2009 ; this was rectified at the IDEX 2009 exhibition , when Caracal announced that an export line to Italy was to be started with " the first samples delivered immediately after the IDEX " . The Caracal pistols have been introduced on the Italian civilian / sport shooters market during the 2009 EXA expo ( Brescia , 18 – 21 April 2009 ) , and are being imported by the Italian arms company Fratelli Tanfoglio S . N . C . On 15 January 2009 Caracal received an export licence from the United States , which will enable it to ship its products to the United States . According to Caracal ' s commercial director Saeed Ali Al Shamsi , the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives gave its approval for sales in the United States in May 2009 and the company plans to embark on a soft launch of the firearms in America in 2010 with the handguns selling for up to US $ 720 ( AED 2 , 650 ) in North America . Besides the within NATO and many other militaries standard 9x19mm Parabellum chambering , the manufacturer will offer this pistol also in the 9x21mm , . 357 SIG and . 40 Smith & Wesson chamberings . At the IDEX 2009 , the company announced that work is being carried on to manufacture the Caracal pistols in . 45 ACP , and that an SCHV ( small - caliber / high - velocity ) ammunition , along the lines of 5 . 7x28mm and 4 . 6x30mm , is also under study for military customers . Demonstrations . Italy . On 9 October 2009 a briefing and shooting tests event has been held by Caracal International and Tanfoglio at the Futura Club shooting range , close to Rome , for representatives of the Italian military and law enforcement communities . Participants from the Italian police and military forces included members of the Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza , the Gruppo di Intervento Speciale , of the 17º Stormo Incursori of the Italian air force and of the 9th Parachute Assault Regiment of the Italian army , as well as representatives of the Polizia Penitenziaria , of the Guardia di Finanza , of the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City and of the U . S . State Department from the United States Embassy in Rome . Thailand . During Defence & Security 2009 ( 4 – 5 November 2009 ) in Thailand , a demonstration has been held on a local range where members of the armed forces , law enforcement and International Practical Shooting Confederation shooters have tested and evaluated the different models . France . On 18 and 19 November 2009 a demonstration has been held during the Milipol 2009 exhibition in Paris . A group of representatives from the French police and their tactical units , Swiss police , German police , NATO forces and EU diplomatic security agents attended a briefing and presentation of the Caracal line of products . Caracal made 40 pistols and an unlimited supply of ammunition available to members of the specialized press and French law enforcement community members for testing on a nearby shooting range in Issy - les - Moulineaux . United States . Currently imported by Steyr Arms , Trussville , Alabama . Formerly imported by Waffen Werks in Knoxville , Tennessee . Design details . Features . The Caracal is a fully ambidextrous polymer framed pistol that features an ergonomically designed grip with a rounded butt and a grip angle of 111° . The lower forward edge of the frame has a mounting - bracket or rail interface system for mounting accessories . The pistol ' s low slide profile design holds the pistol barrel axis close to the shooter ' s hand and makes the pistols more comfortable to shoot by reducing muzzle rise and allows faster aim recovery in rapid shooting sequence . This low bore axis principle is also found in the Glock and Steyr M pistols . The metal slide guide rails are designed to be as long as possible to promote stability , by reducing torsion and flexing of the grip frame , during firing and a close fit between the slide and grip frame for plenty direct mechanical interaction between the slide and grip frame . Furthermore , the rails being part of the frame sub assembly that bears all internals , it is easier to assemble the mechanism for manufacturing or disassemble for maintenance and replacement . The pistols have a fully supported chamber and fixed iron sights featuring straight - straight - eight pattern contrast enhancements of which the front element can be adjusted for windage . The unadjustbale rear sight element is an integral part of the firing pin unit and can only be changed by exchanging the entire firing pin unit . The pistols can be supplied with grip inserts in several distinctive colours ( black , gray , green , blue and orange ) that can be used for identification purposes . The grip size can not be adjusted with these grip inserts . The metal parts receive a proprietary " Plasox " plasma - based nitriding with an enclosed post - oxidizing surface treatment producing a protective coating resistant to aggressive environmental conditions . The manufacturer claims that this proprietary protective layer method is relatively environmental friendly , is very durable and protects well against rust . There are however also two - tone Caracal pistols available with bright metal slides that did not receive the " Plasox " plasma - based nitriding surface treatment . According to the manufacturer the 28 parts and components these pistols are made of are interchangeable for easy production and maintenance . A take - down lever allows the pistol to be disassembled without tools by the user . The pistol is supplied with two box magazines and a user manual , packed in a plastic carry case . Operating mechanism . The Caracal is a striker fired semi - automatic pistol , meaning the trigger system is of the hammerless short double action only type . A cocking indicator below the rear sight indicates visibly and tactilely if the pistol is cocked and ready to fire . The trigger travel is with a trigger pull of . Safety . The pistol features a triple safety system that secures the weapon against accidental discharge and consists of three independent safety mechanisms : an external integrated trigger safety and two automatic internal safeties – a firing pin safety and a drop safety . The pistol has a loaded chamber indicator in the form of a witness opening at the rear of the chamber that allows the user to see from the top side of the slide if a cartridge is present in the chamber . Ammunition feeding . The double column type box magazine is released by an ambidextrous magazine release . Accessories . Available factory accessories include a rigid shoulder stock , a tactical front grip which can be fitted to the optical mounting - bracket on the lower forward edge of the frame , a key - locking system to provide additional gun security when the pistol is not in use , a fibre glass front - sight insert , " gutter pattern " quick sights , self - luminous tritium powered low light sights , magazine loader and optical aiming sight mounting bracket . A custom made modular holster has been designed by Sandro Amadini . Ghost International modular system holster ' s unique patented retention system GSS ( Ghost Safety System ) has been adapted to Caracal pistols . The innovative Ghost modular system with its various base plates allowing high ride , medium ride , tactical ride carry as well as concealed carry enhances and complements Caracal pistols qualities . Variants . The pistol is available in 3 variants of which the Caracal F is the basic full - size variant . The Caracal C is simply a more compact ( reduced length and height ) variant of the Caracal F . The Caracal SC has been introduced at the IDEX 2009 exhibition on 22 February 2009 . The SC model has a reduced length , height and width and is technically somewhat different compared to the other Caracal pistols . The manufacturer markets the SC model as a primary weapon for government professionals who must conceal a handgun for job related situations , or as a secondary back up pistol . According to Caracal ' s managing director Hamad Khalifa Al Neyadiof , the new SC sub - compact model has fewer cross pins giving a smooth surface , allowing for a more efficient assembly and a better quality build . The SC model can also use the larger detachable box magazines of the C and F models , giving a magazine capacity of up to 18 rounds of 9 mm ammunition . According to Jane ' s the SC model has a separate safety switch located beneath the trigger guard , rather than on the trigger itself . A special grip adapter that has been developed for the Caracal SC has to be used for using the larger magazines from other 9 mm Caracal weapons . The SC model also has a solid synthetic striker , resulting in reduced manufacturing costs and a very smooth action . The synthetic unit will be introduced to the F and C series later in 2009 . The SC magazines are offered with a standard flat bottom or a slightly developed magazine with a finger rest for extra grip . The Caracal SC will be available to commercial users by fall 2012 . A version of the Caracal adapted to high velocity ammunition like the 4 . 6x30mm used in the Heckler & Koch MP7 and the 5 . 7x28mm used in the FN P90 and the FN Five Seven would be under development . This could be linked to the desire for a neighbouring country to adopt either the H & K MP7 or the FN P90 personal defense weapon . Recall . On Sept . 9th , 2013 a recall was issued for all model C pistols made by Caracal stating : " Caracal is now issuing this recall of all Model C pistols in all markets , following the completion of a full investigation . Caracal is initiating this voluntary recall of Model C pistols because the safety of its customers is paramount . " " This recall affects all Model C pistols , including but not limited to those with serial numbers which start with the following letters : HM , AA , AD , AG , CA , CB , CC , CD , CE , CF , CG , CH , CI , CJ , CK , CL , CM , CN , CP , CR and CS . " " If you own or have access to a Caracal Model C pistol , PLEASE DO NOT LOAD OR FIRE YOUR PISTOL . Please contact Caracal customer care immediately to arrange to have your Model C pistol returned . Caracal will provide you with a full refund of the purchase price of your Caracal Model C pistol or vouchers for other Caracal products . Unfortunately , the potential safety issues cannot be addressed through a repair of the Model C pistol and all Model C pistols must be returned for refund . "