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Caracal Held Hostage: Day 167

Robert Farago - comments No comments

 Caracal C goes boom (courtesy pakguns.com)

The correct title for this post: Total Recall. Sigh. The World’s Best Carry Gun [sic] is now the subject of not one but two recalls. Caracal issued the first due to drop-safe issues; in response to two incidences where a dropped handgun fired. The most recent recall: “Caracal International LLC has been informed about an incident [in Pakistan] in which the slide of a Caracal Model C pistol malfunctioned and broke during firing causing personal injury. We are thoroughly investigating this incident to determine the cause(s) and are initiating this voluntary recall to protect the safety of our customers.” Caracal-goes-boom pics have been on the net since late last year. Now, suddenly, they’re a big deal . . .

Caracal aims to conclude its investigations as quickly as possible. Updates will be posted on Caracal’s website to include further information on the limited number of defected Caracal Model C pistols.

Defected? Is that even a word? I rang the U.S. distributor yesterday.

If you recall (so to speak), thirty-five days ago, Caracal said they had 450 replacement Model C’s in hand. A U.S. gunsmith was checking them one-at-a-time to make sure the trigger pull was still totally freakin’ awesome. Apparently, he’s also checking the slide.

Hmmm. If Caracal hasn’t concluded their investigation, how would he know what to check for? If the ka-boom problem is related to materials issues, what good would a visual inspection do?

The kind lady at the end of the phone said they’d be sending out the guns in a couple of weeks. Or so.

Needless to say, I’m not optimistic about receiving a replacement Caracal C anytime soon—even though I played the TTAG card to jump the queue (this was my EDC.). And here’s [another reason] why I’ve got the Caracal blues:

Step 3: We will replace your pistol and return it to you free of charge as quickly as reasonably possible.

Reasonably. I don’t think that means what I want it to mean.

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Robert Farago

Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns.

0 thoughts on “Caracal Held Hostage: Day 167”

  1. Call me insensitive, but I fail to understand that after reviewing hundreds of guns you would find this Caracal to be the ONLY one that is worthy of obsessing over. And now that there’s questions about reliability? I think the term “absence makes the heart grow fonder” has warped your sensibilities. How do you even know if your replacement will have as perfect of a trigger as the recalled one? Can’t you take a different brand (which I shant name) of gun to a top notch gunsmith and end up with a fabulous trigger on a fabulous gun?

    Oh, and if per chance you thought that regular updates on this fiasco would endear us to Caracal, you thought wrong. I wouldn’t touch one with a ten foot pole, good trigger or not! Plus, it wouldn’t surprise me if all their stock is getting prioritized to support Arab Spring. Hence your wait. And regular complaining.

    Fortunately your site does great gun reviews on non-Caracals!

    Reply
    • You said, “….but I fail to understand that after reviewing hundreds of guns you would find this Caracal to be the ONLY one that is worthy of obsessing over.”

      Think about it.

      Do the math.

      Hundreds of guns reviewed, and the Caracal is the one he chooses to carry.

      MUST be a reason, no?

      Reply
  2. The early 90’s saw a “surge” in “anti-government, right-wing militias” and the SLPC was instrumental in drumming up fear about them then too. After the false flag OKC bombing was blamed on “militias,” the freedom movement’s popularity all but evaporated.

    Beware how the government handles threats to its power. The term “domestic terrorist” isn’t vaguely generic for nothing.

    Reply
  3. So more and more “radical groups” are forming because of the perception that the governtment is “conspiring to confiscate all guns and curtail personal liberties”. And the government, fearful of “radical groups” trys to confiscate guns, etc., etc….

    It’s a vicious cycle!

    Reply
  4. I love the Slogan, for gun owners. But the assignment was a slogan for non-gun owners. Nothing there to indicate a non-gun owner supporting the 2nd Amendment.
    Anyway, thanks for all you do. Even if I don’t agree with everything, we’re much better off with TTAG than without.

    Reply
  5. The funny thing about laws is this:
    They only have as much power as people are willing to give them.

    Laws do not establish morality, and the more any group needs to make of them, the less influence and authority that group really has.

    Try to enforce this and watch what happens.

    Reply
  6. I had a fabulous time testing the Caracal, and just like RF I think the sights are absolutely brilliant. But first the safety recall, and then a six-month wait with no fix and now another safety recall? I think this gun has flatlined.

    The Caracal could be resuscitated (resurrected might be a better word) by an *immediate* fix, lots of customer service TLC like free magazines, and a truly massive PR campaign to build trust and goodwill. For now, however, the Caracal brand isn’t even on life support. It’s just dead, and Caracal’s repeatedly-broken promises of a ‘reasonably immediate’ fix will only bury it deeper and colder.

    Sorry, RF. I know you loved her, but she’s gone. She’s got a hot Austrian cousin you might want to meet, after a respectable period of mourning.

    Reply
  7. Maybe it’s windier in Texas, but out here there is NO WAY wind could push a 308 4 inches at 50 yards. Not without tearing half your face off anyway.

    Reply
  8. Well there it is and here we are, some of this stuff being passed is insurmountable and will stick. Even so it is not our job to make deals but to stand up for our rights.
    As I’ve said, overwhelming urbanization, collectivization and regulation of all modern societies is rapidly overcoming all else and various regs are on the way, driven by an self-styled, social engineering elite voted in by a largely urban mob who only know guns from criminal incidents or some shoot-em-up movies.
    Therefore, as I,ve said before, its time to bring forth a list of what we what in the way of safeguards from the coming onsault.

    I therefore propose a “Bill of Rights” in this regard…..

    Gun Owners Bill of Rights

    The first of which is, of course, the 2nd Amendment itself:
    “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

    1/ No general registration of gun or ammo buyers or positive background checks. Negative background checks – in the sense that a potential buyer can be checked against a “prohibited” list – may be OK but should be done by a third party and no permanent record kept. Whatever list is maintained has to be carefully monitored for mistakes, typos and the usual junk such lists are ‘er to with easy-to-use appeal and corrective procedures.
    2/ No general registration of any legally purchased and kept non NFA firearms – all FFL records to be destroyed in due time and any government violation of this rule to be held to strict account.
    3/ Although the idea of placing the mentally disturbed on a “no sell” list has it’s merits it must be also be carefully controlled by judicial review to prevent any “medical professional” – who may themselves be “disturbed”- or believe anyone owning or wanting to own a gun is “disturbed” – to have such an arbitrary power, a violation of due process. This can also have the undesirable effect of deterring some people who could use help from seeking aid.
    4/ Any restriction on types of firearms can not fall below that of weapons commonly used as individual weapons by the military or police as specified by the Miller decision of 1939. They can draw the line at fully-automatic and burst features which can be controlled under strict regulation (as they are now) but under revised rules. If the police need over a hundred officers with “assault rifles” and 30 round mags to deal with 1 nut then why do I need less to deal with multiple criminals by myself?
    5/ No restrictions or records on “regular” ammo sales. These have proved themselves to be unworkable and useless and can only be used to compile a troublesome and misleading database of misinformation. A violation of the “Arbitrary and capricious” phrase in the Heller decision.
    6/ No more exceptions for retired police, political pals or whatever without some provision for persons with the same level of qualification and trust. This is plainly a violation of the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
    7/ No possession, transfer or technical violation, such as overall sizes or barrel lengths, to be treated as a crime without some showing of criminal intent. The sad history of some hapless or unknowing innocent threatened or actually imprisoned for some unintended violation has just got to stop – period. No Constitutional citation here. just common sense and humanity.
    8/ No criminal prosecutions for travelers passing through “restricted” states or areas who are making an honest effort to comply with the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act even if in violation of some strict interpretation of the same.
    9/ Any “Reporting of Theft or Loss” laws must be carefully crafted so as not to entrap any innocent oversight or ever to include any casual loss of ammo, accessories or parts.
    10/ No more large area “Weapons Free” zones that – in any built up area – cover virtually everything.
    Although banning specific small zones passes Constitutional muster, any attempt to use this as some end run around legal gun carry is unacceptable and in violation of both the Heller and McDonald decisions.
    11/ The carry licenses issued by any one state should be honored by all others. Although a valid States Rights issue they can be “encouraged” to do so by federal law. Basically it’s a violation of the Constitution Article IV, Sec 2 – Privileges of Citizens – under which driver’s licenses, for example, are recognized through all the states.
    12/ Whatever restrictions are passed must always include the “grandfathering” of any existing items. Anything else is a violation of Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment and the deprived of property clause of the 5th Amendment.

    The bottom line though is in the courts, nothing gets the attention of various little local emperors running their little empires than paying out huge damages or actually facing jail-time for disobeying a court order – I think some of these critters are about to learn this lesson.

    Reply
  9. I wonder if any fudds are waking up to the threat? This isn’t just about EBR’s and hi cap pistols. They’re actually coming for your favorite hunting shotguns now.

    Reply
  10. How would any of those bills have stopped Sandy Hook?

    That is the one question you should keep asking those who support your disarmament.

    Reply
  11. The sort of slide failure would lead me to believe that there’s a metallurgical problem there. Either they chose the wrong type of steel, or the steel is too hard in the heat treatment.

    Reply
  12. Notice how slavery became immoral at around the same time it couldn’t compete with modern manufacturing techniques. Also remember that “Molon Labe” was coined by militaristic, elitist, slave-drivers.

    If Sparta could fight for freedom, why not the Confederacy? Same principle. I sincerely doubt there’s be magazine limits in the CSA.

    Reply
  13. How about….? A House bill that allows that if any person commits a violent act, including vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of California wine, the wineries in the state can be held liable in civil court…

    Reply
  14. Here’s my LEO advice:

    1. Clearly identify lethal threat / target
    2. Align front and rear sights on lethal threat / target
    3. Pull trigger
    4. Repeat #3 as needed (reload if necessary)
    5. Repeat steps 1-4 for additional lethal threats / targets
    6. Wait for 5-0.
    7. Obey lawful orders from 5-0
    8. SHTF and call lawyer

    Reply
  15. I have a serious legal question. Let’s say you get involved in a defensive shooting on the street somewhere where the estimated 911 response time is approximately “your call is important to us, and will be answered in the order it was received” if not “we don’t go to that neighborhood” (in the interests of anonymity, let’s call this place “Deetroyt”). What do you do in the aftermath? Do you have any legal obligation to wait there until the police arrive, even if that’s likely to be some time after the arrival of the would-be perp’s criminal associates? Do you have an obligation to stay on the line waiting for a 911 operator? Should you leave a note?

    Reply
  16. Well folks, the vaunted NSSF just caved on Universal Background Checks. Traitors among us. Slimy quislings. This has to go down as one of the blackest days for the pro 2A folks. How can any in the gun industry justify this? This should get placed on the list of infamy for every gun owner and defender of the 2A. Wonder if this might cause some sort of fissure in the industry lobby? How can LaRue or Barrett or the brave others, support this or be associated with such an organization?

    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/gun-advocates-part-ways-nra-background-check-issue-170211612–election.html

    Reply
  17. People need to understand that if it comes down to it individuals are going to be defending the country at a very basic level. It’s in the country’s best interest for all able bodied people to be able to use and possess firearms as well as be marksmen.

    Or do we just have faith the system will protect us?

    Reply
  18. I know that this is a repeat but here goes.

    The term regulation means drilled. Specifically, Madison meant the ability to execute the Prussian manual of arms as taught to the Continentals by Barron Frederick Wilhelm von Steuban. Given the repeated failure by the Militia 200 years ago one could say that we have never had a well regulated Militia.

    Reply
  19. I bought a Bersa Thunder 380CC, worst piece of sh.t ever made. I sold this faster than a drop dead gorgeous broad turning me down at the nightclub. I think I managed to get off 4 shots without a jam, one time. I’d send the Caracal packin, Randy

    Reply
  20. Hey everyone, I’m Kephra, the Author of this article. I just wanted to say thanks for all of the support. I’m off to speak at a local hearing on whether or not local officials will send a message up the ladder to oppose the safe act. This hearing, which allows local residents to speak, was not advertised in any common medium and were it not for our local action committee staying on top of things, I never would have even known it had occurred. Good luck to you in your fights against this insanity, and wish me luck on the way!

    Thanks,
    Kephra

    Reply
  21. The 50 year rule will bring a slew of exciting guns to the 03 FFL in the coming decade. Lots of cool guns from the 1960’s

    Reply
  22. It passed the German D-14 tests so one bad apple doesn’t spoil the bunch. Glocks have gone kaboom as well……It is a great ergonomic handgun that over time via 1st and 2nd Generation guns will get better and better….Slide went Kaboom in Pakistan where they were probably using reloads in 9×21…Who knows…Great design on par with Steyr and Glock…..What,what,what. After all the same guy had input in all three designs and he’s not from Dubai. they just offered enough capital to buy the Bubbit’s designs.

    Reply

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