Derya DY9 Island
Review
Derya Arms established manufacturing operations in Jacksonville, Florida. While the company has its origins in Turkey, the DY9 models are now produced in the U.S. to support the American market, though some components or older versions are still made in the home country. The Jacksonville facility has been dedicated for manufacturing of the DY9 and DY9 Island.
Now that we have where the Derya is made, let’s talk about what it is. The DY9 is a Glock Gen 3 clone of the G19. Before we all say it’s just another clone, let’s take a look at some of its features.
It is a striker fired 9mm
Factory 10 or 15 round magazines
1.81 pounds
Barrel length 3.86”
Overall length 6.9”
Height 4.56”
Width 1.16”
Direct mount optic for RMR footprint
Truglo green sights
Now that the specs are out of the way, we see it is a Gen 3 Glock clone with a few features right off the bat that are better. This includes the optic mounting and better sights than a standard Glock. It has numerous deep cut outs on the sides of the slide that make gripping it very easy, with bare hands or gloves. It has straight horizontal lines with some angled lines on the grip that appear to be part of the Derya logo on the grip panels. The backstrap and the front strap are basically the same way. It makes for a good feel in the hand. The grip angle is not listed anywhere on the internet as I could find. From shooting it myself it seems to have a unique angle that is not a Glock. It does come with 3 backstraps and 2 magazines that are Glock type but with their baseplate on it. It all came in a nice soft side carry case stuffed into an ammo can. I thought this was a nice touch.
Let's talk about how it shot, it shot like a Glock. Well that would definitely be a lie. The grip angle and texture makes shooting it second nature. It has the undercut already on the trigger guard so no Glock knuckle. I mounted a Primary Arms RS-10R red dot on it. Mounting was easy with supplied hardware. After sighting it at around the 7 yard mark, I started shooting for accuracy after getting used to the trigger. It is like a normal striker fired trigger. The weight was around 5lbs. This is where it all fell in place. The recoil was not like a 9mm at all. It was a lot milder, it did not have the flip or muzzle rise of a normal firearm of the size. So what kind of witchcraft are they using?
It's an island barrel system. This is seen mainly on high end 2011’s or competition guns. It is a raised central section on the barrel that creates an island. Hence the name. The slide gets to move on more of the barrel’s surface. The barrel has ports in it that help with recoil and muzzle rise. It is meant to give faster recoil and faster cycling time, which improves accuracy.
I can’t tell you the exact percentage that it helped, but it was enough that it is noticeable. The slide runs smooth, the firearm sets nicely in the hand and it is a natural pointer. I do have two complaints about the pistol. One is that it is a bit wider than a Glock, so trying to find a holster to fit was not happening. I didn't want to take a heat gun to one of my good holsters just yet. I did find a paddle holster for it on Amazon. It is ok but I am not a paddle holster fan. The second is the mag well. It is stylish and the factory mags have an angled base pad on them to go with the angle of the well. Factory Glock mags and Magpul mags fit, but they will stick out some taking away from the lines of the pistol. Other than that I can not give it a bad review. If you are looking for an American made Glock Clone, that has all the bells and Whistles on it, then the Derya DY9 Island might be your gun. They do have the standard version that is not an island barrel system. You can buy it on the cheap and add the island system later on if you want.
Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points
Claim to Fame:
An affordable American made 9 mm pistol that has its roots in Turkey, it blends Glock 19 style ergonomics with an island compensated barrel for flatter shooting and less recoil.
Parts compatibility from other clones
A standard 1913 pic rail.
Target Market:
Those looking for a reliable and budget friendly compensated firearm.
Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:
Island Comp Barrel system
Caliber: 9MM
Sights: Truglo Green
Capacity: 10 or 15 rds
Grip Type: Polymer with changeable back straps
Weight: 1.81 lbs
Action Type: Striker Fired
Barrel Length: 3.86"
Finish: Black Melonite
Overall Length: 6.9"
Overall Width: 1.16"
MD Compliant: Yes
Overall Height: 4.56”
RMR direct mounting system
Smooth operation
Flat shooting
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?
Many different colors and finishes.
Link to other reviews:
Price point:
MSRP = $599
Retail = $499
I need it now! Availability:
BattleHawk Armory, Classic firearms, or your local gun store
Our Rating:
Pros:
Great shooting
Simple operation
Glock like
Cons:
Holsters are hard to find
Angle of the mag well
