The New STK100 – Rock Island Armory’s First Striker Fired 9mm Pistol

Rock Island Armory has finally released something that is sure to please more than just the 1911 crowd this time around. The new STK100 Striker Fired pistol is very similar to polymer wonder nines currently on the market but has the distinct difference of featuring an aluminum frame. RIA claims that the aluminum frame is just as light but provides shooters with less flex in the frame and therefore better accuracy downrange. The new STK100 is set to release Thursday, June 17th and there will be a special launch presentation by the CEO of Armscor where your questions can be answered in a live Q&A Session.

The New STK100 – Rock Island Armory’s First Striker Fired 9mm Pistol

STK100 Specifications:

• CALIBER: 9MM
• CAPACITY: 17
• BARREL: 4.5″
• OVERALL LENGTH: 7.91″
• OVERALL WIDTH: 1.25″
• OVERALL HEIGHT: 5.16″
• WEIGHT: 1.80LBS
• FRONT SIGHT: TENON CUT W/ RETAINING SCREW
• REAR SIGHT: FIXED INTEGRATED ON OPTIC COVER PLATE
• GRIPS: ALUMINUM (INTEGRATED ON FRAME)
• FINISH: BLACK ANODIZED
• ACTION: SEMI-AUTOMATIC
• TRIGGER PULL: 3-7LBS
• PURPOSE: PERSONAL PROTECTION, RECREATIONAL SHOOTING

So let’s go over this new pistol from front to back. At the very front we can already see some major improvements have been made over your standard double-stack 9mm polymer-framed striker-fired pistol. the STK100 features lightning cuts and forward slide serrations as well. While I’m not partial to forward slide serrations I can see that they do work very well for those with weaker hand strength who would like to do press checks. Second, we come to the bottom side features a Picatinny rail equipped dust cover which should, in my opinion, be standard on all new production firearms. Even if you don’t end up using it it’s always nice to have the option there. The grip as stated in the specifications above is made from aluminum and looks to be nicely anodized to match the parkerized slide. The pistol features an extended beavertail as well as a slide that is pre-cut to accept a carry optic.

Hopefully, we will learn much more on Thursday about the new pistol. In particular, I’d like to know what red dot optic the slide is cut for and what a “3-7lb trigger pull” exactly is. Did RIA just drop an adjustable trigger with their new gun right from the factory? The new pistol is supposedly going to have an MSRP of $599 which will make it one of the more affordable Glock-pattern pistols on the market but with quite a few improvements over the standard design.