Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021
Armscor, Inc. - Rock Island Armory – the US-based subsidiary of the Arms Corporation of the Philippines – introduces the STK100 striker-fired 9mm pistol: the best of 1911 and Glock designs for sport shooting, service and defense... with an aluminum frame?
![Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021 Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021](https://gunsweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/content_sm/public/archive/contents/pistols/news/ria-rock-island-armory-stk100-9mm-striker-fired-pistol/RIA-STK100-4.jpg?itok=N0ax4aPr)
The Rock Island Armory STK100 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol, brand new for 2021 from Armscor USA - Rock Island Armory – the US-based branch of the Armscor International company of the Philippines – branches the Company's handguns line into previously uncharted territories. As of today, Rock Island Armory is best known for being the world's biggest manufacturer of 1911-type pistols; its product line also includes a series of budget-priced revolvers and hammer-fired 9mm pistols patterned after the well-known Italian Tanfoglio handguns.
The STK100 striker-fired, 9mm double-action pistol was conceived to tick all the boxes in the must-have feature list for modern handguns that want to play a significant role in sport shooting, target practice, personal defense, home protection, and law enforcement applications. What's important, however, is that the STK100 meets those criteria... without a single once of polymer in it.
![Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021 Rock Island Armory STK100 9mm pistol – right side](https://gunsweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/content_sm/public/archive/contents/pistols/news/ria-rock-island-armory-stk100-9mm-striker-fired-pistol/RIA-STK100-3.jpg?itok=ceTfkxWa)
Rock Island Armory STK100 9mm pistol – right side
![Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021 Rock Island Armory STK100 9mm pistol – left side](https://gunsweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/content_sm/public/archive/contents/pistols/news/ria-rock-island-armory-stk100-9mm-striker-fired-pistol/RIA-STK100-2.jpg?itok=AcYg83l-)
Rock Island Armory STK100 9mm pistol – left side
![Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021 Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021](https://gunsweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/content_sm/public/archive/contents/pistols/news/ria-rock-island-armory-stk100-9mm-striker-fired-pistol/RIA-STK100-6.jpg?itok=AbTn-Vre)
The Rock Island Armory STK100 pistol is built around a patent pending, clamshell-design modular machined aluminum alloy with a fully checkered, slip-proof grip and some of the best ergonomic features of the 1911 platform – such as the grip angle and the extended beavertail, allowing for a safer and higher grip, conclusive of better control and on-target accuracy.
The frame is railed for accessories and features a rounded trigger guard; more generally speaking, sharp angles have been largely rounded out all through the STK100 to make it as snag-proof as possible. Within the frame is a carbon steel chassis with extended slide rails. All controls – magazine release catch, hold-open lever, disassembly lever, trigger with integrated blade safety – are all pretty much "Glock-style" in design and configuration.
The use of machined aircraft-grade aluminum instead of polymer allows Armscor to optimize the manufacturing procedures for the STK100 by using materials and technology which the company already masters; at the same time, the aluminum frame is still just barely heavier than polymer, while at the same time offering a level of strenght, rigidity and resistance that only metal can be conclusive of, and all in a very thin package: the STK100 is barely 31mm / 1.¼" wide.
![Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021 Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021](https://gunsweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/content_sm/public/archive/contents/pistols/news/ria-rock-island-armory-stk100-9mm-striker-fired-pistol/RIA-STK100-5.jpg?itok=ShpJGHmS)
The slide is machined from a solid steel billet, fully parkerized in matte black, and is distinctively designed and generously lightened at the front. A tenon-cut front sight with retaining screw and a rear fixed front sight are provided from factory; the rear sight is integrated in a cover plate that can be removed to access an optics interface, allowing the STK100 pistol to be equipped with the vast majority of modern micro red dot sights for handguns – another highly desireable feature for modern sporting, service and defensive handguns.
The STK100 features a 114 mm / 4.5" long barrel with six right-handed grooves and a constand 1:16" rifling pitch. The trigger pull weight ranges between 1,3 and 3,1 kg (3 to 7 lbs), which is more or less standard for a striker-fired pistol; the STK100 is 20 cm / 7.91" long overall, and weighs 820 grams (1.8 lbs) when empty.
![Rock Island Armory STK100 striker-fired pistol, new for 2021 The technical specifications for the new Rock Island Armory STK100 9mm pistol](https://gunsweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/content_sm/public/archive/contents/pistols/news/ria-rock-island-armory-stk100-9mm-striker-fired-pistol/RIA-STK100-7.jpg?itok=LBjmCKZW)
The technical specifications for the new Rock Island Armory STK100 9mm pistol
The RIA STK100 pistol feeds from standard Glock 17-rounds double-stack magazines, and will accept other Glock-compatible 9mm magazines of any capacity as long as they're long enough to fit the grip – which will undoubtedly make most shooters happy.
As of today, the STK100 is available on the US market at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of 599.00$: a pretty average price for the segment, yet strange considering that the US market in general, and the handguns market in particular, is more price-driven than feature-driven. No doubt, the full-metal construction has a role in the final price tag too.
As of today there is no information available concerning availability and pricing of the STK100 on the export market.