Rost Martin jumped into the gun scene with the March 2024 issue of Guns & Ammo. The RM1C is a compact striker-fired, polymer-frame pistol that challenges models such as the Glock 19 Gen 5, Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C, and Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact with 3.6-inch barrel. However, the RM1S has several desireable features, surprising given its affordable $469 retail price. That is the same price as the RM1C. What’s especially noteworthy about this is that Rost Martins are not built overseas. Rather, they come from Dallas, Texas. The naming convention describes the RM1C with 4-inch barrel as a “compact,” and the RM1S with 3.6-inch barrel as a “subcompact.” 

The barrel shortening is not a lot, but you can see the change. The biggest difference is down below; the grip of the RM1S is more than a half-inch shorter than the RM1C to accept flush-­fit 12-­round magazines. Though a California-compliant version of the RM1C holds 10, the standard mag holds 15 ­rounds. The RM1S is supplied with one flush 12-­ and one extended 15-­round magazine. According to my digital scale, weight with a flush magazine inserted dropped the overall weight to 19.7 ounces. Aside from the reduced scale, the RM1S retains all the features of the larger pistol, including an optic-­ready slide.

First, a confession: While I’d seen the RM1C at trade shows and talked to peers who had tested the gun, I never fired a Rost Martin product until the RM1S showed up at my FFL. Everything about the pistol was new to me.

The build quality on the RM1S is excellent; that was my initial reaction. When compared to others, it seems as if Rost Martin underpriced these guns. I understand why, I suppose. They’re a new gun company with little name recognition. Generally, the first products from a new company tend to be rough and have issues. In the year-­plus since the RM1C was introduced, it has garnered a reputation for performing as well as it looks.

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While the folks at Rost Martin used the Glock pistol design as their jumping-­off point, in no way are these clones. A few components have similar proportions and appearance, but I don’t know that any of the parts are interchangeable. The Rost Martin pistols don’t use Glock-­pattern magazines, for example, and a look inside the slide and frame reveals substantially different features. 

Technically, the RM1 series do not have a “frame.” Rather it is built on a removable chassis that’s given a grip module. The trigger system inside the grip module sits within the chassis. However, unlike some pistols such as the SIG Sauer P320 Compact, the Rost Martin chassis, secured by several roll pins, isn’t meant to be easily swapped out by the user. It’s a job recommended to be performed by a gunsmith.

The Details

The 3.6-­inch barrel is hammer-­forged. The last half-inch or so sports a slightly wider diameter to better interface with the slide, and the RM1S has an aggressive crown. Both the barrel and slide are finished in a Tenifer/nitride formula for corrosion resistance, and the barrel has an integral polished ramp to support reliable feeding.

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The sights on the RM1S are steel and dovetailed into place. The front sight sports a white dot, and the serrated rear sight has a U-­shaped notch — no additional dots. The RM1S is optic-­ready, and a polymer cover comes on the slide. A steel adapter plate is also provided for mounting optics with the RMR footprint; other plates are also available from Rost Martin.

The top of the slide is flat and serrated. This is ostensibly done to reduce glare, but in reality it (mostly) adds a touch of style. There are slide serrations on the sides at the front and rear. They’re flat-­bottomed with just the right amount of aggressive texturing. The RM1S uses a full-­length, steel guiderod surrounded by a single flat-­wire recoil spring. The spring is strong since it needs to absorb the recoil forces of a relatively small, light gun.

Internally, the pistol has some neat features, too. It features a double-­action trigger mechanism; pulling on the trigger draws the striker back a short distance. There is a striker capture in it, too, that prevents the striker from moving forward unless the trigger is pressed; it’s an additional drop safety. When the striker is positioned at what I’ll call “half-­cocked,” you can see the rear of it (painted red) at the rear of the slide. As the trigger moves through the take-­up, you can see the striker move backward. When the trigger clicks on an empty chamber, the striker flies forward so the shooter can’t see red anymore.

The grip module was carefully designed for ergonomics, and it offers interchangeable backstraps. The Medium size is installed at the factory; a Small and Large are also provided. If you’re one of those people who hate the Glock grip angle, you’re in luck: The grip angle of the RM1S is less like a Glock and more like a 1911, even with the large backstrap installed.

Rost Martin calls the texture on its pistol the Responsive Grip Texturing (RGT). RGT has a fine pebbled appearance, but is more aggressive than it looks. The harder you grip the gun, the better it bites into your hand. Forward, just above the front of the triggerguard on both sides, is a curved and textured section that cradles the thumb of the support hand while shooting.

I don’t have big hands. For reference, I usually wear size Medium gloves and have thin fingers. With the flush magazine in place, part of my pinkie was hanging off the end of the basepad. While it didn’t move as I was shooting, anyone with thick fingers will probably find their pinkie slipping off. With the extended 15-round magazine inserted, I could easily get all my fingers around the gun. The extended magazine comes with a grip extension that matches the dimensions of the grip. My only complaint is that it is smooth; I wish it was equipped with RGT to better keep your hand in place.

The trigger is polymer, which has the familiar pivoting safety lever in the center. The trigger has a flat face and fires close to 90 degrees. The trigger pull on Rost Martin guns was specifically engineered to be better than a Glock’s; they succeeded. Most guns have trigger pulls at or just less than 5 pounds. Guns & Ammo’s sample RM1S was no different. There was a short take-­up, then a relatively crisp click with almost no overtravel. Reset was somewhat short and very positive. The total pull weight on our sample pistol was 5¼ pounds, measuring just above the small hook at the bottom.

At the bottom of the grip, there is a magazine well that’s slightly enlarged and beveled to smooth or speed up your reloads. At the top rear of the grip, a small beavertail protects your hand from slide bite.

Many holster makers are already offering models made specifically for Rost Martin pistols, but if not don’t feel discouraged. These pistols were deliberately designed to fit into holsters made for similarly sized Glock pistols. However, because there are so many options available, you should verify gun-fit before committing to a holster.

For Everyday Carry

Compact pistols the size of the RM1C are the best choice for most everyone when considering a defensive pistols. These are big enough to shoot fast and accurately, and small enough to conceal if you put a little thought into your wardrobe. Real-­world experience has shown me that citizens interested in concealed carry prefer their pistols to be as small and light as possible — up to the point they become uncontrollable while shooting. This is why companies like Rost Martin introduce pistols such as the RM1S.

It’s the grip of the pistol that affects concealability more than anything else — not barrel length. The slide is usually tucked away inside your pants, and Rost Martin only shortening the barrel of the RM1S a small amount (.4 inch) makes more sense than you might first think.

If you can get your whole hand on the gun with the flush magazine in place, like me, you’ll find the gun to be more controllable. It’s definitely more concealable. On the other hand, if your pinkies are hanging in the wind, that extended mag might be the way to carry the RM1S if you find the short grip is negatively affecting your shooting performance.

At the Range

Let me hit you with some observations from my range experience with the Rost Martin RM1S. As a 9mm weighing less than 20 ounces, recoil is a mite snappy, especially with plus-P ammunition. While I could get my entire hand on the gun when it was stuffed with the flush magazine, using the extended magazine seemed to reduce felt recoil and increase my control some small amount.

If you’re carrying in such a place or manner where the longer magazine won’t compromise concealability, I can see no reason why you wouldn’t slam the big stick into place. As I am an inveterate competition shooter who has never met a pistol he couldn’t improve on with a little tinkering, if this was my pistol I’d stipple the smooth grip extension on the 15-­round magazine.

The magazines are steel and numbered with index holes on the back. Inside is an interesting-color follower. I would describe it as a lime-­greenish-­yellow. The point of the bright color is that it’s easily spotted through the ejection port. This colored follower makes Rost Martin magazines distinctive if you happen to collect spares for several different guns. The magazines are made by Mec-­Gar USA for Rost Martin. Mec-Gar could be described as the king of original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) pistol magazines. 

I tested the RM1S with a variety of 9mm loads, including defensive hollowpoints ranging to include Federal’s polymer-­coated Syntech rounds. Reliability was 100 percent. The RM1S was also quite accurate, especially for its size.

A lot of critics believe that you can’t write an “honest” review unless you bash a product. Honestly, I don’t have anything overtly negative to say about the RM1S. My single complaint is the slick surface on the magazine extension. The pistol performed perfectly and delivered on its promises. It gives the consumer one more choice in a crowded market. If you are looking for a reliable, affordable, carry-size 9mm pistol — one that’s made in America — the RM1S is near the front of the pack. 

Rost Martin RM1S

• Type: Recoil operated, striker fired, semiautomatic
• Cartridge: 9mm
• Capacity: 12+1 rds., 15+1 rds.
• Barrel: 3.6 in., forged steel
• Length: 6.7 in.
• Height: 4.6 in. (w/ magazine)
• Width: 1.24 in.
• Slide: Steel
• Finish: Nitride (steel)
• Weight: 1 lb., 3.7 oz. (tested)
• Grip: Polymer, textured, black
• Trigger: 5 lbs., 4 oz. (tested)
• Safety: Trigger lever, internal striker drop safety
• Sights: Steel, white dot (front), U-­notch (rear); optic ready, RMR plate included
• Accessories: One 12-­rd. mag.; one 15-­rd. mag.; cable lock; three backstraps; RMR-pattern mounting plate
• MSRP: $469
• Manufacturer: Rost Martin, 844-­237-­2890, rostmartin.com