When you spend as much time around guns as I do — at conferences, on the range, in conversations with fellow shooters — you see a lot of pistols. Some are genuinely exciting. Some are… not. But every now and then a firearm surprises you in a good way: exceeding your expectations, defying the stereotypes you carry with you, and making you rethink assumptions you didn’t even realize you had.
I had one of those moments with the Rock Island Armory STK 100 pistol. My introduction wasn’t in a sterile dealer showroom or a late-night online review tunnel — it was at the Outdoor News America Gun Writers Conference in Orlando, FL, where a lineup of new guns and industry folks converge to both talk and shoot. There, on a sunny range line packed with writers and media shooters alike, I got my first real hands-on time behind the STK 100 — and the experience was more memorable than I expected.
A Glock-Style Platform… But With a Filipino Twist
When the STK 100 first hit the table, the resemblance was obvious: this is very much in the Glock-style striker-fired category. Polymer frame. Safe action trigger. Minimal external controls. A design language that’s familiar, reliable, uncomplicated. If you’ve ever picked up a Glock 17 or 19, the general ergonomics and workflow feel comfortable and intuitive.
But here’s where Rock Island Armory — and by extension, its manufacturer in the Philippines — flips expectations.
Rock Island Armory is a brand that many shooters associate with hammer-fired single-actions, 1911 pistols, and traditional steel frames — platforms that reflect a history of classic American and European gun design. Those expectations are anchored in decades of history: the Philippines has a long and storied firearms manufacturing tradition, with roots going back to the early 20th century and strong influence from both U.S. and Spanish designs.
However, the STK 100 isn’t a 1911. It isn’t a hammer-fired pistol. It isn’t a nostalgic blast from the past. It’s a modern, fully striker-fired design built to compete in the mainstream 9mm service pistol space — a space long dominated by Glock, with Springfield, SIG, Smith & Wesson, and others all vying for attention.
And in Orlando, standing on the range, I saw that Rock Island Armory has done more than just mimic — they executed a platform that performs.
From the moment I picked it up, the STK 100 felt solid. Not cheap. Not plasticky. Not “budget gun.” The grip had a texture that felt confident without being abrasive. The controls — slide stop, magazine release, and takedown lever — were positive and predictable without calling attention to themselves. The overall balance felt good, sitting comfortably in my hand whether I was gripping high and tight or in a more relaxed hold.
More importantly, the pistol didn’t jump out of your hand when it fired. Recoil management on a 9mm striker-fired pistol isn’t usually something we dwell on — these guns are supposed to be easy to shoot — but the STK 100 struck a nice balance. In rapid strings of fire, it felt composed and predictable, allowing you to put rounds on target without wrestling for control.
On the Range: Performance and Accuracy
I was fortunate to put a fair number of rounds through the STK 100 at the conference range. Plenty of 9mm pistols get a couple mags worth of blips and beeps before they’re handed off to the next writer. But this one got more: we ran drills, walked up close, backed off to more moderate distances, and generally gave it a realistic sampling of use.
The standout takeaway? Accuracy. The STK 100 was simply pleasant to shoot — consistent, predictable, and surprisingly precise for a gun in its price point and category. It wasn’t just “good for the money.” It was good. Groups tightened quickly, follow-ups were easy, and it didn’t seem to mind a quick cadence.
That’s not a trivial distinction. Some striker-fired pistols in the entry-to-mid price range can feel vague or vague around the sights, or they’ll develop unpredictable muzzle flip. The STK 100 didn’t suffer those issues. It felt confident — more like a premium polymer pistol than a “budget alternative.”
So let’s pause a moment and talk about the Philippines. Firearms manufacturing in the Philippines has historically been hammer-fired territory. Whether it was classic steel 1911s or other traditional designs, that country’s output has been often linked with a kind of old-school gun craftsmanship — rugged frames, metal machining, hard kicks, and legacy styling.
The STK 100 is a departure from that heritage. Here’s a Filipino company — with decades of manufacturing know-how — saying: We can compete in the modern service pistol market. And not just compete — but present something that feels alive and capable next to the big names.
There’s something admirable about that. Not because imitation is good — but because Rock Island Armory didn’t just copy a successful formula. They refined it, tailored it, and brought their own manufacturing strengths to bear, resulting in a pistol that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.
Ergonomics and Handling: Designed for Real Use
Ergonomically, the STK 100 checks a lot of boxes:
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Modest grip texture that provides hold without grip fatigue
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Straightforward controls that are easy to reach and manipulate
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Magazine capacity competitive with other service pistols
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A trigger that’s clean and manageable without being glass-like (which is a good middle ground for most shooters)
In the era where tactical rails, optics cuts, and aftermarket modularity are table stakes, the STK 100 doesn’t disappoint. It feels familiar, intuitive, and most importantly, functional.
Let’s not pretend the STK 100 is trying to dethrone the Glock 19 or SIG P320. It’s not trying to be a boutique, ultra-premium platform with tier-one metallurgy and cost-no-object engineering. Instead, it’s playing in a space every gun dealer and serious shooter should care about: value-forward performance.
In other words, this pistol gives you many of the things shooters want — accuracy, ergonomics, reliability, ease of use — without the premium price tag that often accompanies those traits.
For someone looking for a dependable everyday carry option or a solid duty-range piece that won’t flinch under moderate use, the STK 100 deserves serious consideration.
By the end of the range session in Orlando, I came away not just impressed — but genuinely surprised.
I expected a decent performer. What I found was a pistol that handled well, was accurate, and felt confident in ways that many pistols four or five times its price struggle to match.
The Rock Island Armory STK 100 may wear familiar lines, but it carries its own identity: a Filipino-manufactured striker-fired contender that refuses to be dismissed as “just another Glock clone.” This isn’t nostalgia for old hammer pistols. This is modern firearm engineering from a manufacturer stepping confidently into a fiercely competitive field.
And as shooters — the kind who seek out experiences, test guns under real conditions, and don’t settle for hype — that’s the kind of firearm that earns our attention.
For dealer purchases visit www.davidsonsinc.com
For consumer purchases visit www.galleryofguns.com
