First Look at the Rost Martin RM1C & RM1S – American-Made Value Pistols Worth a Serious Look
Riley and I recently sat down to film a “first look” video on a pair of pistols that grabbed our attention for a few reasons—chief among them being that they’re made in America, packed with features, and surprisingly affordable. These are the Rost Martin RM1C and RM1S.
We’d seen them at industry shows before, but this was our first time getting hands-on. In the video below, we break down what stood out, what we liked, and what we’ll be testing further down the line.
Initial Impressions: Made in America and Feature-Packed
Rost Martin is a newer name in the industry, and they’re manufacturing these guns right in Dallas, Texas. That matters to me. American jobs, American quality control—and all at a street price that’s landing in the $440–$470 range. Frankly, I don’t know how they’re doing it.
When you look at guns in that price bracket, you usually expect barebones functionality. But the RM1C and RM1S are surprisingly well-equipped and feel like they belong in a much higher tier.
What Both Pistols Offer
While the RM1C is a midsize and the RM1S leans more compact, there’s a lot of overlap between the two platforms. Here are the highlights they share:
- Optics-Ready Slides: Both pistols come red dot ready. You’ll likely need to purchase an adapter plate, and while I’d love to see a few of the common ones included in the box, I get that the company is trying to hit a tight price point.
- Simple, Serviceable Sights: White dot front, serrated black rear. They're dovetail cut, so you can easily swap in your own preferences.
- True Ambidextrous Controls: Mag release and slide stop are both ambi—and not in a “flip the part over” kind of way. It's built-in ambi.
- Tool-Free Takedown: No trigger press required. Just a slight slide retraction, pull down the takedown tabs, and it comes apart. One of the smoothest systems I’ve seen at this price.
- Solid Trigger Feel: Both pistols offer a clean take-up and wall with a decent reset. You’re not getting a custom shop trigger, but you’re not getting a mushy mess either.
- Accessory Rail: Both come with one. The full-size RM1C gives you more room for a light or laser; the RM1S is a bit shorter, so check fit before committing to a larger WML.
- Striker Indicators: Rear indicator shows striker status. Helpful little details that show someone’s paying attention.
A Quick Look at the Differences
| Feature | RM1C (Midsize) | RM1S (Compact) |
|---|---|---|
| Magazine Capacity | 15+1 (2 mags included) | 12+1 | 15+1 extended mag |
| Ammo Capacity (Max) | 15+1 | 15+1 (with extended mag) |
| Barrel Length | 4.0″ | 3.5″ |
| Grip Texture | Good but with gaps | Full coverage |
| Rail Space | Full length | Shorter |
The grip texture was one of the biggest differences we noticed. The RM1S had a more comprehensive pattern. It gave a more secure grip, especially in that support-hand contact area that’s usually critical for managing recoil. The RM1C isn’t bad, but the smoother sections on the grip could definitely benefit from more texture. Rost Martin, if you're listening: take the RM1S texture and copy/paste it onto the RM1C please.
Holster Compatibility – And Good News from KSG Armory
In the video, I mentioned that we hadn’t found any off-the-shelf holsters that fit these Rost Martin pistols. At the time, that was true. They're not Glock clones, and they don’t drop into any other common holster mold.
Since filming that video, however, KSG completed a dedicated mold for these pistols and now offers full support with the KSG Armory Lexington holster.
Here is a link for the Best CCW Holster for Rost Martin guns. If you want a holster that matches the ethos of the gun—American-made, feature-rich, and fit for daily carry—check out the Lexington. It’s now shipping for both the RM1C and RM1S.
Final Thoughts
These guns punch way above their weight. I love seeing an American company building reliable, optics-ready pistols with ambi controls, modern ergonomics, and solid construction—and doing it for under $500.
We’ll be hitting the range with these soon, and I look forward to putting some rounds through them. But even just from a hands-on, feature-first standpoint, I think Rost Martin has something going here.
As regular readers know I'm very loyal to HK, even more so now that they are making guns in the USA but if you're in the market for a carry gun that supports dot optics, and is available under $500, based on our first glace, you might give the RM1C or RM1S a look.
And now, you can carry it confidently with a Lexington holster to match.
