Firearm: Rost Martin RM1S (MSRP: $469)
Rost Martin released its first pistol ever, the RM1C, in 2024, bringing an entirely new company to the market in addition to its compact-size pistol. This year brings the RM1S, a smaller version of the RM1C designed for an even easier concealed carry experience. While the RM1C has seen versions with compensators, various color combinations and state-compliance capacity limitations, the RM1S is the first new overall size for Rost Martin since its inaugural pistol.
The RM1S is a solid subcompact size: 3.6-inch barrel, 6.7-inch overall length, 1.1-inch width and 4.4-inch height. Weight is 19.7 ounces with an empty magazine, and the RM1S comes with both a flush-fit 12-round magazine and a slightly extended 15-round magazine. It’s similar, size-wise to the Glock G26 or Smith & Wesson M&P9 subcompact, so it’s a little larger than guns like the SIG P365 or Springfield Armory Hellcat, but smaller than the G19 and similar pistols.
Up top, there’s an optics cut that’s designed to work with various optic-footprint plates, and a plate for the RMR footprint is included with the RM1S. Sights are basic: serrated-black rear notch and a white-dot front sight; however, the RM1S sights are dovetail-mounted and can be replaced if desired, sharing a pattern with the Springfield Armory XD pistol’s sights. Controls are ambidextrous, with a magazine release on both sides of the pistol as well as a slide-stop lever, and grippy texturing abounds to help anchor the pistol in the hand when firing.
So, why did we choose the Rost Martin RM1S for today’s kit? In a nutshell, it’s an excellent value. Optics-ready, excellent texture, good capacity and ambidextrous operation at an MSRP less than $500 means it’s a solid buy – made even better when shopping around nets real-world prices less than $450. That it’s made in the U.S. and comes with a warranty is just the icing on the cake. In the end, it’s another option for those looking for a small, polymer-frame 9 mm pistol that can take a powered optic, and more options are always a good thing.
Holster: Crossbreed Rogue (MSRP: $69.95)
We’ve opted for Crossbreed’s Rogue holster to carry the Rost Martin RM1S, and the discerning eye will note that this holster is actually designed for the larger RM1C. This is entirely on purpose, as the extra half-inch or so of extra holster helps to anchor the rig inside the waistband. While the RM1S isn’t as susceptible to rotation as other small handguns with shorter barrels, there’s realistically no downside to having a little more holster below the belt.
Constructed from two Kydex sheets in a sandwich-style arrangement, the Rogue offers plenty of customization possibilities. There’s a concealment claw to aid in tucking the rig into the body when worn in the appendix position as well as a wide variety of belt attachment options. You can order a range of options from polymer clips to tuckable metal clips and even pull-the-dot loops, and loops for outside-the-waistband carry are also available if desired. Rogue holsters are available for both right- and left-handed shooters and come in a variety of color configurations.
Accessory: CRKT M16-03XK Crossbar lock (MSRP: $85)
The last item in today’s kit should look familiar; it’s the M16 folding knife from Columbia River Knife & Tool Company. The M16, with its 3.6-inch, D2-steel, drop-point blade with EDP finish has been in the CRKT lineup for a while, with grivory scales, thumbstud opening system using proprietary IKBS ball bearings and a metal pocket clip. It’s been a favorite for a long time, with light weight and ease of operation among its many attributes.
While the M16 knife has been around a while, the model we have today has a new feature: the new Crossbar lock. This is a growing trend that I wholeheartedly endorse over methods like liner locks and frame locks, for a very simple reason: You’re not trying to close the blade with one of your fingers in the way. The crossbar lock allows you to release the blade to close while all digits are safely away from the blade’s path back into the handle.
