Austria-based Steyr last week debuted a new series of pistols designed for both competition (ATc) and defense (ATd) with a familiar feel to them.
As reported by the European gun sites All 4 Shooters and MilitaerAktuell, Steyr made the public debut of the new all-metal, optics-ready, hammer-fired pistols at a media event in Slovenia at the beginning of the month. As such, these are the first hammer-fired pistols branded by Steyr since the old GB gas guns of the 1970s and 80s.
The all-stainless ATc is pitched to competition users and features tuned 3-pound SAO triggers and heavy match barrels with options for 5- and 6-inch lengths. Meanwhile, the three ATd model 6-pound DA/SA guns, geared more for defensive use, will have alloy frames in three barrel sizes (4, 5, and 6 inches). These use 18-shot double-stack 9mm magazines, with extended magazines available up to 25 rounds. The guns will have modular recoil spring and hammer spring options to allow easy user-level tuning.
The new guns appear to be rebranded and upgraded Arex Rex Alphas, a pistol teased in 2017 and delivered to the market in small numbers since 2018. These have typically been imported to the States by the FIME Group.
Arex, based in Slovenia, has been owned by the Czech Republic-based RSBC Investment Group since 2017. RSBC purchased Steyr last year, making it all make sense. It will be interesting to see whether the guns' production line will be in Austria or Slovenia.
Price is reported to start at €999, which translates to about $1,170, not counting tariffs. As for the likelihood of these guns making it to America, Steyr has a much more robust in-house Alabama-based importing ability over Arex, so the logic on the branding would seem to point towards the U.S. market. On this side of the pond, the ATc could be a good competitor against SIG's P226 X5, while the ATd could take on assorted DA/SA P226 SKUs, if the price were right.
Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons fame, because he is Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons fame, has the scoop from Europe firsthand. As pointed out by McCollum, several of the parts, including the grip and beavertail, are already widely publicly available as 3D models, allowing for easy customization.
