#PolymerFramed

Continuing the series of articles and social media posts dedicated to some of their most interesting historical firearms, Ceska Zbrojovka published photos of their first polymer-framed handgun – the CZ 100. This pistol was designed in the early ’90s and although like many other early polymer-framed pistols it was not really commercially successful, it is an interesting handgun design with several innovative features.

Steyr has introduced a new rimfire pistol to the European shooting market at IWA 2016. The pistol, aptly dubbed the “RFP” (which I imagine stands for Rim Fire Pistol), shares similar styling and its polymer framed construction with Steyr’s M9 and M40 centerfire handgun, but differs in some significant features. Unlike the M9 series, it features a magazine safety which blocks movement of the trigger if the magazine is removed. Also unlike its centerfire stablemates, the RFP is external hammer fired not striker-fired and features an ambidextrous safety-decocker, which may be a hint that US importation of the RFP is imminent.

Walther Arms introduced the PPQ M2 pistol at SHOT Show this year.  This pistol is  striker-fired with a polymer frame that Walther has directed at keeping pace with similar competitor offerings.  The PPQ M2 has similarities to the recent Walther P99 and PPX, but there are several key differences that make this pistol stand on its own.  Where the P99 and PPX were marketed more towards military or law enforcement duty pistols, the PPQ M2 is being targeted towards the self-defense market.