SHOT Show 2018: Archon Type B 9 mm Pistol

by
posted on February 13, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
archontypeb_right_01s.jpg
On the outside, the Archon Firearms Type B striker fired 9 mm pistol (formerly known as the Arsenal Firearms Stryk B) looks a good deal like other duty-size, polymer-framed semi-autos. However, the internal configuraction is quite different from much copied Glock design. Developed in Italy and manufactured in the European Union, the Type B's barrel is supported by a removable U-shaped cradle that's pinned to the frame to minimizes barrel movement under recoil and allows for an exceptionally low bore axis. With the slide removed and a loaded magazine inserted in the grip, the top round is almost in line with the chamber. This eliminates most of the up-and-over travel of the nose of a fresh cartridge as it's pressed into battery. The goal is to increase feed reliability while keeping the recoil spring weight down. An extended ejector also works to guide rounds from the magazine into the chamber. 



I had an opportunity to shoot this pistol a bit during the 2018 Industry Day at the Range during SHOT Show and found it to have a good trigger, useful sights and a nice balance. But like any pistol that's striving to stand out from the crowd, I'm going to need more time with it on the range to provide a more definitive assessment. This pistol is currently in production overseas now with shipping dates in the United States projected for some time around April 2018. Specifications and suggested retail pricing have yet to be announced. For more, visit ArchonFirearms.com.

Latest

.308 Win.
.308 Win.

Handloads: A Quiet .308 Win. For Large-Format Pistols

Of the many commercial .308 Winchester loads, few, if any, are designed for barrels shorter than 16". The one that follows helps address this gap while remaining simple to suppress and light on the wrists.

Court Approves Watchtower Firearms DIP Financing

Watchtower Firearms was granted final approval for debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in late June.

Review: Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Following the success of its .45 ACP-chambered LC Carbine, Ruger realized that this platform would go a long way toward making the 10 mm Auto more controllable and fun to shoot, and a new 10 mm version was released in 2024.

The Armed Citizen® July 14, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Favorite Firearms: A Little Stevens From Chicago

"Over the next five or six years, and before I went off to college, I fired hundreds and hundreds of rounds of .22 BB Caps, CB Caps, Shorts and Longs through this rifle."

Preview: Strike Industries T-Bone Charging Handle

The T-Bone from Strike Industries is an ideal fit for suppressed applications, as it can be configured by the user to redirect gas blowback entirely to either side ...

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.