The most amazing thing to me is when a manufacturer comes out with a gun that is not a competition at all.
Say the RP9.
You have had decades to get your act together. So bring out a bigger, less reliable, crappy trigger gun that breaks.
What possible outcome did they expect.
Or say the APX.
Let’s bring out a gun that knows it needs to kill the G19 to get serious attention. It needs s fantastic trigger, great sights, easy to RDS, equal or better sizing, etc.
we get a gun a little bigger than the 19, unknown if a full sized will come out, with a trigger guard so big a true compact or sub compact version seems iffy, with non standard sights, a weird mag release tab that jacks up mag holders availability, a design that jacks up RDS mounting, and a long history of failed models with little factory expensive parts availability, and less aftermarket.
They really think they are going to be a major hit?
The G19 is the sine que non of compact fighting pistols.
It already has the high ground.
You must match or beat it in size and ergs.
You must have better factory sights with a standard size already with an after market.
It needs the easy button for RDS.
It needs to fall in a family with full sized Comp/service/offensive and SC siblings that are going to be a reality.
It can’t be a 50$ per magazine gun.
There has to be some holster/accessory availability.
You can’t be the most expensive factory part history.
You can’t have a history of spotty parts availability.
You have to beat their price.
You must have a fit and feel widely perceived as good.
You can’t be widely perceived as ugly.
If all those ducks are not in a row,
You might have a decent to great gun that is really nice.
But it is not going to become the dominant model.
It may remain a little seen foot note at best, or fall into obscurity.
