The answer seems obvious: no. A striker-fired pistol like the Glock 17 can’t be a 2011. It has no hammer or barrel link and handles nothing like a modern 2011. So why ask the question, much less devote an entire article to it? Because 2011-style pistols are popular, and more makers are looking for a way into that market.
Perhaps the better question is: What if a striker-fired pistol is trying to be a 2011? That’s worth exploring.
The short answer: there is no such thing as a true striker-fired 2011, but a few pistols now borrow enough of the platform’s look and feel to deserve a closer look.
What Makes a 2011 a 2011?
A 2011 is a double-stack 1911. It keeps the 1911’s single-action trigger, grip angle, and manual safety but widens the frame to accept a higher-capacity magazine, usually with a separate grip module.
A striker-fired pistol can’t check every one of those boxes so the real question is how many it can match. For more on the platform, start with The 2011 Project: An Introduction and Party Like it’s 2011.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
After many years in the industry, you see companies follow what’s working for someone else, especially if it’s popular. And it’s not just in the firearms industry. It’s everywhere. Didn’t Apple just release its first folding smartphone after Samsung had been doing it for years?
That’s one reason why the market is flooded with 2011-style pistols, especially from makers you might not expect to see in the category. For example, Sig Sauer.
I’m a huge fan of the P211 GTO. That’s why I purchased one.
But Sig Sauer already had a single-action-only, hammer-fired, all-metal gun on the market—the P226 SAO. Why did they need another? Because Sig Sauer—correctly, I might add—saw an opening. And they took it.
But what about other manufacturers who aren’t in the hammer-fired game? Well, didn’t Smith & Wesson and Walther both add metal-frame versions of their polymer striker-fired guns?
Before the Waltz 9: The Hudson and Daniel H9
Going back further, does anyone remember the Hudson MFG H9? Introduced at SHOT Show 2017, the H9 was an innovative firearm. It mimicked the 1911’s grip geometry and trigger feel but used a striker-fired system.
The company later went out of business, but Daniel Defense resurrected the pistol in 2024 after acquiring the design. That leads me to two contemporary pistols. First: the Zermatt Waltz 9 and the Sig Sauer P365 with an Icarus ACE 365 311 FUSE grip module.
THE ZERMATT WALTZ 9
Zermatt Arms is not known for producing handguns. They are a precision rifle manufacturer that focuses on high-end actions and chassis. But at the 2026 SHOT Show, they announced the Waltz 9, a stunner.
They developed the Waltz 9 by bringing on David Petta of DC Precision and using his DC9 as the base. With Petta’s design and Zermatt’s manufacturing capabilities, they built it. The result is a striker-fired pistol that accepts Glock-pattern magazines yet looks and feels like a 2011.
The Waltz 9’s grip angle reminds me of a 2011, and it uses a straight-pull, 2011-style trigger. It operates on short recoil with a tilting barrel and Zermatt’s patent-pending roller-locking block system, which is unique to the platform.
The result is a high-performance striker-fired pistol designed to stack up against the nicest 2011 on the market. I’m not saying this pistol wouldn’t exist without the 2011 revolution, but it’s certainly drawn a lot of attention because of it.
A 2011 GRIP MODULE FOR YOUR P365
The Icarus ACE 365 311 FUSE grip module caught my attention in a QVO Tactical video. I’ve carried a P365 for years and have wanted to build a custom one. After seeing QVO’s video, I immediately contacted Icarus.
Custom metal grip modules aren’t new to the P365 platform, but this one is different. It replicates the feel of a modern 2011, and Icarus isn’t hiding what they’re doing.
They’re very open about it. The product description states, “The 1911DS, legendary grip, unmatched control. We FUSE’d them. The result? The ACE 311 FUSE, full-size 1911DS ergonomics forged into the compact, proven P365 platform. Two icons. One evolution.”
That’s about as on-the-nose as it gets. Icarus built the module for shooters who want a 2011-style grip on a P365.
Now, someone who already has a P365 can swap some parts around to build their very own pistol that feels like a 2011. It’s just striker-fired. Close enough, right?
BUILDING MY OWN
As much as I’d love to have the Waltz 9, I don’t have a spare $5,000 lying around (plus, it’s not technically out yet). However, I was able to scrounge and put together my own custom P365 Macro with the Icarus ACE 365 311 FUSE.
Honestly, the easiest place to start is by either purchasing a standalone P365 FCU (the FCU is the serialized part of the pistol, so check your local laws before you order) or a P365 XMACRO. I went the FCU route and added a Sig Sauer OEM slide, threaded barrel, magazine release, and recoil spring assembly. I also added a Herrington Arms compensator and a Vortex Defender-CCW enclosed optic.
Once the Icarus grip module arrived, it was as simple as popping out a pin, inserting the FCU, tightening a couple of screws on the Grip Module, and reinserting the rear pin. Voilà.
And, I’m not gonna lie, the Icarus module feels like a 2011. The grip angle, double undercut, and flared magwell are reminiscent of the Miller Precision Ranger 9X.
This all came together near the end of the project, so I didn’t get a ton of rounds through it, but with the Herrington Arms comp, the pistol is really soft shooting. The 311 FUSE module has a nice gas pedal built in, which also helps control recoil.
All in all, it’s a very impressive package. And for someone who wants the feel of a 2011 but not the 2011 price tag, this gets you a lot of the way there.
For Safariland holster options that fit this module, see What Safariland Holster Fits the Icarus Ace 365 311?
Where the Hybrids Land
| Traditional 2011 | Zermatt Waltz 9 | P365 + Icarus ACE 365 311 FUSE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Hammer-fired, single-action | Striker-fired | Striker-fired |
| Safeties | Manual safety; grip safety varies by model | No manual or grip safety; trigger safety tab | Manual safety optional, depending on the FCU |
| Frame | Metal frame with a separate grip module | Metal frame with a separate grip module | Sig FCU with an aluminum Icarus grip module |
| Price | About $1,100 to $4,800 in the Project | Starting around $4,900 | Module about $450, plus FCU and parts |
| Availability | Widely available | First batch sold out; next batch expected in 2027 | Available from the manufacturer and retailers |
THEN WHAT’S THE ANSWER?
So, can a striker-fired pistol be a 2011? The answer—kinda—depends on how strictly you hold to the definition. While technically not a 2011-style pistol, they can mimic the look and feel. For some, that’s the most important part.
The Waltz 9 is at the extreme end of the spectrum in price and performance, but Icarus is onto something with the ACE 365 311 FUSE. I’m very pleased with it.
And again, it’s not like these were the first companies to do something like this. Hudson mimicked a 1911 nearly a decade ago. In the end, it’s less about definitions and more about buying something you enjoy and will use.
