Arex is a Slovenian maker, and the Zero 1C is its compact 9mm striker-fired pistol. It has a 3.85-inch barrel, a 15-round magazine and a black finish. If you want something different from the usual Glock, Sig and Smith lineup, this is a fair place to look.

A 3.85-inch barrel is in the middle of the compact class. It is short enough to carry inside the waistband and long enough to keep the sight radius useful. Fifteen rounds gives you solid capacity without making the grip too thick. The shape of the grip helps keep the pistol steady in your hand.

Less common pistols can be harder to find holsters for, so check that your chosen holster maker offers one for the Zero 1C before you commit. Take it to the range and shoot it a good deal before carrying. At just under eight hundred dollars it sits in the middle of the price range for modern compacts.

This pistol is new. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for the background check and transfer.