NRA Gun of the Week: Springfield Custom Professional 1911-A1 Pistol

by
posted on April 27, 2019
** 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. **
It was in the mid 1990s when the FBI sought to re-arm its special teams with a high-quality 1911. Of the companies pursing the exclusive contract, Springfield Armory stood on top, meeting the stringent requests of the Bureau for accuracy and reliability. These contract guns, built by Springfield’s Custom Shop, soon became available to the commercial market and one example is subject of this week’s review. The Springfield Armory Custom Shop Professional 1911-A1 chambered for 9 mm Luger, features match-grade, hand-fit parts wearing a Black “T” finish. Cocobolo stocks and checkering placed on the front and back straps allow for positive purchase, while Novak and Trjicon tritium sights aid accurate shots on paper from the 5" barrel. For more, watch this NRA Gun of the Week hosted by American Rifleman's Joe Kurtenbach.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
Model: Springfield Custom Professional 1911-A1
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic center-fire pistol
Frame: National Match; steel
Slide: stainless steel
Barrel: 5”
Finish: Black T
Sights: Novak three-dot; Trijicon Tritium
Trigger: 4-lb., 9-oz. pull
Magazine: 10-round detachable box
Weight: 39 ozs. (empty)
MSRP: $3,363

Additional Reading:
Video—ARTV Review: Springfield EMP4 9 mm Luger Pistol
Tested: Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 6" 10 mm RMR
NRA Gun of the Week: Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 5" Tactical Model Pistol
The U.S. “.45 Automatics”















Latest

Taurus TX22 Brace 01
Taurus TX22 Brace 01

Stable Fun: The Taurus Brace-Ready TX22

Taurus USA first adopted the ideal of a brace-ready format for a traditional handgun in its GX4 Strike Bravo, and now, the company is extending that concept to its TX22 rimfire handgun.

I Have This Old Gun: The Whitney Navy Revolver

One of the lesser-known revolvers from the Civil War era, the Whitney Navy revolver had several notable features and even inspired a copycat in the Confederacy.

Standing Guard | A Midterm Case for Freedom

Being right isn’t inevitably a winning argument. If it were, the gun-control left would never win again, as all the data shows that arresting and prosecuting criminals, not going after law-abiding citizens’ guns, is what makes violent crime drop.

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.