Great firearm designs refuse to die, and in a world of polymer and electro-optics, we sometimes need to be reminded that there are pistols pushing their 100th birthday that can still hang with the most contemporary Wonder Nines. Springfield Armory proved this with its SA-35, a modern rendition of John Browning’s classic Grande Puissance. Originally introduced in 2021, it garnered the 2022 NRA American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award for Handgun of the Year. Springfield has greatly expanded its SA-35 line this year, with the company's latest model being the 4-inch polished blue version.
Based on its popularity, Springfield has continued to add new SA-35 models. First, the company offered new finish options, including polished blue and Cerakote finishes. Earlier this year, it introduced a new model that combined a 4-inch barrel with a full-size grip, essentially a “Commander”-size version of John Browning’s classic High-Power, with a matte blue finish. With a single-action “cocked and locked” firing mechanism and modern 15-round magazine capacity, the 4-inch SA-35 offered a classic, yet practical, concealed-carry option.
The new polished-blue compact SA-35 has all of the standard features of the model series. These include a forged carbon steel frame and slide and a cold hammer-forged barrel. Sights are a front post with a white dot and a “Tactical Rack” rear notch with a serrated face. Grips are checkered walnut with a slim profile. The pistol has an overall length of 7.1 inches, a height of 4.8 inches and weighs 29.8 ounces.
The Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch handgun with polished blue finish has the same MSRP as the matte blue version at $799. For more information, see the company’s website.
