New for 2018: Springfield Armory Professional 1911-A1

Springfield Armory expanded its Custom Shop offerings in 2018 with the launch of its all-new Professional Model 1911-A1 chambered in 9 mm, providing consumers with meticulously-built handguns chambered in this popular defensive cartridge.

“I like it to look like a work of art, but I also want it to function like a work of art,” said Don Stogsdill, team leader of the Custom Shop with 25 years of experience at Springfield Armory.

Each Springfield Armory Professional 1911-A1 is built with a hand-fit frame/slide setup, into which is placed a custom-fit National Match barrel and bushing. The feed ramp and throated barrel are finely polished, as is the extractor. The slide features a lowered and flared ejection port, and the gun is finished with a match hammer and sear. The trigger is hand-tuned to provide a crisp 4.5-pound pull. The entire gun is then finished to ensure complete reliability.

Additionally, the guns all feature custom-fit beavertail grip safeties and ambidextrous thumb safeties. The pistol is equipped with a low-mount Novak rear sight matched with a dovetailed front sight. The sights are built with three-dot tritium inserts for low-light use. On the frame, consumers will find a hand-checkered 20 lines-per-inch front strap and a single-piece magazine well that facilitates faster reloads. The frame is finished with high-quality, checkered Cocobolo-wood grips.

The Springfield Armory Custom Shop turns out finely-finished 1911s that adhere to the time-tested practices of custom pistolsmithing. Each completed handgun exiting the shop is hand-built by one of the company's team of master pistolsmiths, each building guns with experienced hands for a fit and finish that machining can't duplicate. The shop's attention to detail earned them the pistol contract with the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, which is armed with the company's Professional 1911 chambered in .45 ACP.

“The Springfield Armory Custom Shop is a collection of over 200 years of experience trying to reach the absolute pinnacle of what custom 1911 gunsmithing is,” Springfield Armory Custom Shop Pistolsmith Troy Schulz said. “What we’re ultimately aiming for is absolute perfection.”

Each Springfield Armory Professional 1911-A1 ships with a custom carry case and six 9-round magazines. The suggested retail price on the gun starts at $3,295. A Light Rail Professional model is also available with an integrated Picatinny rail located on the frame. The suggested retail price for the Light Rail 1911-A1 starts at $3,395.