Springfield Armory Operator – A 2 Minute Review – The U.S. military phased out the venerable Colt M1911 .45 ACP pistol in the 1980s, yet some Special Forces operators continued to carry the reliable and accurate firearm. Today, there are plenty of 1911 pistols for shooters to choose from, and while the platform has become rather generic and dare we say even passé, there are a few that stand out.
Enter the Springfield Armory Operator
Building on what has made the 1911 such a respected firearm, this month Springfield Armory released its new Operator, a no-nonsense duty-grade version that stands ready to deliver. This model is a 21st century take on the handgun that was developed by the legendary John Moses Browning in the early 20th century.
Notable features of the new Operator pistol include a Tactical Rack rear/tritium front sight set, rugged G10 VZ Grips, ambidextrous safety, two eight-round magazines with bumper pads, forward slide serrations and more. In addition, the pistol has everything one needs for home defense or everyday carry. It features a rugged, low-key black Cerakote finish on its forged steel slide and frame, ensuring both protection against the elements and the durability to provide a lifetime of service.
The durability of this 1911 model sidearm is further enhanced by the use of steel parts in the pistol’s construction, and that includes the flat mainspring housing; while the frame features an integrated Picatinny accessory rail on the dustcover that allows users to equip the pistol with a light, laser or combo unit of a user’s choice. The Operator’s 5-inch match-grade barrel, made from forged stainless steel for the utmost in robustness and ruggedness, was also designed to deliver the maximum in both barrel life and downrange performance.
A key element of Browning’s design was easy of maintenance, and just like the military-grade M1911s, the Operator offers tool-free takedown, while it also features a traditional barrel bushing for ease and simplicity.
“Springfield Armory 1911 pistols are renowned for their performance, strength and capabilities,” said Steve Kramer, vice president of marketing at the Springfield Armory. “With this new Operator, shooters get a duty-grade 1911 with the features they expect from a premiere fighting pistol.”
The Operator builds on the more than a century of service of the revered 1911 and its proven .45 ACP cartridge, while still equipped with the features today’s serious shooters demand in a personal handgun.
Springfield Armory Operator Specs:
Caliber: .45 ACP
Color: Black
Barrel: 5-inch forged stainless steel, match grade, 1:16
Slide: Forged carbon steel, black Cerakote
Frame: Forged carbon steel, black Cerakote
Sights: Tritium front, tactical rack white dot rear
Recoil System: “GI Style”
Grips: VZ Grips G10
Magazines: Two (2) 8-round
Weight: 42 ounces
Length: 8.6-inches
Height: 5.25-inches
The Operator is now available at select retailers with an MSRP of $1,099.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He regularly writes about military small arms, and is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.
