The Springfield Armory name is a proud one, rich in tradition. Founded by order of George Washington in 1777, Springfield Armory manufactured military arms for every U.S. conflict until it was closed in 1968 due to budgetary concerns, and a Congress who had lost the will to keep America strong. For almost two hundred years, Springfield Armory had established itself as not just a firearms manufacturer, but as an innovator in firearms design; sadly, after its closing, the Springfield Armory legend was relegated to the realm of historians, and the storied name of Springfield Armory languished until 1974, when Robert Reese acquired the name and set up manufacturing in Geneseo, IL. Initially producing historic military-style rifles, the Reese family soon moved into production of “America’s Pistol”, the 1911, and have since established Springfield Armory as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of this most famous and wonderful of pistols. Today, Springfield Armory produces a great variety of 1911 pistols, as well as other pistol and rifle designs, and is globally regarded as one of the finest firearms companies in existence. I own several Springfield Armory 1911 pistols, as well as other Springfield Armory pistols, and I find them to be consistently among the finest on the market, equaling or exceeding pistols costing several times their prices.
At the 2024 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Dallas, TX, I made it a point, as I always do, to see the folks at the Springfield Armory booth; not just to visit friends or make new acquaintances, but also to see what new products Springfield Armory has in store for shooters. The 2024 NRA Show did not disappoint, and as I was ushered into the Springfield Armory booth’s Sanctum Sanctorum to see their top-secret upcoming products, this little 1911 Commander-length pistol caught my eye. I could feel my pulse pick up a bit as I handled the pistol, and I think the folks from Springfield Armory felt it too.
The pistol in question was the latest in Springfield Armory’s TRP™ pistol line. Springfield Armory developed their TRP (“Tactical Response Pistol”) line as a semi-custom 1911 based on their fully-custom “Professional” 1911, which was developed for use by the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. The TRP line was designed to allow shooters who do not possess the Government’s unlimited financial resources to access the same level of excellence without breaking the bank, and the TRP pistols have proven to be very popular among shooters who appreciate the finest. This latest version of the TRP is Springfield Armory’s 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC (“Carry Contour”) 45 ACP Handgun, and it is one dandy pistol.
TRP 4.25 CC Shown in Black
First, as mentioned, the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC 45 is a “Commander” length 1911 pistol. For those who may not be familiar with the different sizes of 1911s, the “standard” (or “Government Model”) size sports a 5-inch barrel, along with a full-size grip housing a single-stack seven-round standard-capacity magazine (eight-round and nine-round magazines can also be found). The smallest commonly-encountered 1911 variant (known as the “Officer’s Model”) uses a 3.5-inch barrel with correspondingly shorter slide, along with a shortened grip utilizing a six-round capacity magazine as standard, giving up some magazine capacity and sight radius in favor of its smaller and easier to conceal size. The Commander length strikes a happy medium, mating a 4.25-inch barrel and slide to a full-size grip frame. I find the Commander length to be the best for carry purposes, as the 3/4-inch shorter barrel makes it a bit easier to conceal than the Government length, while the full-size grip is not much longer than the Officer’s Model; but that bit of extra grip more than makes up for its size with its superior handling qualities.
Springfield Armory® 1911 TRP™ 4.25″ CC (“Carry Contour”) 45 ACP Handgun in Coyote Brown.
Further, the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC 45 is a “Lightweight” (forged from aluminum alloy rather than steel) Commander-size, making it even nicer to carry. The 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC is a full 12 ounces lighter than its full-size TRP counterpart, weighing in at only 27.3 ounces. Not only does this reduction result in a pistol that is 43% lighter in weight than the full-size TRP, and therefore much easier to carry and conceal, but the balance is greatly improved. The Lightweight Commander has long been my favorite 1911 size for purposes of Concealed Carry and Social Work.
Extended & ambidextrous thumb safety, skeletonized hammer, and upswept beavertail grip safety.
The 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC 45’s frame is nicely finished in Coyote Brown Cerakote® (Model #PC9124LRCB-CC – as tested), and is also available in Black Cerakote® (Model #PC9124LR-CC),. The frame is further distinguished from its competitors by virtue of what Springfield Armory calls a “Carry Contour”. This Carry Contour has previously been seen mostly on high-end custom 1911s, and is often referred to as a “Bobtail”; the lower rear corner of the grip frame, along with the mainspring housing, is bobbed, resulting in a grip that sits much more comfortably in the palm of the hand. The Carry Contour also makes the pistol much easier to conceal, as the corner does not protrude from clothing or make the pistol’s butt “print” through clothing. The magazine well has a slight bevel for quicker magazine insertion. The front of the grip is checkered at 20 lines per inch (LPI), which is a feature seldom seen even on the most expensive custom pistols, and one that greatly enhances the handling qualities of the pistol; I was surprised to see such checkering at the TRP CC’s price point, especially on an aluminum frame. The front of the frame forward of the trigger guard (commonly called the “dust cover”) features a Picatinny-spec rail for attaching a light, laser, or other accessory, and the front of the frame is cut-off at an attractive angle.
VZ Grips® Hydra™ series grips are aggressively textured and relieved for magazine release.
The Commander-length slide is forged from carbon steel, and finished to match the frame, either in Coyote Brown or Black. The slide features angled cocking serrations fore and aft to aid in racking the slide, as well as fine grooves along its flattened top to eliminate sun glare. The ejection port is lowered and flared to ensure positive case ejection.
The 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC 45 is currently chambered in 45 ACP, as God and John Browning intended. 9mm or 10mm options may be offered in the future, but I have no knowledge of any such plans at this time. The Match-Grade barrel is 4.25 inches in length, forged from stainless steel, and finished in black for a nice visual contrast with the Coyote Brown slide. The muzzle is slightly flared to mate with the Match-Grade bushing, and there is absolutely no slop or play when the pistol is in battery. Something that I did not realize until I initially stripped the pistol for inspection and photography is that the barrel is fully-supported and ramped; also, the frame on either side of the barrel ramp is beautifully polished along with the barrel ramp. This ramping and polishing is another touch generally seen only on very expensive custom-made 1911 pistols, and is a great improvement over the standard 1911’s frame-mounted feed ramp/barrel throat, resulting in much improved feeding of a wide variety of bullet types. I was not expecting to see such a feature on a factory-made 1911, and I applaud Springfield Armory for including this on the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC 45.
“Carry Contour” enhances concealability and ergonomics.
The 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC 45’s recoil system is pure 1911: the tried-and-true GI-style “spring and plug” system of the original 1911 design, rather than the more modern full-length guide rod. This suits me just fine – if it was good enough for John Browning, it is good enough for me! – but a full-length guide rod system can be retrofit if desired, just as on any 1911. I own several 1911s with full-length guide rod recoil systems, just as I own several 1911s with GI-style recoil systems, and I’m not really particular in that regard. It is not broken, so I do not intend to fix it.
Typically seen on high-end custom pistols, the front strap is checkered at 20 LPI, and the top of the slide is serrated to reduce glare.
The sights are commensurate with what one would expect on a pistol of this quality. The front sight is steel, mounted into a dovetail making it adjustable for windage if needed, and sports a Tritium dot. The rear sight is similarly steel and dovetail-mounted, with a set screw, and features two Tritium dots. The rear sight is a “Tactical Rack” design, allowing the slide to be racked on a table or corner should the shooter’s off-hand become disabled. The rearward-facing surfaces of both the front and rear sights are finely serrated to eliminate sun glare in bright lighting conditions, while the Tritium dots glow so that the “three-dot” sight pattern can be acquired even in total darkness.
Tactical Rack 3-Dot Tritium night sights.
The thumb safety is ambidextrous and finished in black, as are the sights, trigger, magazine release, slide release, plunger tube, recoil spring plug, barrel, barrel bushing, extractor, hammer, mainspring housing, grip safety, and grip screws. This makes a pleasing visual contrast with the Coyote Brown Cerakote® of the bulk of the pistol. The thumb safety is also extended and grooved, but not extended to the point that it gets in the way or gouges the shooter’s side when holstered. The hammer is radically skeletonized, rounded, grooved on top for positive purchase, and nestles perfectly into the upswept beavertail grip safety, assuring that there is no way even the meatiest hand can be pinched between the hammer and grip safety. The grip safety also features a pronounced “memory bump” which allows the shooter’s thumb to “ride” the thumb safety while still reliably activating the grip safety.
The trigger is aluminum, medium length, skeletonized for weight reduction, and grooved vertically along its face. The trigger pull on my example is superb, releasing at 2 pounds, 7.1 ounces on average. The trigger released very crisply and cleanly after just a bit of takeup, with zero overtravel. Again, superb.
Skeletonized aluminum trigger releases at a crisp 2.5 Pounds
The 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC features an excellent set of VZ Grips® Hydra™ G10 grips. The grip texturing is aggressive enough so that they are comfortable and resist movement during shooting, but not aggressive enough to become abrasive, nor rough enough to snag on clothing. The port side grip panel is relieved for easier access to the magazine release button, which also provides a nice thumb rest. The color and patterning of the grip panels is very attractive, with layers of Coyote Brown and black creating a pleasing swirl pattern; on the all-black version, the similarly-textured grip panels are black.
Shooting the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC was a joy. The pistol balances perfectly, and runs like a sewing machine. The texturing of the grip panels, coupled with the frame checkering, kept the pistol firmly anchored in the hand under recoil. In my extensive range sessions, the only failure of any kind I experienced was a single failure to fully feed one round of cheap range-fodder ammo; the slide did not fully go into battery, but a rap on the rear of the slide found me back in business. I was unable to repeat this with further shooting using the same ammo brand and lot, so I would call that a fluke; everything else ran perfectly, from GI-type ball ammo to lead semi-wadcutter handloads to various shapes and weights of hollow point standard-pressure and +P loads. Although my pistol’s reliability was as close to perfect as possible, it is important to note that, when carrying a firearm for defensive purposes, the pistol must be tested with enough of one’s chosen defensive load that reliability is 100% guaranteed if/when “The Gravest Extreme” ever presents itself. The tightness and precision of the pistol’s construction, coupled with the excellent sights and superb trigger, assured that the pistol is as accurate as it is reliable. From ringing steel at various distances, to plinking targets of opportunity (rocks and pine cones) at longer distances, to punching paper at defensive range, the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC was satisfyingly accurate; groups on paper ranged in size from two inches down to one ragged hole, depending on the ammo used. This pistol’s practical accuracy limit is beyond my limits as a shooter.
Five-shot group fired standing offhand at five yards (fifteen feet) using Double Tap 230-grain FMJ-FP ammo.
The 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC ships with three seven-round, all-steel magazines. These blued-steel magazines feature steel followers and are excellent basic magazines. It is nice that Springfield Armory includes three magazines, as I typically carry a 1911 with two spare magazines. Additional magazines are available from the Springfield Armory Store (www.store.springfield-armory.com), or any 1911-compatible magazine will work with the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC.
Some of the best aftermarket magazines made these days are from Lynn Thompson’s Never Unarmed. If you are familiar with Lynn Thompson, founder of Cold Steel Knives, then you know that he lives his life without compromise, thus he refuses to compromise on quality and value. Lynn got tired of paying $40 to $50 for quality 1911 magazines, so he decided to make them himself. Never Unarmed 8-round 1911 magazines are made with a stainless steel body and state-of-the-art springs and followers. At only $17.99 each, these magazines are the equal to anything on the market, and sell for half or less the price of the rest. Check them out at www.neverunarmed.com.
There are a great number of holsters and holster designs available for the 1911 pistol, and most of these will work with the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC, providing that they will fit a railed pistol. Many different designs are available from the Springfield Armory Store (www.store.springfield-armory.com), or 1911 holsters can be found in seemingly-endless variation from other makers.
IWB Kydex minimalist holster by Armor Guard Holsters
“CID Slide” Elephant-hide minimalist holster by Simply Rugged Holsters
*My favorite 1911 concealment holster, on those occasions when I am wearing a belt, is the CID Slide holster from Simply Rugged Holsters. The CID Slide was designed by Rob Leahy for a friend who is a Criminal Investigator Detective (CID); it is a belt slide, pancake, minimalist design that leaves the barrel unprotected. It carries the pistol high and tight to the side, adds minimal bulk, and conceals very well. The Simply Rugged CID Slide holster is available in a variety of exotic leathers (mine is made from elephant hide) as well as decorative options such as stamping and hand-carving, and starts at only $50.00. Check them out at www.simplyrugged.com.
Still, I seldom wear a belt, as I dress in overalls almost all of the time. I have found that an IWB (Inside the Waistband) Kydex holster works very well for this, tucking inside the side of my bib very nicely and comfortably. For this purpose, Pete Cannella of Armor Guard Holsters makes a very nice and sturdy unit. His IWB holster is well-made, simple, and minimalist in its design; the clip makes it easy to snap the holster on and off, and the pistol snaps positively and firmly into place, with the tension adjustable with two screws. The holster sells for only $45.00, is available in several colors and textures – mine is Coyote Brown to match the pistol – and laser etching is available for a $10.00 upcharge. I have an Armor Guard IWB for a non-railed 1911 that has my name etched on it, but I opted for the Springfield Armory logo on this one. Check out Armor Guard Holsters at www.armorguardholsters.com, or visit their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@theARMORYchannel.
As mentioned, the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC ships with three good-quality magazines. Also included in the box is a double-zippered soft, padded nylon case with an interior pouch to hold extra magazines, an owner’s manual, and a cable lock. At the time of this writing, the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC retails for $1,999.00, either in Coyote Brown or Black Cerakote®; a bit of judicious shopping should yield a lower price. $1,999.00 is by no means “cheap”, and true, a 1911 can be had for substantially less, even from Springfield Armory, but the quality and features of the 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC puts it on a level with custom pistols costing very much more. In the final analysis, therefore, the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC is as reliable, accurate, and beautiful as the more expensive full-custom 1911 pistols, making it a bargain. As my brother Jeff always said, “You never regret buying the Best.”
To put it more succinctly, and more personally, this Springfield Armory 1911 TRP will not be returned to the maker: it will stay with me, as it is now my go-to “carry” 1911. It is the pistol to which I will entrust my life, and the lives of my loved ones; I can conceive of no higher praise than that.
Check out the Springfield Armory® 1911 TRP™ 4.25″ CC, along with other Springfield Armory products, at www.springfield-armory.com.
Specifications: Springfield Armory® 1911 TRP™ 4.25″ CC 45 ACP Handgun
- Caliber: 45 ACP
- Color: Coyote Brown (Model #PC9124LRCB-CC, as tested) or Black (Model #PC9124LR-CC)
- Barrel: 4.25″ Forged Stainless Steel, Match Grade, Fully Supported Ramp, 1:16 Twist, Black Finish
- Slide: Forged Carbon Steel, Forward and Rear Angled Slide Serrations, Coyote Brown Cerakote® or Black Cerakote® Finish
- Frame: Forged Aluminum Alloy, Carry Contour, Picatinny rail, Beveled Magazine Well, Coyote Brown Cerakote® or Black Cerakote® Finish
- Weight: 27.3 Ounces
- Length: 7.9 Inches
- Height: 5.5 Inches
- Sights: Tactical Rack 3-Dot Tritium, Drift-Adjustable for Windage
- Recoil System: Commander Length GI Style
- Grip Safety: Upswept Beavertail with Memory Bump. Black Finish
- Thumb Safety: Ambidextrous, Extended, Black Finish
- Trigger: Lightweight Aluminum, Skeletonized, Grooved, Black Finish
- Trigger Pull: 2 Pounds, 7.1 Ounces
- Grips: VZ Grips® Hydra™ G-10
- Accessories Included: (3) 7-Round Magazines, Box, Manual, Soft Zippered Case, Cable Lock
- MSRP as of July 2024: $1,999.00 US
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About the Author:
Boge Quinn is a life-long shooter, born and raised in the Great State of Tennessee. A co-founder of Gunblast.com (https://gunblast.com/)in the year 2000, along with his brother Jeff Quinn, Boge has continued on with Gunblast after Jeff’s passing in 2020. A Lifetime Endowment member of the NRA, Boge serves on the Board of Directors of The Shootists (https://shootists.org/), an organization started by John Taffin in 1985, as did his brother Jeff. Boge appreciates firearms of all types, but his soul is particularly stirred by the “older style” guns: lever-action and single-shot rifles, along with Single-Action and Double-Action revolvers and 1911-style pistols. As a former professional artist, Boge appreciates the aesthetics of a fine gun, as well as its mechanical precision and practical application. His particular affinity lies in the world of handguns, and he has hunted mostly with handguns of all types since the mid-1970s. A regionally well-known musician, Boge is also a Deacon in the same Baptist Church where his brother Jeff formerly served as Deacon, and where their Dad finished his 50-year career as Pastor.