Posted: 8/30/2026 12:06:39 PM EDT
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Short version: Its what I wanted, aesthetically, and feature wise, but overall quality, not so much. Doesn't feel like it should be a $1000 gun. Slide action is hitchy. The barrel link is gritty, and feed ramp is rough. Heavy trigger. I was expecting better? Maybe I missed it but assumed at least one plate would be included; nope; another $130. Field stripped, cleaned, and lubed with TW25. That helped the action a little. Put a few mgs of factory 147 and 124 ammo though it and it ran well enough. Federal Syntech 147 choked on the feed ramp a couple times. Going to keep shooting it and see if it breaks in and see if I can have my gunsmith slick it up a little without getting silly.  |
| Just needs a little tuning. I think their cerakote is the cheaper option finish wise and until that wears down some, the slide may be slow. Trigger is easy to polish up. Pull the trigger out and feel how gritty the stamped edges of the trigger bar are. I hit mine with emory paper then micron cloth for super smooth finish. Polish up sides of the sear, round head of the disconnector and flat on the bottom where it hits the trigger bar, you can bend the arms of the sear spring to help with trigger feel. Plenty of tutorials out there to give you an idea of what can be done to the stock parts to improve the feel of the gun. |
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I've never seen any of those issues on a Springfield 1911, but I've also never owned/handled/shot a cerakoted one, so for some of those issues, I wonder if a break in is required (slide being "hitchy," maybe the barrel link if it is only gritty assembled, maybe even the trigger pull being on the heavier side depending if and where the cerakote has high spots). In terms of the barrel link (if gritty when field stripped) and the feed ramp, that sounds unacceptable to me. I would consider having Springfield take a look at those issues. In terms of the trigger pull, what do you consider heavy? Do you have a trigger pull weight gauge and could you please provide the weight? For example, my Mil Spec defender (their absolutely cheapest 1911) has a trigger pull weight of 5 lbs. From what I've read if it's between 4.5 and 6 lbs on a production gun, that's fairly reasonable. |
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Nice pistol op. My local gun shop has a display case full of Springfield guns described as "vault" guns that were used as trade show demonstrators. Today I bought one of the vault guns, a 5" Emissary .45 two tone. The slide is blued and stainless frame, not cerakoted. It isn't the optics cut model but was only $699 and tax free holiday till December here. Everything is smooth on this one. I hope yours comes around for you. |