Posted: 6/5/2008 7:28:56 PM EDT
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Was the Springfield Prefessional ever available with the full length rail? I saw one for sale but the slide did not say professional, or TRP or anything else and the seller doesn't have the original certificate. It did seem to have all the other professional features however but was simply marked operator. Was it bogus? The serial number started with CRG or CSG, not the usual NM, WW or LW prefix. Edit: To answer the IM's it was at a gunshow and the price was $2000 firm. The gun looks new and has all the extra mags and the case. I know that the professional sold new for only a couple hundred more and that I could call springfield to buy another "certificate" but don't want to waste my time or money if it's a fake. I've only seen them without rails and the half rail, never seen a full rail until now maybe... If anyone can tell me if they made these I'd really appreciate it. |
| The Pro was/is available with a rail. Don't know whether its properly called "full length" but it starts a couple of inches aft of the muzzle and extends back to the trigger guard. The "CRG" is correct--stands for "close range gun". The FBI wouldn't let them use "FBI" as part of the S/N on their pistols going to the public. Just read an article about it today. There should be a "Springfield Custom " roll mark on the slide near the muzzle.There's a picture at this website catalog SGC. |
| To my knowledge, the professional model was never offered with the full length rail. The Operator was the only model I'm aware of that came this way. They made a pretty good looking model of this sort that came in all black with adjustable night sites, mag well, and these kind of gun metal colored grit grips that were quite comfortable in the hand. These are NOT professional models however - they're much closer to the TRP models ( in fact they may have said TRP toward the back of the slide, can't remember), and they sold new in the 1000 - 1200 dollar range. 2000 is way, way, way too much!!! |
............... first time I've heard this. As to the gun........... a Railed Professional model will have a CRG prefixed serial number and will say Operator instead of Professional on the left side of the slide. Pics borrowed from 1911forum   |
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I think it stands for Close Range Group IIRC. The Pro was never offered with a full rail. |
I've heard that as well as "Critical Response Group" in reference to the FBI's "Critical Incident Response Group", just never heard it called close range gun. 
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The major Springfield dealer in this town (Scottsdale Gun Club) has from time-to-time new Springfields which they call "vault guns. They are brand new, or at least that's what they claim, and they are odd-ball, one of a kind, configurations, or guns they get from Springfield that were show demos, or whatever. As an example they mostrecently had a LW TRP (aluminum frame) that to the best of my knowledge was never offered commercially. It was listed for about 5% less than the normal TRP. I was tempted but procrastinated long enough to where it was sold. If your piece has the custom rollmark, is properly serial numbered with the CRG prefix, then perhaps you have one of these prototypes, occasionally and randomly available from SA. |
Springfield does offer a full rail Custom Shop gun, but's it not a Professional. Go on the SA website and download the Custom Shop brochure. The Custom Operator is a PC9112. |
| This one definitely had the CRG or CSG prefix and all the professional model "bells and whistles". The seller also claims that the gun came with the professional certificate but that an employee had "lost" it. He told me I could call for a replacement or that he'd get it for another $50. If it's one of these "vault guns" is it worth the $2000? I can buy it still so time is of the essence. Thanks guys, seriously. |
The Pro is the only SA Custom Shop gun that they WILL NOT modify and still give it the CRG serial number. If it really is a full rail (not the half rail pictured) it may be a one of kind screw up that left the plant. |
| I looked at the springfield armory website and it doesn't match the "custom operator" description I see there. This gun I might buy has a "springfield custom" logo where the forward slide serations are on the one called the custom operator. It did definitely have the full rail and the CRG or CSG prefix. So, is the $2000 figure realistic or should I pass? |
| Over-the-counter retail prices here for Pros just went up another $100 to $2599---if they had any, which they don't, nor do they know when they will get them. Personally, if I could hear it from SA customer service, that the serial number in question left the factory as a Pro, and that the official cert was available for an additional $50, I'd go for it. Sounds like a good find. Good luck. |