Almost exactly twenty years ago to the day, I stepped into Springfield Armory headquarters for the first time for a behind-the-scenes look at the custom shop and the master gunsmiths that hand fit parts for their high-end 1911s. Of course, a must see on the tour was anything marked with TRP, Operator or Professional – if it made the cut for the FBI’s SWAT and HRT teams, I needed to see the magic that goes into the gunsmithing process. Two decades later, Springfield is releasing two new versions of their popular custom 1911 – a 9mm Operator and a 9mm Professional.

Along with specifications and details on the new guns, embedded below is a video highlighting some of the Springfield Armory Custom Shop processes that go in to making their best 1911s.

Pricing starts at around $3,300.

Springfield Armory 9mm Operator 

PROFESSIONAL LIGHT RAIL 9mm – PC9119LR – MSRP $3395

• Custom fit slide to national match light rail frame
• Shortened dust cover & bullet cut in slide
•  Custom fit match barrel & bushing
• Polished feed ramp & fully throated barrel
• Springfield Custom match hammer & sear
• Fitted speed trigger w/custom tuned 4 ½ lb. trigger pull
• Tuned for total reliability
• Lowered & flared ejection port
• Tuned & polished extractor
• Standard 1911-A1 recoil spring guide
• Custom fitted beavertail grip safety
• Custom fitted ambidextrous thumb safety
• Low mount Novak rear sight w/matching dovetail front sight
• 3 dot tritium inserts in sights
• Custom fit 1-pc billet magazine well, matched to bevel on frame
• Hand checkered 20LPI front strap checkering
• Checkered Cocobolo grips
• “Carry Bevel” complete pistol
• “Black T” finish complete pistol
• 6-7 round magazines
• Custom carrying case
• Springfield Custom markings on slide

PROFESSIONAL 9mm – PC9119 – MSRP $3295

• Custom fit slide to national match frame
• Custom fit national match barrel & bushing
• Polished feed ramp & fully throated barrel
• Springfield Custom match hammer & sear
• Fitted speed trigger w/custom tuned 4 ½ lb. trigger pull
• Tuned for total reliability
• Lowered & flared ejection port
• Tuned & polished extractor
• Standard 1911-A1 recoil spring guide
• Custom fitted beavertail grip safety
• Custom fitted ambidextrous thumb safety
• Low mount Novak rear sight w/matching dovetail front sight
• 3 dot tritium inserts in sights
• Custom fit 1-pc. billet magazine well, matched to bevel on frame
• Hand checkered 20LPI front strap checkering
• Checkered Cocobolo grips
• “Carry Bevel” complete pistol
• “Black T” finish complete pistol
• 6-7 round magazines
• Custom carrying case
• Springfield Custom markings on slide

GENESEO, IL, March 8, 2018 – Springfield Armory announces the release of the Professional Model 1911 in 9mm with a new documentary-style video on its legendary Custom Shop.

The Springfield Armory line of custom 1911s are methodically built with a level of patience and precision that honors the tradition of the venerable pistol platform. The Custom Shop pistols are carefully hand-built by master Springfield Armory Pistolsmiths in the pursuit of creating the finest custom 1911s on the market.

Such fine attention to detail has earned Springfield Armory’s Custom Shop the FBI’s coveted Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) pistol contract with the Professional Model in .45ACP, and now available in 9mm.

Oftentimes these craftsmen rely on “feel,” something that can’t be duplicated by a machining process, and earned through many years of dedication to the platform.

“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,” says Springfield Armory Custom Shop Pistolsmith, Troy Schulz. “What we’re ultimately aiming for is absolute perfection.”

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