When Springfield Armory released its new Emissary 1911 last year, shooters rejoiced at the arrival of the affordable, reliable and beautiful handgun. Of course, the very first thing that consumers did after rejoicing was ask where the version with a shorter barrel was. (What can we say? We shooters are a picky lot.) The answer is right here: The Emissary 4.25” in 9mm.
The original Emissary's 5-inch bull barrel may be a little hefty for some concealed carriers, and shaving 3/4 of an inch from it is likely to make all the difference for those shooters. The shorter, bushingless stainless steel 4.25" bull barrel delivers maximum accuracy while reducing felt recoil and muzzle flip. In addition, the Emissary’s skeletonized hammer delivers ultra-fast lock times and combines with a solid-body, flat-faced trigger for top-end performance.
However, that is the only place where Springfield "conserved" anything. This firearm looks, for all the world, like a custom gun. Crafted from a forged stainless steel frame and forged carbon steel slide, with a beautiful two-tone finish, the blued carbon steel slide pairs with a stainless steel frame. That distinctive squared trigger guard gives you additional room for ease of operation with a gloved hand.
This hardy handgun is built to help you conquer even in the worst lighting. The slide’s “Tri-Top” cut gives the Emissary custom styling, while a flattened top strap is finished with 40 LPI serrations to diffuse light and reduce glare. On top, the tritium and luminescent front sight on the Emissary pairs with a Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sight for easy target acquisition in all lighting conditions.
The forged stainless frame’s front strap and mainspring housing are wrapped in a grenade-pattern texture for firm engagement in adverse conditions, which are matched with slim line grip panels by VZ Grips machined from G10. Each pistol comes with two top-quality 9-round stainless steel magazines with base pads. MSRP is $1,349; springfield-armory.com
