I purchased a Springfield Armory SA-35 when they first came out. Soon dumped it when I experienced the Failure to Eject issues. I’m just plain gaga for the new SA-35 4 inch! My favorite handgun platform (Hi Power) in a smaller “Commander “ sized version for concealed carry. Has Springfield Armory fixed the problems with the SA-35? I’m willing to chance the possibility of problems in order to get what I consider to be an ideal carry weapon. Even if I have to invest in new springs, extractors, etc… Just hoping that it functions well out of the box. Need to see if they are yet available in our area.
Springfield SA-35
- Thread starter otis24
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I have a newer "original" SA35. I bought it a few months ago. I do not have near the 800-1100 rd through it, reported to be the range of breakage. So I am still waiting to see myself. But for 400 or so rd, it has been fantastic. A buddy of mine has a SA35 with a s/n that is later than mine, did manage to break his extractor by dropping the slide on a chambered round. While that is generally considered a no-no, doing it one time should not have been a problem. He replaced it with an Apex extractor. I bought an Apex extractor as well, but I wanted to see how long the factory part lasts. If it breaks, the $20 part (IIRC) is already in house...
Eric300
Member
Wow, what a coincidence! I just got a call a few minutes ago today (Monday, 13 April) from my LGS that my SA-35 4" that I ordered last Thursday just came in! It's going on 1600 hrs. right now, so I guess I'll have to pick it up tomorrow.
OP
Can you share with us the price they are going for?
I paid $700 for mine, which isn’t all that great. But it was a “deal” because it was a package that came with three additional factory magazines for a total of four.
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A friend sent me a link to this pistol, saying it is new style of 1911. 
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Eric300
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That sounds like a good price to me. I think I was told $769 + tax and it comes with only 1 mag. I'll be on my way to pick it up in about 1 1/2 hrs. (1230 hrs.) The LGS is about a 50 min. drive (Jackson, Michigan). I'll post the exact price along with a few pics after I get back home.
Eric300
Member
That's a joke, right? LOL Good one!!A friend sent me a link to this pistol, saying it is new style a 1911.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Springfield discovered and corrected the extractor issue early on. I've never had a problem with mine. 
I'm really attracted to the new 4" pistol and will likely buy one. But I'm really wanting it in a lightweight version.
I'm really attracted to the new 4" pistol and will likely buy one. But I'm really wanting it in a lightweight version.
Bevo84
Member
I just bought this one, waiting for it to be shipped to me. It's only had a couple of magazines through it. Coming with three mags, grips shown plus the factory originals. BHSpringSolutions made 11 or 12 youtube videos testing and "improving" a SA-35 starting in Nov. 2021. They sell several kits to "improve" and modify the gun.
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That's a joke, right? LOL Good one!!
. No not a joke. A real text. He said it looks like a 1911 but with modern features. He is a 55 year old new shooter. He has some catching up to do. He treats me like gun Wikipedia.
. His texts are always entertaining.I don’t give him a hard time because I don’t want him to stop asking questions.
He asks how I know so much about guns?
I tell him when we were kids and he was reading comic books I was reading every gun magazine I could find.
I bought my SA-35 in August 2023. By that time, they evidently fixed any early problems. Although a sample of one, mine has never hiccuped. Fully reliable.
Eric300
Member
Well, here's a kick in the teeth. Drove 50 minutes to pick-up my SA-35 COMPACT, like I reiterated a half dozen times to the guy on the phone when he ordered it. "Make sure it's the one with the 4" barrel." So I get there and they bring it out.......you guessed it, it's the full-size SA-35! What could I do? At least they were apologetic about the mistake. Got home a little after 1500 hrs. a little bummed out. Oh well, now the wait continues.
Almost identical for me. Same time frame, no real problems. The trigger is a bit icky but it’s getting better every time I shoot it. I have no complaints. I probably should say that my gun has had nothing but Federal AE ball ammo. No fancy $1/shot stuff.
I guess it kinda is.....Just a hundred + years late on the revision.A friend sent me a link to this pistol, saying it is new style of 1911.
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Not really, Browning started on this design over 100 years ago too, he was working with FN, after his death the design was finished by others.
This Springfield is a clone of a Browning HiPower not really a 1911 variant, more of a completely separate project.
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I understand that...
But if you look from the scope of "newer" designs, the HP is still an improved double stacked version that rhymes with a 1911 because of the same designer.
The guy didn't know he was making a unobstructed "modern" observation from the same designer from just a few years later.
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Sorry I was editing. My first post when you quoted me.
I only responded to your post because you said the revisions were a hundred years later. When it was actually developed soon after the 1911, JMB’s involvement was apparently minimal (by some accounts).
I just think it was a departure from the 1911 design not an improvement or modification. The 2 guns have very little in common.
Truth is they had to have very little in common, Colt owned the 1911, JMB couldn’t just hand it over to his new employer.
If you look at the parts diagrams it’s obvious they are very different designs.
I only responded to your post because you said the revisions were a hundred years later. When it was actually developed soon after the 1911, JMB’s involvement was apparently minimal (by some accounts).
I just think it was a departure from the 1911 design not an improvement or modification. The 2 guns have very little in common.
Truth is they had to have very little in common, Colt owned the 1911, JMB couldn’t just hand it over to his new employer.
If you look at the parts diagrams it’s obvious they are very different designs.
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Bevo84
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The Hi-Power is an evolution and simplified version of the 1911. It doesn't have the grip safety or a barrel bushing. The same man invented both.
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They are as similar to each other as a poptart chewed into the shape of a gun.
Different triggers, different barrel systems, different springs, no common parts whatsoever.
Just because he invented both doesn’t mean they are related designs. Colt owned the patent to the 1911. They wouldn’t have allowed FN to infringe on their design.
The 1900, 1905, 1906, 1909, 1911 & 1911A1 are all clearly related.
The Hipower is a clear departure in design.
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Bevo84
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A poptart that shares a single-action, locked-breech, short-recoil system
huntsman22
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You handle it like a pro. I'm sure he's absorbing everything you teach him.
He is a 55 year old new shooter. He has some catching up to do. He treats me like gun Wikipedia.
I don’t give him a hard time because I don’t want him to stop asking questions.
He asks how I know so much about guns?
I tell him when we were kids and he was reading comic books I was reading every gun magazine I could find.
I got a NIB 4.75" back in November 23. Paid 695 then. Only came with one mag, and it took some searching to find a couple more back then, but eventually found two.
Haven't had one problem with this one. Probably only got around 400-500 rounds through it, but it has handled every kind of ammo I stuffed in it.
Only change(s) I have made is I got a set of Pachmyar Rosewoods (they are a little flatter on the sides and a tad smaller that fit my hands better) and I painted the whole front sight orange (the dot was fine but the 79 year old eyes had a little problem seeing it).
I only have 2 9mms. This one and a RIA 1911. The RIA is nice; stainless, full size, shoots well, but its heavy. The SA is better. Something about the feel of it, and the fact that it's lighter at the muzzle than the RIA makes it feel supurb.
Definitely my favorite 9.
If I would be inclined to let one of them go.......it is NOT the SA35. Not for any price........well..... if there were at least 4 numbers in front of the decimal and the first one was higher than 1 I might be tempted.
Haven't had one problem with this one. Probably only got around 400-500 rounds through it, but it has handled every kind of ammo I stuffed in it.
Only change(s) I have made is I got a set of Pachmyar Rosewoods (they are a little flatter on the sides and a tad smaller that fit my hands better) and I painted the whole front sight orange (the dot was fine but the 79 year old eyes had a little problem seeing it).
I only have 2 9mms. This one and a RIA 1911. The RIA is nice; stainless, full size, shoots well, but its heavy. The SA is better. Something about the feel of it, and the fact that it's lighter at the muzzle than the RIA makes it feel supurb.
Definitely my favorite 9.
If I would be inclined to let one of them go.......it is NOT the SA35. Not for any price........well..... if there were at least 4 numbers in front of the decimal and the first one was higher than 1 I might be tempted.
Just curious, are these the 13, 15 or 17 rd mags?
ETA:
Seems like I had read somewhere once upon a time that JMB had stated that what was to later become the P35, had corrected any design flaws inherent to the 1911. This same article also made reference that he was referring to the grip safety.
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Bevo84
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15-round, double-column
All four are 15 rd mags.
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Ugh. On that score of “the wait continues,” I’d like to purchase one of the new high polished blue models that Springfield announced at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, they must have made about 10 or 20 examples at that time to share with the gun press and the big YouTubers. For the rest of us, probably about a year long wait. It was this same nonsense a few years back when Colt announced the new Viper and it was a full year before I could actually locate one to examine in the flesh.
The manufacturers would avoid a lot of customer disappointment and frustration if they actually made an effort to at least partially fill their distribution channel at the time of product announcement.
sousana
Member
I'm waiting for a compact SA35 myself, meanwhile I do have 5 Argentinian FN BHP35 detective models, 4 of which are still NIB. If the Springfield performs as well as it's detective cousin, I'll be one happy camper. My 2 full size sa35's have passed 6k with no glitches.
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