Look, nobody knows better than I that the essence of marketing is to expand demand for a proven product. But then I see this:
Springfield Armory has refreshed the popular TRP line of professional-level 1911s. The TRP is based on the Springfield Armory Professional 1911, which was originally chosen for use by the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, and now the line has been refreshed to offer six new .45 ACP models with a wide range of new features.
The TRP platforms are specifically designed and built for demanding 1911 enthusiasts. Each pistol begins with a forged frame and slide for strength and durability. Each pair is the hand-selected for slide-to-frame fit and numbered to marry them with their matching components throughout the build process. The result is a premium fit, with refined blending and rock-solid performance.
Providing an additional touch of custom detail, all TRP pistols feature sighting plane serrations along the top of the slide. The result is an attractive touch that offers the shooter an enhanced sight picture and maximum light diffusion. Also on top of the slide is a tritium three-dot sight system for a clear sight picture under any lighting environment.
Springfield Armory chose VZ Grips and their combat-ready Hydra series of grips for the new TRP pistols. The deep relief channels provide aggressive purchase without being overly sharp, while exposing the layers and patterns of the G-10 material. In addition, all TRP pistols feature 20 lines per inch (LPI) checkering on the frame for an enhanced grip with either wet or gloved hands.
And then the kicker:
TRP Classic 5 inch and TRP Classic 4.25 inch have an MSRP of $1,899.
The TRP Rail 5 inch Black, 5 inch Coyote Brown and TRP CC 4.25 inch Black and TRP CC 4.25 inch Coyote Brown have an MSRP of $1,999.
So basically, it’s a budget Nighthawk, except in that baby-shit Coyote Brown — the gunny equivalent of the putty-colored automobile.
I’m sure the Government alphabet-agencies are just going to love them, because WTF they have the budget to afford these things. So will all those wannabe “operators” because they’re always up for the Latest Thing that all the cool kids have to have.
Me?
Clearly, I’m not in the target market for the TRP. And that’s fine by me.
Kim,
I take your point. In fact, several of your recent posts on the 1911 have induced me to sell my Nighthawk GRP Recon, the dumbest firearm purchase I ever made. The Springfield Armory Garrison, in gorgeous salt blue, is all the 1911 one could want today and it has everything the late, great LTC Cooper said a 1911 needed, and no more. At under $800 street.
But my three 1911s that are not the Nighthawk are all heavily smithed becuase … well, I don’t know why, it’s a sickness, I guess. Too much hanging out in the 1911 forums (which I weaned myself off of, thankfully). For my son’s college graduation gift I got him a Springfield Armory Marine Corps operator which I promptly sent out for new ignition parts and trigger job, and new slide stop, safety, and firng pin stop. Did it need that? Definitely not. I don’t know why I did it, it was stupid.
But I understand the sickness. And you should, too, given your love of fine watches, automobiles, and other things mechanical. You just don’t happen to be bitten by the custom firearm bug. If you won the lottery, I suspect you’d have a couple of fine watches or cars. I would not because they don’t speak to me. They speak to you, but not me. Same for fine audio gear. Don’t care. I’d spend my lottery winnings stupidly, I’m sure, just on other things.
So back to the GRP. I got it for myself for my 50th birthday present because I lusted after it. But much like lusing after Kate Upton, I don’t know what I’d do with it once I got it. So it’s sat in my safe for 17 years and I’ve taken it to the range exactly twice and it has exactly 50 rounds through it. So after a couple of your posts on the subject, I decided to replace the night sights and sell the stupid thing for about 80% of the cost of a new one. (if you know anyone with more money than brains who might like it, share my email addy with them, please.) It was a dumb impulse purchase that made no sense, and I like to shoot everything I own. And if I won’t shoot it, I should get rid of it before putting a lot of wear on it.
So back to your post about the new TRP line. I think it’s a brilliant idea by SA! They already make the gun with some of what Col Cooper wanted, (he called it) ducktail grip safety, dehorning, lowered ejection port, barrel properly throated, tight barrel bushing. If the trigger was good at 4 1/2 pounds or so call it good. That needed to be done on old MILSPEC pistols that were not manufactured that way.
But now Wilson Combat, Nighthawk, et al, have gone waaaaay beyond what is necessary, getting oversized everything requiring hours of hand lapping and fitting which is simply not necessary. But lordy is it spendy! The GRP in the current catalog is $3,600! That’s just stupid. I don’t care how much money you have it’s not a rational purchase. But like people who like Panerai watches or Porsche Panamera cars, I UNDERSTAND it. I can see the attraction. They’re just not MY thing.
So I think Springfield armory is brilliant here, providing something about halfway between their stock 1911 models, which are perfectly fine guns, mind you, and the ridiculous basically hand-fitted ultr high-end guns. Is it needed? Certainly not. But having a gun with notably tighter fit and operation, and probably a higher level of reliability at a price point that is premium but not nose-bleed-inducing is a brilliant marketing move.
I’d never buy a Nighthawk or Wilson Combat pistol today, I’m too much of a curmudgeon, and if I did I’d probably not want to shoot it, which makes no sense. And I’d be fine with a current production Garrison or Ronin box stock. But I might get one of these TRP models (if i didn’t have four 1911s already) and if I did I’d shoot the ever-loving shit out of it, and feel some pride of ownership using it at an IDPA match, for example. I might get one as a gift for someone, although son & heir is buying his own guns now, he earns more than I do, lol.
I think there is likely a large market of folks between you, who see it as a utilitarian tool, and the people who can afford and will buy a Wilson or Nighthawk. They just think that’s stupid. But they’d likely love one of these TRPs. We shall see if I’m right or not, but suspect there is a good market there, and they may even pull away a few buyers from Wilson or Nighthawk who go there because there is not much out there between the Garrison and theGRP. I think it’s a very smart move.
I wish I could unload this stupid GRP now. It mocks me and makes me feel foolish every time I see it. lol
200 rounds, not 50 rounds. Two range trips 100 rounds each. Don’t know why I had 50 on my brain.
I owned a Springfield Range Officer Compact for a few years. Granted, that was one of their more “budget” offerings (a step up from the Mil-Spec but below the “Loaded” models IIRC), but the fit, finish, and QC was lacking compared to other 1911s in that price backet. A friend of mine picked up a Ruger SR1911 shortly after I got my Springfield, and it was noticeably superior to the RO Compact in every regard. Not my a lot, but enough to be noticeable. Which irritated me to no end because he’d spent $100 or so less on the Ruger than I’d spent on the Springfield (we were both under-employed college grads at the time, so $100 was a big deal). I eventually sold the Springfield and put the money towards a LNIB West German SIG-Sauer P220, which I will NEVER sell! (made that mistake with a W-German P228. Never again!)
That said, I need to add a 1911 to my roster, but for that kind of money, I’d go with a Dan Wesson Valor or Specialist (the Valor doesn’t have a railed dust cover; the Specialist does). I’ve handled DW 1911s before, and IMO you’re getting 80%-90% of the quality of something like a Wilson or Nighthawk, but at about 50% the price.
Or I’ll save up and get an Alchemy Custom. From what I can tell, they’re the only “semi-custom” shop that offers square trigger guards, and there is just something damn sexy about a 1911 with a squared off trigger guard. Dual-tone with a gold bead front sight and ebony grips…. oh yes please!
Gunsite is making their own 1911 around the 1800 mark. I’d rather have their 1911 or a Wilson Combat than most others.
JQ
Wow! That Gunsite pistol is a stunner!
Lust.
I need another 1911 like a hole in the head though. Must. Resist. Temptation.
for some reason I can’t post on this anymore
I’m glad that we have choices in the 1911 field. Rock Island Arms or whateve, Tisa etc are offering cheaper 1911s which is great for people to try them out. The Merc S Class custom made guns like Wilson Combat, Nighthawk etc are great if you want to spend that money. At some point I speculate that the additional features in the high end pistols simply do not make the pistol work any better. Sure these $3k and up guns might shoot with incredible accuracy, but once you take the pistol out of the Ransom rest, how many people can achieve such accuracy.
I’d be more interested to know which of these 1911s is investment cast and which are forged. I thought that the Dan Wesson models were investment cast possibly by Ruger but I’m not sure.
Once nice feature of the 1911 is that I got a conversion kit from Kimber to change my 45acp S&W 1911 to shoot 22lr ammuntion. I can practice with cheaper 22lr ammunition then put the original parts back on and do the drill again, this time with the added skill of managing recoil.
There’s just something about a 1911 between its aesthetics and its function that is just so enjoyable to look at an to shoot.
JQ