If you’ve ever spent a lazy Sunday afternoon cleaning a 1911, you’ll understand the romance of old steel. You know the kind. Cool in the hand. Heavy. Forged with purpose. It’s not about polymer frames or striker-fired gimmicks. It’s about craftsmanship. History. Intent. And if any pistol carries that legacy into modern times, it’s the Browning Hi Power. Or as it’s now being reintroduced to the world: the Springfield SA-35.
You see, back in 1935, something revolutionary was happening. John Moses Browning, the man who had already given the world the 1911, had bigger things in mind. Literally. He wanted to improve on his own creation, and he figured the next evolution of sidearms would need to feed faster, carry more, and hit just as hard. That’s where the 9mm came in. And more importantly, that’s where the double-stack magazine showed up and made everybody else look slow.
Now, Browning didn’t live to see the Hi Power completed. He passed in 1926, leaving his notes, ideas, and gun parts in the capable hands of Dieudonné Saive. That guy took the ball and ran it all the way into legend. France was looking for a new military pistol. FN Herstal in Belgium wanted to make something that could fill that order. And together, they made the High Power—”Grande Puissance” to the Belgians, “P-35” to NATO, and “Oh hell yes” to generations of gun enthusiasts.
By the time WWII rolled around, the Hi Power had already been adopted by the Belgian Army. Then the Germans invaded Belgium, took over the FN factory, and started churning them out for the Wehrmacht. Meanwhile, blueprints had already been smuggled out to Canada, where Inglis started making them for the Allies. Think about that. The same pistol, fighting on both sides of the war. It’s like the Switzerland of sidearms, only meaner.
After the war, the Hi Power just kept going. Over 50 countries adopted it. It fought in countless skirmishes, jungles, and desert battles. And then, like all good things, it faded into retirement. FN finally pulled the plug in 2018, citing production costs. Suddenly, the world had a Hi Power-shaped hole in its heart.
Enter the clones. Tisas, Girsan, Inglis-branded imports… they all jumped in to fill the void. Some were decent. Some were cheap. But none quite had the soul. Then Springfield Armory showed up in 2021, knocked on the door, and dropped the SA-35 in our laps. And brother, it feels like coming home.
Let me tell you something right now: the SA-35 is no warmed-over, slap-a-logo-on-it clone. This thing was built with intent. From the forged steel slide and frame to the checkered walnut grips, this isn’t a pistol that apologizes for its roots. It embraces them. Then it grabs a few modern upgrades, wraps them in matte blue, and says, “Let’s go.”
The old-school charm is there. That familiar profile. The clean lines. The thumb safety and slide release tucked where they should be. But Springfield wasn’t content with nostalgia. They gave us a 15-round magazine—two more than the original. They ditched that god-awful magazine disconnect safety, which every Hi Power shooter from history cursed under their breath. And they tuned the trigger. Oh yes, they did.
Crisp, clean, and breaking around 4.5 pounds, this trigger isn’t just serviceable—it’s downright shootable. No take-up. No grit. Just that solid wall and snap that makes you want to squeeze off another round, then another, until you’re looking for more ammo and wondering how it got so late in the day.
The SA-35’s sights are where retro gets practical. Up front you’ve got a classic white-dot post. Out back? A U-notch, tactical-rack rear that’s serrated for glare reduction and windage adjustable. It ain’t fiber optic. It ain’t tritium. But it works. And it’s better than what the original offered.
Let’s talk feel. This gun isn’t polymer light. It’s real-deal forged carbon steel. You know, the kind of thing you can drop and still trust with your life. At 31.5 ounces empty, the SA-35 sits solid in the hand, recoils like a polite guest, and points naturally thanks to its 18-degree grip angle. If you’ve ever shot a 1911, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Oh, and that grip? It’s not a 2×4 like some modern double-stacks. Springfield somehow managed to pack 15 rounds into a mag without making the grip feel like you’re holding a hoagie. Even small-to-medium hands will find this thing manageable.
Is it perfect? Nah. Springfield gives you just one magazine in the box. That’s it. Not even a “Thanks for buying.” Just one lonely mag. And while you can snag more mags easily, it’s a head-scratcher that an $800 pistol comes with less gear than a .22 plinker. But hey, that’s what gun shops are for.
There were some hiccups with early extractors, but Springfield sorted that out. Current production models run smooth. The external extractor, while not as classic as the internal type, does its job and keeps the thing running.
Let’s clear this up. The SA-35 isn’t a 1911. But it feels like one’s cousin. They share the same design DNA. Browning’s DNA. The SA-35 just skips the grip safety, barrel bushing, and adds a little European flair. You’ve still got the low bore axis, slim grip, and single-action trigger that makes shooting feel like second nature.
Takedown is easier than a 1911. No paper clips. No barrel bushings flying across the garage. Just smart engineering.
Here’s the down-and-dirty for the spec nerds:
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 4.7″ Cold Hammer Forged, 1:10
- Slide/Frame: Forged Carbon Steel, Blued
- Sights: White Dot Front, Serrated Tactical Rack Rear
- Grips: Checkered Walnut
- Magazine: (1) 15-Round
- Weight: 31.5 oz (unloaded), 36.6 oz (loaded)
- Length: 7.8″
- Height: 4.8″
- MSRP: $799
- Trigger Pull: 4 lbs 5 oz (measured with Lyman gauge)
Final Verdict: Should You Buy One?
If you’re tired of striker-fired sameness and want a pistol with heritage, guts, and good looks, the SA-35 is calling your name. It’s got the bones of a battle pistol, the soul of a Browning design, and the fit-and-finish that Springfield usually saves for their high-end 1911s.
This isn’t a plastic fantastic. It’s a range gun, a nightstand gun, a glovebox gun, a conversation piece. And yes, it’s one you can pass down to the next generation, provided they earn it.
The SA-35 brings back everything that made the Hi Power great, fixes what wasn’t, and does it without trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s the kind of gun that doesn’t just shoot—it speaks.
And what it says is simple: “They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. But maybe they should.”
