I have a checkered history with 1911s. I don’t get the hubbub, but I can appreciate their aesthetic, the awesome triggers and historical significance.
There are lots and lots of different companies producing 1911s, probably close to the number of companies producing different types of AR-15s. The gun has been around the block a time or two.
Springfield is adding one more model to their rather large library in the form of the new Ronin. What’s immediately apparent is that you are getting a lot of gun for the money. Springfield did the same with the Saint AR-15 series and looks to be taking that route with the Ronin.
The Ronin is a classic 1911 that comes in two sizes, your standard 5-inch government model and Springfield will be releasing a 4.25-inch commander size model. Of course, the gun is in .45 ACP and there’s a 9mm version, too.
The Ronin has a forged frame and slide and a hammer-forged barrel. It comes with a two-tone finish that’s attractive and subtle enough not to be gaudy. The grips are laminate wood and feature the Springfield logo. It’s subtle and not an annoying billboard.
The rear sight is quite tall and squared off enough to be used to rack the slide against a belt, table, or anywhere solid. The front sight is a high visibility red fiber optic. The trigger is the Speed Trigger Gen 2 that goes a bit beyond your average 1911 trigger. It was very light and crisp with almost no take-up. The trigger is skeletonized which lends to the gun’s appearance and gives it that little extra. The reset was very short, audible and tactile.
The Ronin has an MSRP of $849, and factoring in the forged steel that seems to be an excellent price point. It’s rounded out by subtle, but important features that seem to make a good out-of-the-box 1911. The street price will likely be in the $750 to $800 neighborhood.
I like the look of the gun and the price, but what say you?