Without question, the High Power was a solid and influential pistol. In 2021, Springfield took a look at this icon and decided they could improve it. And they did. The SA-35 was and is an excellent handgun that keeps the legacy of the High Power alive, but with improvements. Now, in the standard Springfield fashion, the engineers have gone to work on plans for even more improvements and modifications. The result is the new SA-35 4” 9mm.
SA-35 4″ 9mm – A Classic now in a More Compact Version
The SA-35 4″ 9mm offers a unique new addition to this incredibly popular line of semi-automatic pistols. Based on one of the most prolific and popular pistols in small arms history, the 9mm Springfield Armory SA-35 gave shooters a modern take on a revered classic. Featuring subtle but significant upgrades to John Moses Browning’s original P-35 design, the SA-35 captured the appeal of the “wood and steel” era of arms making. With this new adaptation of the proven design, shooters have access to a pistol with all the benefits of the original SA-35 pistol, but now with a shorter and more compact barrel.
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Forged Parts
Like all SA-35 variants, the new 4” SA-35 is made in the United States and features rugged forged steel parts for strength and durability. This includes not only the slide and frame, but also the shorter 4” barrel. The barrel — as with all SA-35 pistols — features an improved feed ramp design for reliable functioning with today’s top defensive ammunition.
Further rounding out the design are the SA-35’s improved ergonomics and controls, such as a recontoured hammer to prevent the risk of “hammer bite” and an extended thumb safety. Additionally, the pistols employ modern sights made up of a white dot front and a Tactical Rack black serrated rear sight. And lastly, a flush-fitting 15-round magazine increases capacity over the original design’s 13 rounds, feeding into the pistol’s beveled magazine well.
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Wood and Steel
The 4” SA-35 features an attractive matte-blue finish on its carbon steel slide and frame, complemented by a pair of checkered walnut grips contoured to enhance the pistol’s ergonomics and handling characteristics.
“The SA-35 proved to be an immediate success due to its combination of traditional design and modern enhancements,” said Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “This new 4” SA-35 offers all those same benefits and appeal, but now in a smaller and faster-handling version.”
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On the Range
On the range, it is an odd mix of flashbacks and flash-forwards. I have spent a great deal of time on the High Power and the SA-35. The new 4” version follows that excellent design. Out of the box, my first thoughts were “beautiful”. There is just something about the classic wood-and-steel combination. While I will always love Browning’s pistol, the new SA-35 4″ 9mm is nicer to shoot. The improvements that Springfield made were not random. This is a serious gun, and now that it’s a 4” model, it has every day carry written all over it.
The pistol I received for testing had a trigger that broke cleanly at 4 ½ pounds consistently. This, mixed with what I consider “real” sights, made the gun very accurate. At 29.8 ounces, the gun has enough weight to soak up recoil, while at the same time not being a boat anchor. I found it to be fast and easy to run. The ergonomics are excellent, and the extended safety made manipulations a breeze. I carried the SA-35 4″ 9mm for a week and found it to be comfortable. The rounded edges and slender design of the gun made it a solid EDC gun.
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SA-35 4″ 9mm
In the end, this is a fast-handling gun that will certainly serve shooters well. It is a great EDC pistol, but equally at home as an addition to a collection.
SA-35 4″ 9mm Specs
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| Caliber | 9mm |
| Color | Black |
| Barrel | 4″ Cold Hammer Forged, 1:10 |
| Slide | Forged Carbon Steel, Blued |
| Frame | Forged Carbon Steel, Blued |
| Sights | White Dot Front, Serrated Tactical Rack Rear |
| Recoil System | SA-35 Recoil Spring & Guide Rod |
| Grips | Checkered Walnut |
| Magazines | (1) 15-Round |
| Weight | 29.8 oz |
| Length | 7.1″ |
| Height | 4.8″ |
| MSRP | $799 |
For more information, visit Springfield.
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