March 24th, 2022
8minute read
Dad was constantly working on some project.
This was his brainchild, chimed in Dave Reese.
He worked on this one for several years.
The 1911-A2 S.A.S.S. pistol is easily one of the unique offerings from Springfield Armory’s past. The 1911-based single-shot could chamber rounds as powerful as the .308 Win. and even .358 Win.
The S.A.S.S.
Foundation
I remember Dad talking about what would become the S.A.S.S.
you have there, continued Dave Reese.
The S.A.S.S. featured a break-open action, with a modified and shortened magazine that housed a release lever at its base and a locking interface at its top.
He envisioned it being like something from a spy movie.
You take the components out of the case, slowly assemble the gun and you are ready to go.
But, that alternative to the T/C was done in a uniquely Springfield Armory way.
The S.A.S.S. upper was solidly built, with a great deal of steel around the chamber area of the barrel, ensuring the strength of the design.
As the conversation continued, I learned that Bob Reese insisted the design be totally tool-free.
The .308 1911: From Vision to Reality
When the S.A.S.S.
which stands for Springfield Armory Single-Shot appeared in the late 1980s, it was a truly revolutionary offering.
Bob Reese experimented with a rimfire carbine variant of the 1911-A2 S.A.S.S. with a 16¼” barrel.
offered 1911 fans a radical adaptation of the design.
was offered in two different barrel lengths 1034 or 14.9.
Both lengths were offered in .22 LR and 7mm BR.
Ideal for an African safari or a more modest hunt in North America, the Springfield S.A.S.S. was offered in a range of chamberings.
The longer barrel length was offered in .223, .243, 7mm-08, .308 and .358 Win.
The shorter barrel length offered the additional chambering options of .357 Mag.
Yes, you read correctly that this gun chambered .308 and .358 Win.
Shown above is the S.A.S.S. pistol Bob Reese took to Africa, but with a shorter barrel and no stock.
Dad was tinkering on these himself from the very start.
Safety was a paramount concern, he continued.
He pointed out the large sidewall areas around the chamber area of the barrel on the S.A.S.S.
Bob Reese on a safari, where he took this Cape buffalo with a modified 1911-A2 S.A.S.S. in .358 Win.
When youre firing rounds like a .308 in a pistol, you want to double-check its strong and safe.
They tested it extensively with overpressure loads, and it held together.
They were happy with how far they were able to push it.
The exploded view above is from the owner’s manual. It shows all of the S.A.S.S. parts.
Our M1A was chambered for it, and it was a modern-day version of the classic .30-06 round.
The Nuts and Bolts
Just as Bob Reese had envisioned, the 1911-A2 S.A.S.S.
employs a truly tool-free conversion system for the 1911.
The Springfield Armory S.A.S.S. pistol was — and remains — a fascinating handgun.
Insert the assembly as you would a slide assembly, and then drop in the slide stop.
The slide stop pin passes through the assembly, locking it into the frame.
Remember I mentioned taking out the original magazine?
Bob Reeses ingenious solution was to integrate a locking interface into a replacement magazine insert assembly.
That magazine insert features a spring-loaded tensioner that was one of Dads first patents, explained Dennis Reese.
To swap barrels, you would separate the entire upper assembly from the frame.
With the barrel open/unlatched, you would then push the pivot pin out.
This would free the barrel from the upper assembly and allow you to switch it out for another one.
A .308 Pistol in the Field
While the S.A.S.S.
Dad was an avid hunter, and the S.A.S.S.
He even would take it on safaris and the guides would be amazed by it.
They had never seen anything like the S.A.S.S.
with a shoulder stock on it.
If I remember correctly, he had a Pachmayr shotgun-style recoil pad fitted to it.
I was able to reach out to her and find out a little bit more about the trip.
The guides and trackers couldnt believe it!, she told me.
Bob was that determined, and had that much faith in it, she continued.
I had a rifle and was backing him up, along with the guide.
We tracked him down, and Bob took him with it.
I was thrilled I could be there with him when he did that.
Sure enough, I found an original 1911-A2 S.A.S.S.
Heres what it looked like:
Springfield Armory 1911-A2 S.A.S.S.
The manual also included a full parts list and schematic, which is shown below.
Specifications
Here are the specs on the original 1911-A2 S.A.S.S.
pistols was a treat for me.
I have always been intrigued by unique and innovative designs, and the S.A.S.S.
certainly qualifies on that front.
And while no longer available, the radical spirit of the 1911-A2 S.A.S.S.
lives on there today.
Who knows what we might see next?
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