There are full-size to compact 1911 pistols.
Several of their 1911s are chambered in 9mm, with many others chambered in of course .45 ACP.
They even have a 1911 Ronin chambered in 10mm.
The Springfield Armory Garrison (below) and Emissary (above). Both are excellent 1911 pistols with different feature sets that will appeal to different shooters.
The Versus
The two 1911 pistols I am comparing today are the Garrison and the Emissary.
These specific variants are newer 1911 releases that were based on the existing models.
Fans of the 1911 Garrison requested a shorter Garrison with a 4.25 barrel to meet their concealed carry needs.
When comparing a pair of pistols, feature lists are only one consideration. Time on the range is also important. The author had both 1911 handguns on the range to test accuracy and reliability.
The 1911 Emissary is a gorgeous two-tone pistol with many modern features that shooters enjoy.
[Dont know what Cerakote is?
Check out our article ongun finishes.]
Even in harsh, cold weather, both of the Springfield Armory 1911 pistols performed well.
The 1911 Emissary is chambered in 9mm or .45 ACP.
The 1911 Emissary Black that I own is chambered in .45 ACP and has a 4.25 barrel.
It just makes sense to compare the 1911 Garrison 4.25 with the 1911 Emissary Black 4.25.
Visually, the two guns are obviously different offerings. Each has a unique feel as well.
Both of these 1911 pistols are chambered in .45 ACP so lets get to this Garrison vs. Emissary comparison.
Garrison 4.25
The 1911 Garrison is available in stainless steel or hot salt blued.
It has traditional wood grips with the Springfield Armory Crossed-Cannon logo.
The original M1911 and M1911A1 pistols were designed before accessory rails on handguns were developed. The Emissary (left) has one while the Garrison retains the classic styling.
It ships with one seven-round magazine and has Novak-style three-dot sights.
The skeletonized single-action trigger breaks just shy of four pounds.
Internally, the 1911 Garrison uses a traditional G.I.-style guide rod and barrel bushing.
With its stainless steel finish, the author’s Springfield Armory 1911 is a sharp looking pistol with an excellent track record.
It disassembles like a standard traditional 1911, which is quite familiar to the 1911 enthusiast.
The 1911 Garrison is not only a showoff piece, but it performs incredibly well at the range.
The Tri-Top cut slide gives the pistol custom-grade styling with the benefit of forward slide serrations.
The all-black Emissary is a tough looking pistol, and it has the excellent performance to back up that visage.
It has a 4.25 bushinglessbull barreland utilizes a full-length guide rod.
The single-action trigger is a solid body flat-faced trigger that breaks just under 4 lbs.
Springfield Armory uses theU-notch rear sight and a tritium front sightthat we know from the Hellcat and Echelon pistols.
Suitable for all kinds of shooting — duty carry, personal protection, home defense and pure recreation — the Emissary is an excellent choice at a reasonable price.
The 1911 Emissarys MSRP is $1,378.
Comparison
Lets start with the magazines.
The 1911 Garrison ships with one seven-round magazine, and the 1911 Emissary ships with two eight-round Mec-Gar magazines.
When comparing these two pistols, there are no wrong answers. Both handguns offer an excellent feature set and performance. It’s just a matter of picking the one that is best for you.
The grips are very different.
The 1911 Emissary has thin G-10 grips with texture like that of the pistols frontstrap and mainspring housing.
Chalk up another Emissary advantage for me due to the consistent grip texturing.
Sights are one of the clear differences in this Garrison vs Emissary match-up. The Emissary (left) is fitted with the popular U-Dot sights while the Garrison has traditional three-dot sights.
The Garrison uses a G.I.-style guide rod, as the Emissary has a bull barrel and a full-length guide.
note: Dont miss our guide on1911 disassembly.]
The triggers are different, with the Garrisons skeletonized curved trigger and the Emissarys full-body flat trigger.
Both work well, so I am calling the trigger comparison a draw.
The 1911 Emissary has a modern sight picture with the U-notch rear sight and a tritium front sight.
The 1911 Garrison uses Novak-style three-dot sights.
The accuracy with both of these 1911s is first class.
I love the Emissarys bull barrel that decreases the .45 ACPs perceived recoil substantially.
The 1911 Garrison also shoots smooth as silk.
Therefore, I am calling the shooting impressions a draw because both certainly get the job done.
There is however one other point that needs to be mentioned.
The difference is $461 in favor of the Garrison.
I prefer to state my thoughts this way.
Like I mentioned, you cant go wrong either way.
Go to forum thread
1911Garrison Series
1911Emissary Series
