He seemed a virtual giant to me with his green wool uniform and shiny silver star.
We would be the only law enforcement in our end of the county, he told me.
Whatever kicked off, we would have to handle it.
The shotgun was a standard 12-gauge pump.
None other than a 1911.
Since that time, Ive learned more lore about the 1911 than I ever knew existed.
Even so, Im always learning more.
My latest revelation about the platform is how impressive the new Springfield Armory Emissary 4.25 is.
While that may not sound like much, it makes a significant difference in its portability and handling.
With its matte finish, it pairs extremely well with the blued carbon steel slide.
And the pistol has some very distinctive visual cues.
Apply the word to a pistol, and you are likely to get an even broader range of meanings.
And the fact that this one is a real eyecatcher is just a nice bonus for me!
Reliability is a bright line rule: it must be reliable.
In a defensive shooting, survival can come down to fractions of a second.
I dont want to spend time running a tap-rack-bang drill when I should be focusing on a threat.
In this regard, the Springfield Armory Emissary was flawless.
When I received the pistol, I gave it a quick inspection and ensured it was properly lubricated.
That was the only fieldstrip and lubrication I allowed to the gun until after I completed my range testing.
So, it should run under less-than-ideal conditions.
The Emissary 4.25 did.
Shootability
Accuracy is another important characteristic of a professional handgun.
A defensive pistol should be accurate enough to reliably hit a mans chest at 25 yards.
Greater degrees of accuracy should be expected from a professional handgun.
Springfields Emissary 4.25 pistol had exceptionally good accuracy.
Pushed out to 25 yards, I was able to shoot unsupported five-shot groups at just over 3.
Considering Im not the spring chicken I once was, I found this to be more than acceptable.
In even better hands, those groups would likely shrink significantly.
A multitude of factors affect the inherent accuracy of a pistol like the Emissary.
Springfield uses a forged stainless steel bull barrel along with precision fit parts to get the best potential accuracy.
Additionally, the solid-body, flat-faced trigger offers great control over the shot break which is exceptionally crisp.
Another great feature for facilitating shooter accuracy is the use of Springfields U-Dot sights.
These sights work extremely well for both fast acquisition and precision aiming in my experience.
U-Dot sights incorporate what years of training, experience and research have shown me works in high-stress engagements.
The front sight has a tritium vial at its center.
Tritium is a radioactive isotope that, in laymans terms, glows in the dark.
During low-light conditions, the self-powered tritium vial provides an aiming point.
Surrounding the tritium is a wide luminescent yellow-green circle.
In bright conditions, the circle provides a bright, large aiming point for fast target acquisition.
The Tactical Rack rear sight on the Emissary uses a wide and deep U-shaped notch.
It allows you to drop the front sight dot into it in a very natural, smooth motion.
An additional professional feature of the rear sight is the hard, flat front.
Stopping Power
Stopping power is both a mythical measurement and an important concept.
As a unit of measure, stopping power simply does not exist.
There are too many variables in real-life combat to assign a score to a caliber or specific load.
However, as a concept,stopping power is an important consideration.
In fact, it iswidely regarded as being an excellent manstopper.
Size
Pistol size is always a compromise.
Larger guns tend to be more accurate, hold more ammunition and be lighter recoiling.
Smaller guns, however, are easier to conceal and can weigh a lot less.
Carrying a gun for professional purposes requires you to choose the best size for your expected needs.
In many cases, a large gun is best suited for uniformed carry.
A full-sized 1911 can be concealed with a quality belt and holster.
However, a smaller gun is concealed more easily.
This Emissary is a 4.25 gun as opposed its 5 older brother.
Even with the reduced length, Springfield Armory gave the Emissary a full-size grip.
The magazines feature slam pad baseplates.
Specifications
Looking for just the nuts and bolts?
Self-defense be it as an armed citizen, street cop or deployed Marine is all serious work.
Id feel well prepared carrying it in virtually any circumstance where a pistol was the preferred arm.
Why shouldnt your defense-grade pistol be nice to look at, right?
And at an MSRP of $1,279, it is a really good deal for all that you get.
So, check out the new Emissary 4.25 .45.
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