Editor’s Choice: Springfield Armory Ronin Operator

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY is upping its 1911 game with the Ronin Operator series.

Offered initially with 5"-long, forged stainless steel match barrels in 9 mm Luger or .45 ACP, the Ronins’ blued carbon steel slides and stainless frames are also forged—giving the guns a classy two-tone look and long-term durability.

Sights are a fiber-optic front and a “Tactical Rack” rear with two white dots, and both are dovetailed into the slide. The reddish laminate wood stocks bear the Springfield Armory crossed cannons and are half-checkered, half-smooth.

Standard is a skeletonized “Gen 2 speed” trigger, while the hammer is skeletonized as well. Magazines come with a basepad, and the .45 holds eight rounds and the 9 mm holds nine. These are really good-looking renditions of the M1911, and it’s hard to beat the MSRP of $849.

As if the fullsize guns aren’t impressive enough, the Commanders have aluminum alloy frames, making them true lightweights. springfield-armory.com