Not a HiPower

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This was brought to my attention and I am giddy over it. I hope they don’t screw it up.

It’s had many names in its century-old history and today, we reimagine this renowned design for modern use. Based on one of the most prolific and popular pistols in small arms history, the Springfield Armory® SA-35 gives today’s shooters a modern take on a revered design. Featuring subtle but significant upgrades to John Moses Browning’s original P-35, the 9mm SA-35 captures the appeal of the “wood and steel” era of arms making while offering the upgraded enhancements of today’s defensive pistols.

Made in the U.S.A., the SA-35 features rugged forged steel parts for strength and durability, improved ergonomics and enhanced controls, modern sights, an improved feed ramp design, and an increased 15-round capacity. Configured without a magazine disconnect for a drop free magazine the SA-35 features a factory-tuned trigger with a smooth pull and crisp, clean break.

Call it a legend, call it an icon, but whatever you do, don’t call it a classic.

IF it takes legacy magazines, and IF it takes legacy parts, and IF they keep the price comparable to new Glock…then Im in for five.

43 thoughts on “Not a HiPower”

  1. The product info I saw said a 15 round magazine which is not like the original which had a 13 round magazine.
    Looks nice, tho.

    • Mec-Gar have made a 15 round magazine for years that fits any P35.
      Any one with half a brain who makes a handgun nowadays has Mec-Gar come up with the magazine even if it’s only the prototype.

  2. https://www.springfield-armory.com/sa-35-series-handguns/sa-35-handguns/
    MSRP $699 so in the ball park with a Glock 17/19 with steel sights.
    No Magazine safety, and a 15 round Magazine that I’d put money on is made by Mec-Gar.
    I’d say this thing will sell so well Ruger will look into doing their own, and Colt will think….[Who am I kidding? Colt think?]
    Everything Old Is New Again https://youtu.be/X4p9NeN6P3Q
    If you put SA35 into YouTube there are eight first looks in the past 12 hours.
    For any one too lazy….
    https://youtu.be/9NKO_tpprX4
    https://youtu.be/Q8SxgJNd55s
    https://youtu.be/-6eq0bhk4U8
    https://youtu.be/gd2u9CgmbdM
    https://youtu.be/3P1gn8GrSaM
    https://youtu.be/R0Cb-Gbvi3I
    https://youtu.be/FNrGy6T2AzY
    https://youtu.be/lr0nPDlBvJA

  3. I got an email from Brownells today concerning this SA 35. Well. It looks good. Better then the Turkish import from TISA. When American Rifleman reviewed their Hi Power and the 1911 offering those pieces must have received ” special attention” as far as finish and most likely a nice massage job to the internals. The reviews from actual buyers has been far different.
    This Springfield offering appears as good as their 1911 I have handled.
    The new gun was out if stock at Brownells. Which probably means they haven’t received the yet.
    Though the appear is good and the extras like the improved feed ramp and an extra round capacity in the nag. There is just something missing. The appearance of a Browning Hi Power P35 made around the end of the 60s just had a ” look” about them. Don’t know if it’s because they were made in Belgium or what. While the price of a nice Hi Power is over a grand these days. If you have the time to haunt out of the way old tyme gun shops and maybe the odd Pawn Emporium. You can on occasion get them cheaper. The only thing lacking in Brownings last offering was the addition of double action. But all in all they are a great gun and damn lots of fun to shoot.

    • I already have 5 Browning H Powers 3 never fired, 30 plus years old. new in box. Two shooters. one National Soc markings and one 1972. ($92.00 new). I’m 71, got them so I’d have enough to last me. Looks like they will

  5. Grew up with – and loved – 1911’s. Then I discovered the Hi-Power. I thought the design was an enhancement and sang its praises to all who would listen. Got into a lot of heated discussions. I still prefer steel over polymer – like some of the CZs. But, I’m old…

    I share your hope that it won’t be pooched.

      • It sold for $1,499.99.
        The seller looks real but as it uses stock photos from more than one gun how long be for the buyer gets a gun? It even says “EXPECT DELAYS IN COMMUNICATION AND SHIPPING TIMES” and “Due to extreme surges in order volume that we may be experiencing, we cannot guarantee communication and shipping times.EXPECT DELAYS” that should be a giveaway they do not have it to sell.
        https://www.gunbroker.com/item/914502027

        • if he has 10k transactions and an A+ rating, he seems legit. Supply and demand and charge what the market will bear, but the buyer has to be careful these days.

  7. As it’s Springfield how long before a stainless one that works hits the market?
    IMHO the one gun that does not look right in stainless, is the P35 Hi-Power but with that comes the two tone models….

    • I have a Springfield 1011 stainless Their Logo/ name looks like crap on it, cruds up an otherwise nice gun. to proud of their their name to make it look nice. /looks like a good crayon job for a school paper.

  10. I’m glad someone is bringing back the P35. Though the design may be a bit dated, it worked like a champ. I don’t own an original, but the Argentinian FM clone I have has been very comparable to two of my friends original Brownings. I bought this way back in the late 1980’s – early 90’s, $200 NIB.

    As far as accuracy and dependability go, the Browning and FM are equivalent. My pistol could use updated sights though, the half moon front can be hard to see in low light.

  11. Great news!

    Now if only someone reputable would manufacture a quality Bren Ten…..

  12. Put a deposit down at my LGS and call me when you get it , The little changes are what I did to the Browning I had years ago this comes ready to go ,

  13. I read a review where the writer swapped slides between his older hi power and the springfield. It worked well. He said magazines, holsters, and most parts were interchangeable. I need one, or three…

  14. I have wanted a BHP for decades but the magazine safety was a deal killer. Now, SA has done away with it and improved the trigger in the process. So, add that to an affordable price makes the SA35 my next gun.

  15. An article in American Rifleman say they used the original plans for the P-35 and some parts are inner changeable.

  17. Looks like every one is in to P35 just look at the from last year the EAA Girsan MC P35 which looks like it never hit the market but had “some” press.

  18. Springfield Armory can suck my ass. My only purchase from them, a premium priced 1911A1, wasn’t through one box of ammo before the spent brass flew one way and the front sight flew the other. I’d send my money overseas, first. Just my effort to damper any joy or happiness out there. You are welcome.

    • One gun seems like a rather small statistical sample upon which to judge an entire company.

      • Unless it is your money, of course. LOL I take your point, but the more an item costs, the fewer times I’m willing to gamble again on the company. So, Subaru, Braun, Springfield Armory never got a second chance. Colt, just from killing as many servicemen as the average communist, never got a first chance. If you forgive poor behavior, you get more of it.
        *
        Some companies got a third chance, but only because the item was cheap enough to gamble on. The Wal-Mart camping guys, I think “Ozark”? Their first propane camping stove worked for five years, used multiple times a day. The second, five months. It HAD to be a fluke, right? Nope. The next one was within weeks of five months failing.
        *
        Little Buddy heater? Don’t use it every day, as it will only last a few hundred hours. Yes, even with a fuel filter. I tried a second one, just from lack of choice. Same thing. The third time, I went with a propane cook stove with a cast iron skillet on the burner, rather than wasting money on any more Little Buddy items.
        *
        I could go on. None of the above was bargain basement goods. I was trying for Middlin Quality ( well, perhaps Ozark was lower quality. But not really, not before 2008. Wal-Mart stuff still gave a really good use time prior to that ). And if everyone is offering crap quality, I think less chances to sell me crap is a rational response. What peeved me about Springfield was this was the 80’s. Not exactly a time renown for lower quality.
        *
        I wouldn’t trust most gun manufacturers today, just for the fact too many are flirting with bankruptcy. But I’d trust some a lot less, if they had a track record.
        *
        I’ll close by thanking you for the recent glut of posts. Enjoyed, as there are far too few actual reading sites left worthy of my time.

      • Besides. Springfield Armory imports their pistols from Croatia if I’m not mistaken. I know several individuals who won’t buy anything but American made.

        • As I understand it, the XD series are made in Croatia. The rest of their pistols are not imported from Croatia.

  19. They fixed most of the things that made the Hi-Power forever inferior to the CZ-75, looks like it is almost as good now! I might have to pick one up.

  20. Wow, if they do this one right, I’m in. Just finished “The Guns of John Moses Browning”, and I’s like to add another to the collection. hanks for the link.

  21. The other day I saw for the first time a write-up on the SA-35, and seeing the photos of the SA-35 brought back a lot of fond memories. The first handgun I ever fired was a Browning P35 back in the seventies when I was in the Canadian Forces.

    I’ve always wanted a P-35 but could never raise enough money. Now at this price point, the SA-35 may just be in reach.

    • Totally agree but I kinda want to hold out for a 2 tone “Ronin” version with the blueing and stainless frame. If I knew they were gonna make one for sure I’d hold out.

  23. Was perusing Gun Broker yesterday. There were many SR35 pistols being offered. The MSRP is around 650. There were auctions with bids for 800 to over 2000 bucks for these. Crazy times because of crazy people.

  24. Okay. Guns and Ammo new issue arrived recently. According to the article the SAR35 is American made. Also he stated that even though the new pistol takes a 15 round mag he ran some Browning mags threw without an issue.
    The first gun that Springfield sent him for evaluation had issues. He sent it back with a full explanation as to his experience.
    The next gun he received ran much better and he reported no issues with the pistol. The second gun was from the initial production run and had a serial number in the 300 range.
    The photos in the article were better then I had seen. The piece looks very good. If I was in the market for a 9mm I might consider investing in one. But leaning more in the 45acp or heavier me thinks I might pass this by.

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