AllOutdoor Review: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Blued 9mm

Springfield Armory sent yours truly their SA-35 Polished Blued for review, and it is the version a lot of people have been waiting for since the original launched. I covered that first SA-35 as a T&E gun, came away impressed, and have been curious what Springfield would do next with the platform. What they did was take the same gun, run it through a dedicated polishing process before the hot salt bluing goes on, add checkered walnut grips, and include a matching polished blued magazine in the box. Let’s dive right in to the Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Blued!

A big thank you goes out to AmmoForSale.com for providing PMC 147gr FMJ for this review. Ammo support from companies like these makes the job possible, and we do not take it for granted.

Springfield Armory on AllOutdoor:

• AO Review: Springfield 1911 Master Class 10-8 Performance AOS 9mm
• Springfield Armory Announces the Launch of the SA-35 4 Inch 9mm
• AllOutdoor Review: Springfield Armory SA-35 9mm (Hi-Power Clone)
• NEW Springfield Armory Aimpoint COA-Equipped 1911 & 1911 DS Prodigy
• Affordable in All the Right Places! Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 9mm
• NEW Springfield Armory SAINT Victor 9mm PDW – Ready for Everything

Specifications: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Blued

The SA-35 Polished Blued is built on the same bones as the original SA-35. Forged carbon steel frame and slide, cold hammer forged barrel, walnut grips, no magazine disconnect, drop-free magazines. Springfield runs the steel through a dedicated polishing process before the hot salt bluing, which is what gives this version its depth of color rather than the matte look of the standard model. The magwell is slightly funneled for easier reloads, and a matching polished blued 15-round magazine ships with the gun.

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Single-Action Semi-Auto
• Barrel: 4.7″ Cold Hammer Forged
• Overall Length: 7.75″
• Height: 5″
• Width: 1.34″
• Weight: 31.5 oz (unloaded)
• Capacity: 15+1
• Sights: White Dot Front / Tactical Rack Rear (dovetailed)
• Grips: Checkered Walnut
• Finish: Polished Hot Salt Blued Carbon Steel
• Safety: Extended Manual Thumb Safety (right-hand)
• Made in: Geneseo, Illinois
• SKU: HP9202
• MSRP: $799

The SA-35 Polished Blued carries the same $799 MSRP as the standard matte version. The polishing step Springfield adds before bluing is not trivial, so holding that price is a solid value proposition for anyone drawn to this finish.

“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 classic. Featuring subtle but significant upgrades to John Moses Browning’s original P-35 design, the 9mm SA-35 captures the appeal of the “wood and steel” era of arms making, now complemented by a classic polished blued finish. Made in the U.S.A., the SA-35 features rugged forged steel parts for strength and durability, improved ergonomics and enhanced controls, a factory-tuned trigger, modern sights, an improved feed ramp design, and an increased 15-round capacity.”

First Look: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Blued

Pulling this out of the box, it looks the part. The finish has depth to it, the walnut grips pair well with the blue, and the matching polished blued magazine is a nice detail that rounds out the package. Out of the box it is a good looking gun, full stop.

If you put it under direct light and really scrutinize it, you can see polishing marks underneath the blue in certain spots. It is the kind of thing a writer or a gunsmith notices because that is what we do. In natural light, holding it in your hand, you are not going to see it. It did not get the same degree of hand attention that a vintage FN Hi-Power received in its day, but at this price point that is not a realistic expectation. In hand and in the real world, it looks great.

The sights are the same white dot front and Tactical Rack rear Springfield has been running on the SA-35. The rear sight has serrations that cut down on glare, and the front sight is matte above the dot. Despite sitting on top of a very shiny slide, glare was a non-issue at the range.

Range Time: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Blued

For this range session, approximately 200 rounds went through the SA-35 Polished Blued. That included Remington 115 grain 9mm range ammunition and PMC 147 grain full metal jacket supplied by AmmoForSale.com. The gun ran both without a single hiccup.

Accuracy landed at consistent three-inch groups at fifteen yards, standing unsupported. Recoil is very controllable with a small snap to it. The front of the gun is lighter and you feel that during firing, but it never becomes a problem. This is a comfortable gun to run for extended strings.

The trigger on this specific gun averaged 3 lbs 15 oz across five measured pulls. The feel is minimal take-up, a clean wall, then a crisp drop. No stacking, no mushiness before the break. It is a noticeably cleaner pull than what I experienced on the original SA-35 T&E gun. Whether that reflects a production improvement or that earlier gun having more wear on it, I cannot say for certain. Either way it is a good trigger.

The reset is long. That is not Springfield’s fault, it is just the Hi-Power action. Shooting fast, I ran into the occasional dead trigger from not letting the trigger travel far enough forward. If you are used to a short tactile reset, budget some time getting your finger used to this one. It is not a deal-breaker, it is just the design.

The thumb safety moves cleanly without sticking, but it has a lazy quality to the transition rather than a crisp positive click. Functional and reliable, just not as snappy as a 1911 safety.

Two things worth flagging for larger-handed shooters. The slide release is positioned where a high grip can catch it and lock the slide open while firing. This is a known Hi-Power quirk and not specific to the SA-35. Second, I noticed a faint hammer bite mark after the session, not something felt in the moment but visible afterward. A light impression on the web of the hand from choking up on the gun. Common to Hi-Power designs, worth knowing going in.

After the range session, a wipe-down with gun oil is the right call. Polished hot salt bluing is more susceptible to rust and shows scratches more readily than a matte finish. Treat it right and it will stay looking the way it did out of the box.

Final Thoughts: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Blued

The SA-35 Polished Blued is the Hi-Power aesthetic that a lot of people have always wanted at a price that makes it accessible, backed by a company that stands behind their product. This is not a safe queen. You can shoot it, carry it, and admire it without overthinking the finish. It suits a new shooter drawn to the classic wood-and-steel look just as well as it suits someone who wants exactly one handgun that does everything right.

For anyone who already owns the standard SA-35, the case for adding this one is aesthetic. The polished version looks more like the original Hi-Power that lives in people’s heads when they picture the design. The matte is the workhorse. This is the dress gun that still earns its keep at the range. It is worth noting that Springfield has also introduced a 4″ SA-35 in matte blue for those interested in the shorter slide configuration.

I want to thank Springfield Armory for sending over the SA-35 Polished Blued for review. As for you guys and gals, I want to hear from you. Is the polished blue finish enough to make you choose this over the standard SA-35? Do you think Springfield nailed the classic Hi-Power look with this one, or are you holding out for a vintage original? For those who have spent time with the SA-35 in either finish, how has the trigger held up for you over the long haul?

The post AllOutdoor Review: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Blued 9mm appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.