Editor’s Note: The author received a loaner Springfield Armory SA-35 4″ polished blue pistol prior to the handgun’s official launch for writing this article. All opinions are those of the author.
I’ve been a big fan of the Springfield Armory SA-35 since its launch back in 2021. The list of things to love about the 9mm pistol is long and just seems to keep getting longer with each new variant the company launches — which brings us to the SA-35 4” 9mm Polished Blued pistol we are discussing here today. But first, a little background.
For me, some of the greatest appeal of the SA-35 starts with its healthy helping of steel and wood. Next is a profile that’s long-established as one of the few truly iconic and enduring designs. This is a proven design that is immediately recognizable as a true classic.
The accolades have continued to pile up for Springfield’s faithfully authentic, yet modernized incarnation of this wonderful John M. Browning Hi Power design. It wouldn’t be overstating things to say that this pistol’s design, more than any other, helped usher in the “wonder-nine” era of the 1980s and, ultimately, the popularity of the 9mm pistol so prevalent today.
Back in the 1930s when this design first appeared, those who concealed a pistol for personal protection faced a practical dilemma. You could either carry a large and heavy semi-auto chambered in a caliber that was effective, or carry a smaller and lighter pistol in a less powerful chambering. The original P-35 neatly sidestepped that by offering a svelte pistol in a capable chambering with an impressive on-board ammo capacity.
It was this original design that served as the foundation for the first SA-35, a 4.7”-barreled pistol that had the overall look of an original, but with some notable upgrades. Springfield would then start offering new variants in differing finishes as well a more compact 4”-barreled version. In addition, a polished blued version of the full-size was offered.
You can probably see where this is going. It was just a matter of time before the two options were combined.
What’s New Is Old Again?
This new 4” blued and polished SA-35 is much more than just a faithful production of a timeless sidearm design – it’s a viable everyday handgun option that is capable of providing reliable and accurate protection to meet today’s expectations.
It’s wonderfully ergonomic and easy to operate — and a natural pointer. John Moses Browning designed firearms to perform like tools, which is really what they are. Every control performs a critical and basic function and is located just where it ought to be. Those simple controls are combined with lines and curves that mesh with the human hand naturally. The beautiful aesthetics are a nice bonus.
Springfield Armory has remained faithful to the original design of the P-35 while freshening the gun to be right at home with modern shooters. Using forged steel parts and made here in the U.S.A., the SA-35 is ready for real duty and is built hardy enough to become a family heirloom.
Improvements include the obvious such as the recontoured hammer to eliminate the “hammer bite” of the original design. Modern sights made up of a serrated Tactical Rack rear and white dot front. This sight configuration is well suited for both rapid acquisition and careful shot placement.
To bring the pistol in line with Springfield’s other offerings, the magazine disconnect of the original design was removed. This allowed Springfield to offer an improved, factory-tuned trigger that offers a crisp, clean break with every pull and very little take-up. The pistol’s feed ramp has also been re-tuned by Springfield to further improve reliability.
In addition to these subtle but effective upgrades are clean lines, the beautiful polished blued finish, and attractive checkered walnut grips of the SA-35. Add to that the shorter barrel and slide, and you have one heck of a classy EDC option.
History and Design
If you’re not familiar with the history of the P-35 handgun or with its specs, let’s get you up to speed. As mentioned, this handgun was the brainchild of legendary firearms engineer and inventor John Moses Browning. It was essentially commissioned work, requested by the French military nearly a century ago.
The pistol was designed using the famed tilting-barrel recoil operation, and featured a staggered magazine to accommodate 13-rounds of ammunition. At that time this was an innovative new concept. The pistol is a single-action-only type with semi-automatic action. It was considered at the time to be one of the best-designed handguns ever made. Many people still hold it in that same high regard today, and with good reason.
What this author likes best about the configuration of the 4-inch SA-35 is that Springfield chose to change only the length of the gun. It is identical in practically every other dimension and specification – including the enhanced 15-round capacity of the high-quality steel magazines. It feels exactly the same in my hand as the full-size SA-35, with the exception of slightly better balance, as one would expect.
The barrel of the new compact model SA-35 is exactly 4”, compared to the 4.7” barrel of the standard-length model. This difference also translates directly to the slide and overall length of the gun. This also allows the pistol to shed a bit of weight, from 31.5 oz. to just 29.8 oz.
Live The Armory Life. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun giveaways!
While I’ve always loved the feel of the SA-35 in my hand, it seems this change puts the center of balance just a bit more into the palm. This can help manage recoil control and reduce shooter fatigue over longer range sessions.
At the Range
Like every SA-35 I’ve fired, this new 4” pistol is a ton of fun to shoot. I can’t overstate how well the gun fits the hand. My medium-sized hands wrap perfectly around the grip, and the trigger falls right into the distal joint of my trigger finger.
The manual safety switch is easy to swipe on or off without altering your grip. The sights align effortlessly to the target and the shot breaks smooth and clean. The recoil impulse is a rolling motion, neither sharp nor harsh. Each subsequent shot is a repeat of the experience. Next thing you know, you’re out of ammo! But it’s been replaced by that big smile on your face.
I tested the accuracy of the SA-35 4” with three different loads of 9mm ammunition that provided a nice cross-section of bullet weights and configurations. Performance was consistent across the test, with the Federal 115-gr. ball ammo producing the best group at just over an inch.
| Velocity | Group (best) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ammo Inc. 115-grain JHP | 1,160 fps | 1.51″ |
| Federal 115-grain FMJ | 1,180 fps | 1.17″ |
| Hornady Critical Defense 135-grain FlexLock | 1,015 fps | 1.31″ |
Beautiful Simplicity
One of the occasional challenges with older designs in handguns is maintenance. For some guns, just fieldstripping for routine cleaning and lubrication seems like it requires three hands and the precise positioning of the tongue. Small parts, especially tiny springs, could be easily lost on or under a busy workbench. Not so with the SA-35. While it maintains the elegance and nostalgia of the “steel and wood” era of handguns, it has one of the simplest takedown methods ever — easier even than many modern polymer-framed pistols, in my experience.
The safety control doubles as a takedown position locator/lock by way of a second notch located forward of the safety notch. When the slide is moved to the rear and the safety lever engaged into this notch, there is no need to try and hold the slide in an awkward position against spring pressure while performing another action, as is often the case.
All that remains is to push out the locking pin (part of the slide stop control) and pull it completely out. The slide then slips easily off of the frame, and the recoil spring / guide rod and barrel can be lifted out. Reassembly is just as simple in the reverse. A true “field strip” capability!
Summing It Up
I like the idea of a shorter SA-35, and I like that it retains its full grip size and ammo capacity. The aesthetics of it are so good, it looks as if it were designed that size at the beginning.
The polished blued finish sets it all off perfectly. It evokes the feeling of a bygone era, when handguns had a look of classic elegance and were handed down from father to son to grandson. All it needs is a fine leather holster, and it’s ready to slip into the waistband.
The look of the SA-35 4” 9mm Polished Blued pistol is as natural and pleasing as its 4.7” sibling, as if it were initially designed in that size. In addition, the high-gloss look of the dark bluing enhances the lines and curves of this pistol.
I’m a big fan of choices, especially good ones — and this new version of the famously popular SA-35 is certainly one of those!
Editor’s note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!
Join the Discussion
Featured in this video
Read the full article here