Springfield SA-35: The Browning Hi-Power, Rebuilt for Today

On the shelf, Yerington, Nevada

The Springfield Armory SA-35 is a modern production version of the Browning Hi-Power, chambered in 9mm, built from forged carbon steel with checkered walnut grips, 15+1 capacity, and no magazine disconnect. It is offered with a 4.7-inch barrel and, as of 2026, a 4-inch barrel. Dark Horse Guns & Ammo has both models in stock in Yerington.

If you have wanted a Hi-Power and did not want to gamble on a seventy-year-old import, this is the answer, and you do not have to order it and wait.

What is the Browning Hi-Power, and why does it matter?

The Hi-Power was John Moses Browning's last pistol design. He died in 1926 before finishing it, and Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale completed the work. Belgium adopted it in 1935 as the P-35, which is where Springfield's model name comes from.

What followed is close to unmatched. The Hi-Power was carried by both sides in the Second World War, since the occupied FN plant produced them for Germany while Inglis in Canada built them for the Allies. It went on to serve in the militaries of more than fifty countries and stayed in frontline service for the better part of a century. When Browning ended production, a design with that record simply stopped being available new.

Springfield Armory reintroduced it in late 2021 as the SA-35. That is the short version of why this pistol exists.

What did Springfield change?

This is not a copy of a 1935 pistol. The changes are targeted at the specific things Hi-Power owners complained about for decades.

• No magazine disconnect. The original would not fire without a magazine seated, and the linkage that made that work sat directly in the trigger path. Removing it is the single biggest improvement to how this pistol feels.
• Recontoured hammer. Original Hi-Powers were famous for biting the web of your hand. The SA-35 hammer has a revised profile to stop that.
• Extended thumb safety. Larger and easier to reach than the original, without turning into an aftermarket-looking add-on.
• Modern sights. White dot front and serrated Tactical Rack rear, dovetailed into the slide, replacing the tiny original sights.
• Improved feed ramp. Reworked to run modern hollow point ammunition, which the originals were never designed around.
• 15-round magazine. Up from the original 13, in a flush-fitting magazine.
• Beveled magwell machined into the frame for faster reloads.
• 

The frame and slide are forged carbon steel rather than cast, and the barrel is cold hammer forged. It is built in the United States.

What do independent reviewers say?

The hammer bite fix gets confirmed repeatedly. In a 1,000-round evaluation for Guns.com, the reviewer noted the longer hammer spine was meant to solve hammer bite and reported, plainly, "Spoiler alert on the latter: it works."

On the trigger, Pew Pew Tactical put it in perspective against the pistols it competes with, writing that it does not break like a high-end 1911 but that "I file it under the 'good trigger' camp."

And on the magazine disconnect, The Truth About Guns was direct about the decision, noting that "Springfield wisely chose not to include this feature in the SA-35."

Independent testers have measured the trigger at roughly 5.5 to 5.7 pounds, which lines up with Springfield's own figure.

SA-35 4.7 inch or SA-35 4 inch: which should you buy?

This is the question we get across the counter, and the answer is simpler than people expect. You give up almost nothing by going shorter.

• Capacity is identical. Both are 15+1.
• Grip is identical. Same frame, same height at 4.8 inches, same walnut grips. Your hand cannot tell the difference, and neither can your holster hand.
• The 4-inch is 0.7 inches shorter overall at 7.1 inches versus 7.8 inches, and 1.7 ounces lighter at 29.8 ounces versus 31.5 ounces.
• Both are $799 MSRP. The choice is not about money.

So: if the pistol is going in a safe, on a nightstand, or to the range, the 4.7-inch is the classic profile and the one that looks like the gun in the history books. If you intend to carry it, the 4-inch trims length off the muzzle end without touching the part that actually prints, which is the grip. Come handle both. That decision takes about ninety seconds with one in each hand.

SA-35 specifications

SA-35, model HP9201

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 4.7 inches, cold hammer forged, 1:10 twist
• Overall length: 7.8 inches
• Height: 4.8 inches
• Weight: 31.5 ounces
• Capacity: 15+1
• MSRP: $799

SA-35 4 inch, model HP9204

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 4 inches, cold hammer forged, 1:10 twist
• Overall length: 7.1 inches
• Height: 4.8 inches
• Weight: 29.8 ounces
• Capacity: 15+1
• MSRP: $799

Both share a forged carbon steel frame and slide in a blued finish, checkered walnut grips, white dot front and serrated Tactical Rack rear sights, single action operation, and one 15-round magazine with a soft case.

What are the downsides?

We would rather tell you now.

• One magazine in the box. At this price point that stings a little. The good news is that the SA-35 takes standard Hi-Power pattern magazines, and Mec-Gar makes them in 13 and 15 round versions. Buy a couple of spares.
• Controls are right-hand only. The safety and magazine release are not ambidextrous, exactly as the original was. Left-handed shooters should handle one first.
• No optic cut and no accessory rail. This is a wood and steel pistol and Springfield left it that way on purpose. If you want a red dot and a light, this is not that gun.
• It is a single action. Carried loaded, it rides cocked and locked, hammer back and safety on, the same as a 1911. That is a perfectly sound way to carry, but it demands a holster that covers the trigger guard and a shooter who understands the manual of arms.
• Thirty-one ounces of steel. That weight soaks up recoil beautifully and it is real weight on your belt all day.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Springfield SA-35 a real Browning Hi-Power?

It is a modern production pistol built on the Browning Hi-Power design, manufactured by Springfield Armory in the United States rather than by FN or Browning. It is a faithful continuation of the P-35 pattern with targeted modern upgrades, not a licensed Browning-branded pistol.

Does the SA-35 take original Hi-Power magazines?

Yes. The SA-35 accepts standard Browning Hi-Power pattern magazines, and reviewers have run both 13 and 15 round Mec-Gar magazines in it. The 15-round magazine shipped with the pistol is also usable in older Hi-Powers that are still in spec.

Does the SA-35 have a magazine disconnect?

No. Springfield left the magazine disconnect out, which is the main reason the SA-35 trigger is noticeably better than most factory Hi-Powers. The magazine also drops free when released.

What is the SA-35 trigger pull weight?

Springfield lists roughly 5.5 pounds. Independent reviewers using a digital gauge have measured close to that, around 5.5 to 5.7 pounds, with short take up and a crisp break.

What is the difference between the SA-35 and the SA-35 4 inch?

Barrel length and overall size. The standard model has a 4.7-inch barrel, is 7.8 inches long, and weighs 31.5 ounces. The 4-inch model has a 4-inch barrel, is 7.1 inches long, and weighs 29.8 ounces. Capacity, frame, grip, sights, and price are the same on both.

Is the SA-35 good for concealed carry?

It can be carried, and many people do. It is an all-steel single action pistol weighing around two pounds, so it carries like a 1911 rather than like a polymer striker-fired gun. The 4-inch model shortens the slide without changing the grip. A good belt and a quality holster matter more here than with a lighter pistol.

Is the SA-35 made in America?

Yes. Springfield Armory builds the SA-35 in the United States with forged steel parts and a cold hammer forged barrel.

How much does the Springfield SA-35 cost?

Both the 4.7-inch and 4-inch models carry a $799 MSRP from Springfield Armory. Call Dark Horse Guns & Ammo at (775) 344-8022 for our pricing on the two we have in stock.

Come handle both

We have the 4.7-inch and the 4-inch on the shelf at Dark Horse Guns & Ammo, 518 W Goldfield Ave, Yerington, Nevada 89447. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (775) 344-8022 or send us a message.

This is a pistol worth putting in your hand before you decide. Ninety years of service history is a lot to read about, and about ten seconds to understand once you are holding one.

Dark Horse Guns & Ammo LLC is a federally licensed dealer in Yerington, Nevada. All firearm sales are subject to applicable federal and Nevada law, including background check requirements. Buyers are responsible for knowing the laws where they live. Nothing here is legal advice.