First Look: The Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy

If you are in the market for a 1911 pistol, chances are that Springfield Armory is a strong contender. But in addition to its catalog of traditional designs, Springfield is knee-deep in the 2011 market as well. Their new DS Prodigy is one example. It has a modernized spin on a classic design.

The Springfield Prodigy lying on a barrel with two magazines.
The Springfield Prodigy uses proprietary double stack magazines. Out of the box, the gun ships with a 17 and 20-shot magazine. 26 round extended magazines are also available.

Jeremy took this new pistol out to the range to give us a first look in the video below. Aside from being not-so-lefty friendly, the Prodigy has a lot going for it by melding wanted features into a time-proven design.

Instead of my preferred style of wood grips, a blued finish, and 7 rounds of 45 ACP in a slim package, the Prodigy is boasting a polymer grip frame, a steel frame and slide blasted in black Cerakote, and standard capacity magazines that hold 17-20 rounds of 9mm Luger.

The Prodigy comes with either a 4-1/4-inch or a 5-inch bull barrel. Instead of a sleek, rounded dust cover, the bottom is squared for a Picatinny rail. Outwardly, the Prodigy’s blocky appearance is mirrored by the tall iron sights—a blackened U-Notch rear and a front green fiber-optic post.

The Springfield Prodigy lying on two logs.
The Springfield Prodigy comes with either a 5-inch (pictured) or a 4.25-inch bull barrel.

These sights certainly pop compared to a typical 1911 but they also allow you to co-witness your iron sights with a red-dot optic. So, you can still take aim if the optic fails. Speaking of optics, the Prodigy uses Springfield’s Agency Optics System. Essentially, it is an individualized plate or shim to adjust your particular red dot to the sights. The Prodigy is compatible out of the box with a Hex Dragonfly optic, but if you have or prefer another optic, you will have to purchase a different plate.

Springfield Prodigy with and without the red dot sight.
Springfield Prodigy with and without the red dot sight.

Otherwise, the pistol operates like any other traditional 1911. The trigger is true to form and short and you still have the grip safety that some love and some hate. Likewise, the slide stop, magazine release, and enlarged thumb safety are right where they should be. The thumb safety is ambidextrous, but the magazine release button cannot be reversed. If you are left-handed you are going to be stuck using your middle finger to effectuate your reloads.

Jeremy ran over 4 hundred rounds through the Springfield Prodigy without issue. The pistol runs well and looks good but begs the question: who is one the intended audience? A traditional 1911 enthusiast might call it heresy. Likewise, it has the weight of a 1911—at 2 lbs. 4 ounces unloaded—with none of the former’s slim profile for concealed carry. The short single-action trigger pull paired optics capability and the 5-inch bull barrel on Jeremy’s setup make the Prodigy a tempting choice for competition and all other applications to get lead out quickly and accurately.

What do you think? Is the Springfield Prodigy on your radar? Let us know in the comments below.

Terril is an economic historian with a penchant for all things firearm related. Originally a pot hunter hailing from south Louisiana, he currently covers firearms and reloading topics in print and on his All Outdoors YouTube page. When he isn't delving into rimfire ballistics, pocket pistols, and colonial arms, Terril can be found perfecting his fire-starting techniques, photographing wildlife, and getting lost in the archives.

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