Firearm: Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25” CC (MSRP: $1,999)
Springfield Armory’s Tactical Response Pistol line – TRP – expanded significantly in 2024 with the addition of six new models. Three Government models and three Commander models joined the three existing Government models, with two models of each size having accessory rails on the dustcover. The model we have in today’s “I Carry” kit is the Coyote Brown Commander 1911 TRP with accessory rail and what Springfield Armory calls the Carry Contour grip.
The Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25” CC is standard Commander specs: 4.25-inch barrel, 7.9-inch overall length, 5.5-inch height and 27.3-ounce weight. Weight is kept down with the aluminum frame, while the slide is forged carbon steel. Sights are Springfield’s Tactical Rack configuration where both the front and rear sights have tritium dots, and the rear sight can be used to charge the pistol if needed. The top of the slide also contains serrations to reduce glare.
Most noticeable on the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25” CC is the “CC” portion of the name, the Carry Contour. This shaves down the back of the grip to reduce the pistol’s profile when carried concealed, as the back of the grip is the most likely area to print through a cover garment. Also of note is the Coyote Brown Cerakote with black accents: the barrel, barrel bushing, grip safety, ambidextrous thumb safeties and trigger are all finished in black and provide aesthetic contrast to the Coyote Brown finish.
Rounding out the features on the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25” CC are the VZ Grips Hydra grips in brown to match the finish. These grips offer excellent purchase, which is enhanced with 20 lpi checkering on the front strap. A word of caution, though: The checkering is very sharp, and while it helps anchor the pistol in the hand while shooting, it is quite aggressive and likely to cause abrasions in long shooting sessions. If you’re taking this to a week-long class, invest in shooting gloves. Your hands will thank you.
Holster: Mission First Tactical OWB Holster (MSRP: $59.99)
While, yes, leather is the traditional holster material for a 1911, since the TRP Commander has all kinds of modern upgrades, we figured it would be okay to feature a polymer holster. The OWB Holster from Mission First Tactical accommodates not only the accessory rail of the TRP line, but obviously can also accept handguns with slide-mounted optics. And, while it is called the OWB, Mission First Tactical includes two additional clips that mount to the front of the holster to make it an inside-the-waistband holster as well, giving you the option to carry it either way.
The OWB Holster is constructed of Boltaron for durability and attaches to the belt using two 1.5-inch belt loops for outside the waistband or clips for inside. Cant is adjustable for either a straight drop or 15-degree drop, there’s a mid-length sweatguard for comfort and retention is passive and based on precision molding.
Knife: Bear Forest Knives GT3 (MSRP: $149.99)
While we may have chosen a slightly non-traditional holster, we think the knife we’ve picked for today’s kit is spot-on. Bear Forest Knives’ GT3 fixed-blade knife offers a 3-inch, 80CrV2 high-carbon steel blade with a full, flat grind. Overall length is 7.25 inches, weight is 3.5 ounces and blade thickness is .125-inch. The handle is brown burlap micarta, although other color variants and patterns are available.
The GT3 fixed-blade offers greater stability than a folding knife, ideal for bushcraft or any basic task for which a knife is the preferred tool. The kydex sheath has a nylon belt loop that allows it to be worn in a crossdraw configuration for easy access with either hand. Retention is positive and based on precision molding to the knife, and the GT3 releases from and returns to the sheath with audible and tactile confirmation.
