Advances in holster production which has made holsters available which can house a light rail equipped 1911 pistol have transformed the platform. Guns which normally would be safe queens taken out for range time or else kept as a nightstand gun are now able to be carried in a belt holster with little difficulty for those who dress appropriately and wear a suitable cover garment. As more and more people choose to do so, they discover that a loaded 1911 is not a light pistol to carry, doubly so when a flashlight or laser sight is attached. This situation was the catalyst for the creation of the Springfield Armory Lightweight Operator pistol.

This gun is similar in almost all respects to the Marine Corps Operator 1911 pistol. It is government sized and comes with an ambidextrous safety, forged steel slide with front and rear serrations, 5” match grade barrel, low profile combat sights, skeletonized hammer, titanium firing pin, ambidextrous thumb safety, High Hand beavertail grip safety, and a cross drilled aluminum trigger.

The major difference lies in the construction of the frame. It still sports a full accessory rail but it made from aluminum alloy instead of steel. This major difference drops the weight of the gun from 42 oz empty to just 34 oz. Shaving off 8 ounces may not seem like a lot, but it ends up being about the same amount of weight as the average rail-mounted flashlight.

Springfield Armory Lightweight Operator Reviews

Springfield Armory Lightweight Operator Pistol

A few other differences cause the Lightweight Operator 1911 pistol to stand apart from its twin. These include the use of a 2-piece full length guide rod similar to other Springfield Armory Loaded pistols and the use of wood grips instead of rubberized wraparound grips that the Department of the Navy required for the MC Operator. Also, the gun does not come in a two-tone finish but instead is all black in color. The slide, being steel, receives a black layer of Armory Kote while the frame, being aluminum, is black anodized.

Like all other Springfield Armory pistols, the Lightweight Operator comes with the company's Lifetime Warranty to provide assurance to those who subject such guns to hard use.

Reviews for the Springfield Armory Lightweight Operator 1911 pistol can be found below. We would appreciate it if you contributed a review of your own if you have had a chance to use this gun in the past but be sure that you match your review to the right gun as the MC Operator, Champion Lightweight Operator, and TRP Operator all have their own review sets. If you have pictures of your pistol you can email them to and we'll be sure to add them to the Lightweight Operator Photo Gallery.

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