October 13, 2026, 09:14 AM
RogueJSKSpringfield Armory Echelon Alpha handguns - Now with an Echelon PRO!
quote:
Echelon®
Central Operating Group®
Variable Interface System®
LightForged™
Springfield Grey Cerakote®
Geez™, Springfield® sure went overboard® with the trademarks™.
October 13, 2026, 10:51 AM
egregore
I'm not sure what to make of that grip texturing. Is it supposed to evoke snake or shark skins? And ...
I see no indication that the frame is metal.
October 13, 2026, 11:20 AM
RogueJSKquote:
Originally posted by egregore:
I see no indication that the frame is metal.
It's not metal. It's polymer.
"
Lightforged™®©" is just the typical over-the-top SAI marketing speak for it having laser-etched grip texture on the plastic frame.
quote:
Is it supposed to evoke snake or shark skins?
This "Badlands" texture is supposed to evoke parched, cracked earth. Like in a dry riverbed.
October 13, 2026, 01:57 PM
MacGyverLong ago, I had the original IM Metal HS2000 (i.e. before the Croatian company changed its name to HS Produkt and before they entered into the branding/import arrangement with Springfield Armory for the US market). It was an excellent pistol, despite a couple of (largely subjective) things not being to my taste. As silly as it may sound, the marketing gimmickry after Springfield Armory entered the picture (though a truly great business idea overall), killed most of my interest.
I think HS Produkt makes terrific product in any case, but SA’s marketing has always been corny, and has only gotten worse. They’re certainly not alone in that though…
October 13, 2026, 04:05 PM
cslingerquote:
I had the original IM Metal HS2000
I did as well. One of the best values in a handgun I’ve ever had.