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Springfield XD with Thumb Safety

Springfield Armory introduced a new version of the popular XD 45 Service Pistol. This .45 ACP model adds an ambidextrous thumb safety on the frame that closely mirrors the function of thumb safeties on the 1911 handguns. The thumb safety was placed far back on the frame to make it relatively easy to manipulate.

The Springfield XD pistols have been described by some as a modern-day 1911, and in fact the Springfield XD does draw much of its inspiration from the 1911.

I have talked with numerous 1911 shooters who were never impressed by the Glock pistols, but who are enamored with the XD line. Many 1911 shooters appreciate the grip safety that is standard on XD pistols. 1911 handguns also use a grip safety.

The Springfield XD has not had a thumb safety until this model. For devotees of John Moses Browning, the addition of the thumb safety makes this a much closer pistol to the modernized 1911 concept.

Springfield XD thumb safety

So, if you like the XD pistols, and have been waiting for a thumb safety, your wait is over. Springfield is delivering these pistols now, any you should find them on your dealer’s shelf.

Springfield XD45 with Thumb Safety Specs

  • caliber: .45 ACP
  • barrel length: 4.04″
  • overall length: 7.3″
  • slide: steel
  • finish: black Melonite
  • frame: polymer
  • trigger pull: 5.5 to 7.7 pounds
  • weight with an empty mag: 30 ounces

Update: Feb 2011 – This specific model of XD is still available for purchase, but the thumb safety does not appear to have caught on across the line.

It is the only XD service model with the option.

Other handguns in the line do not have the manual safety available, leaving one to conclude that most shooters aren’t looking for a handgun with this feature.

While the external manual safety might have made sense for poorly trained military conscripts of more than 100 years ago, today’s gun owner is typically better trained, and not needing some device to keep them from pressing the trigger without cause. Of course, it can be noted that nearly the entire Smith & Wesson M&P line has a thumb safety available as an option. So, go figure.

Last update: May 30, 2021

By Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson is a gun writer, amateur historian and - most importantly - a dad. He's done a lot of silly things in his life, but quitting police work to follow his passion of writing about guns was one of the smartest things he ever did. He founded this site and continues to manage its operation.

37 replies on “Springfield XD with Thumb Safety”

I HAVE BEEN PROMISED BY SPRINGFIELD APPROX. 1.5 YEARS AGO THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE NEW XD 45 CAL. WITH THE THUMB SAFETY AND TO DATE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AQUIRE A SINGLE ONE OF THE FOUR I HAVE ORDERDED. i HAVE BEEN PROMISED BY THE SPRINGFIELD PEOPLE THAT THE BLACK VERSION IS IN THE STORES EVEN THOUGH I PREFERRED THE OD GREEN THAT MOST OF THE GUN WRITERS HAVE BRAGGED ABOUT BEING OUT THERE. ONE QUESTION, CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE I CAN AQUIRE THE AFORE MENTIONED PISTOL? I LIVE IN WA. STATE SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF SPORTING GOOD STORES,I have called more than one every week for all this time and am beginning to wonder if they exist. CAN SOME HELP ME??????

Ive had the xd 45 service, and had NOOOO problems…shoots amazingly straight at 25 yards easy, comfortable grip, i carried it while riding my chopper, and again, no problems…for the price, its more than worth the money…

Sold my xd45 service and purchased the xd45 tactical w/thumb safety. I also would never carry the service with a round in the chamber. Probably a throwback to my 1911 days but I like to have ultimate control of the safety and not rely on “automatic” safety features.

Couple the xd45 tac with a Safariland 6365 holster with the SLS and the ALS and you have an arguably perfect match. With this holster the thumb is set at exactly the right place to sweep the safety off when drawing. You don’t loose any time whatsoever messing with the safety, none at all. I’m using the 6365-149-131 and it’s simply a great match.

Also sold my PX4 because the thumb safety operates opposite of what the XD does. When drawing from a holster extra time is need to disengage the thumb safety, (flipping it up), in contrast the more natural downward movement to disengage the safety on the XD.

I just ordered a Service Model 45 acp with ambi safety. I just like the way it looks with the safety and to see a red dot on the side sort of makes it complete. I have an XDM without an external safety and carry that with one in the pipe and it’s never been a problem. Then again I carry my 1911’s cocked & locked too. Once you get used to that sort of carry it’s no big deal. I owned a few Glocks that I carried one in the chamer with and always did wonder about if for some reason I had to stick the gun in my waistband if I would shoot my nuts off ? With the XD, having the grip safety alone makes it safer let alone a manual safety. Im now a fan of Springfield XD/XDM and I’ll never buy another glock again. The XD/XDM is made much better. Beefier slide and frame, steel trigger and sights, nicer slide and mag releases, stainless magazines and so on. The quality is there !

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