Springfield Armory Announces Desert FDE & OD Green Echelon Pistols

The Springfield Armory Echelon pistol has been out for almost 1 year now, and we have seen a lot of iterations of this popular tactical, defensive handgun that can also be deployed for competition. Everything from low capacity variants for more restrictive states to others with threaded barrels for silencers. Now, Springfield Armory has announced new Desert FDE and OD Green Echelon pistols coated in a protective Cerakote finish.

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Cerakote finishes are becoming widely popular within the firearms industry because of the improved attributes they afford firearms. Excellent for firearm parts due to their durability and corrosion resistance, this ceramic-based coating is applied with minimal impact on tolerances, providing a sleek, customized finish. For those who might not be familiar with the Echelon, all of its specifications – including those for the new Desert FDE and OD Green Echelon offerings – can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:

Cartridge: 9mm
Colorway: OD Green | Desert FDE
Barrel: 4.5″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
Slide: Billet Machined, Optics Ready, OD Green or Desert FDE Cerakote® Finish
Frame: Polymer – OD Green or Desert FDE
Sights: Tritium / Luminescent Front, Tactical Rack U-Dot™ Rear
Recoil System: Captive
Grip Width: 1.2″
Magazines: (1) 17-Round, (1) 20-Round
Weight: 23.9 Oz w/ Flush Mag | 24.3 Oz w/ Extended Mag
Length: 8″
Height: 5.5″ w/ Flush Mag | 6.5″ w/ Extended Mag
MSRP: $719

Geneseo, Illinois – May 28th, 2024 – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the release of two new color variants of the Echelon 9mm pistol. Now available in Desert FDE or OD Green, these two pistols continue the Echelon’s reputation as a highly adaptable handgun engineered with superior ergonomics and built to withstand the harshest conditions.
Both the Desert FDE and OD Green pistols feature a Cerakote® finish on the billet-machined slide that mates up with a matching color polymer grip module. Cerakote has become the gold standard for gun parts, with an advanced formulation that has virtually eliminated the need to oil the exterior for corrosion protection. This innovative coating not only enhances the durability and performance of firearms, but also offers significant benefits in terms of longevity and ease of care.
“The Echelon was engineered from the ground up to be today’s most advanced striker-fired pistol,” said Steve Kramer, Springfield Armory’s Vice President of Marketing. “With the addition of these two new color variants in Desert FDE or OD Green, shooters have even more options with this unparalleled pistol design.”

These new Cerakote dipped pistols are now viewable on Springfield Armory’s website. I have owned one of the original all-black Echelons for close to a year, and it has performed wonderfully for myself. I can only imagine these new Desert FDE and OD Green Echelon pistols will do the same with their attractive and protective Cerakote finishes. As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Springfield Armory and the new Desert FDE and OD Green Echelon pistols in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

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Adam Scepaniak