• SUBSCRIBE
Athlon Outdoors Supersite
Tactical Life Website
Ballistic Website
Personal Defense World Website
Skillsetmag Website
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Thermal Vision
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Thermal Vision
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors Super Site
No Result
View All Result
  • TL
  • PDW
  • BM
  • Skillset
 
ENTER TO WIN: FREE GUN FRIDAY ft. Browning, Caldwell & Black Hills!

Cylinder & Slide Trident II: A U.S. Navy SEAL-Inspired .45 Warrior

ShareTweetPin
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii

The Trident II is finished with a PVD nickel boron finish that provides exceptional corrosion protection.

Rob GarrettbyRob Garrett
December 8, 2014
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
The Trident II is finished with a PVD nickel boron finish that provides exceptional corrosion protection.
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
The Trident II has a match grade barrel but the bushing is only finger tight to facilitate toolless field stripping .
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
The front sight is the C&S “Strong” sight that features a widened base for additional durability.

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Laughridge selected the proven Heinie Ledge rear sight for the Trident.
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
The new SureFire X400V IRc features both white and IR illumination and an IR laser.
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Stippling not only reduces the cost but does not attract and trap dirt and debris like checkering.

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Forward cocking serrations and ball cuts provide functionality and add to overall good looks.
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Note the white witness mark indicating the safety is engaged. A red dot is visible when the safety is disengaged.
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii

The trident is a three-pronged spear that, in mythology, is associated with both Neptune and Poseidon. It is also at the center of the U.S. Navy Special Warfare insignia, where it is being clutched by a golden eagle, along with an anchor and a cocked flintlock pistol. The insignia represents the core values and mission of the Navy SEAL community. It is also the namesake for a custom 1911 from Cylinder & Slide (C&S).

The story of the C&S Trident II 1911 began in 2009, when Bill Laughridge, founder and president of the company, was teaching a 1911 Custom Pistolsmithing class in Virginia. One of his students was an active-duty SEAL who had an affinity for the 1911. During that class, the student shared his experiences with the fine sand, known as “moon dust,” that plagues equipment in Iraq, Afghanistan and other unnamed locations. Those discussions served as a catalyst that sent Laughridge on a search to find a suitable finish for the 1911 that would not attract sand, dirt and other crud. The discussions also led to a set of specifications for a 1911 that would be reliable in harsh environments with minimal maintenance. To honor all Naval Special Warfare warriors, Laughridge named the pistol the Trident.

It is important to note that the Trident was not earth shattering and had no new, revolutionary features. What made the Trident different was its execution. But, to quote Laughridge, “The devil is in the details.” Each modification and component was carefully evaluated to ensure durability and maximum reliability in the world’s harshest environments. It is this philosophy, supported by real-world experience, that set the Trident apart from many other 1911s.

The original Tridents utilized a Springfield Armory 1911A1 as a base platform. The Springfield Tridents provided the proof of concept, and C&S built and sold a significant number of pistols. As the Trident project grew, delivery of the base Springfield pistol became an issue. Laughridge made the decision to transition to a full-custom-built pistol using a C&S OEM slide and frame. The A1 versions of the Trident II are 5-inch Government models with integral magazine wells and Picatinny accessory rails. The A2 variant is a standard 5-inch Government model configuration without the accessory rail. Finally, the A3 Trident II pistols are Commander-sized and do not have the mag well or accessory rail.

Gun Details

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Stippling not only reduces the cost but does not attract and trap dirt and debris like checkering.

Having tested the original Trident for COMBAT HANDGUNS in 2010, I was especially excited to see the new and improved version. The basic features of the original Trident have been retained, and it is important to note that all of the Trident II’s major components are C&S OEM parts. The critical internal parts are CNC-machined from billet steel or made from forgings and heat-treated throughout. Each part undergoes a rigorous inspection and is subjected to a hardness evaluation using a Rockwell testing machine. It’s also important to note that the Trident II contains no MIM parts.

RELATED: Cylinder & Slide Super Lite 1911 .45 ACP Pistol

To fully understand the Trident concept, it is necessary to review the major modifications and choice of components. The frame on my test pistol, an A1 variant, features an integral accessory rail that has been trued to mil-spec dimensions. The frontstrap is machine-stippled to improve the gripping surface. Stippling was chosen over checkering for several reasons. Proper stippling provides a positive gripping surface without the drawbacks of checkering, which can trap dirt, skin or blood and is hard to clean. Checkering also tends to abrade gear and can be dented and broken. Another small and often overlooked detail involves stock bushings that, when improperly installed, tend to back out when removing the stocks. Cylinder & Slide properly torques and stakes the bushings to prevent this issue. The steel mainspring housing features a recessed lanyard loop and is stippled and cleanly blended to the frame and magazine well.

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Forward cocking serrations and ball cuts provide functionality and add to overall good looks.

The slide features front and rear cocking serrations to facilitate cycling and press checks. The C&S-made, 5-inch, drop-in barrel is matched to a finger-tight barrel bushing that has been opened up to enhance reliability. This combination gives the Trident II, on average, 2-inch accuracy at 25 yards. The ejection port is lowered, and its leading edge has been relieved to allow for the safe ejection of an unfired round. C&S uses a machined extractor that is inspected for proper heat treatment and then fitted, radiused and tensioned. The diameter of the firing-pin hole has been opened to the original .45-caliber specification.

External controls include a C&S beavertail grip safety with a palm swell that is precisely fitted and specially modified. The hammer recess is re-cut and enlarged to prevent debris from being trapped in the recess and jamming the pistol. The ambidextrous thumb safety is a C&S extended design that features reduced-width paddles. Status indicators are receded and color-coded to show white when the safety is engaged and red when the safety is in the “off” position. I first wondered why the fire-control status dots were color-coded, but former Special Forces operator and gunsmith Larry Vickers was one of the first to use red/white dots on a 1911-style pistol. The red for “fire” and white for “safe” are internationally accepted indicators on many weapons. It’s a nice custom touch for the pistol. The slide stop is a Greider design that provides a solid ledge for both dropping the slide during reloads and manually locking the slide to the rear.

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
Laughridge selected the proven Heinie Ledge rear sight for the Trident.

C&S selected a solid, medium-length trigger with a solid shoe and a stainless steel bow. It’s also fitted with an internal overtravel stop. The medium-length trigger allows for ample space to run the Trident II with cold weather gloves. The solid trigger lacks the fashionable three holes that can attract debris and contribute to malfunction. The trigger pull on my test pistol broke cleanly at 4.75 pounds with no overtravel.

RELATED: C&S Trident .45 ACP

The Trident II features a Heinie Ledge rear sight with a cocking ledge on the forward edge of the blade. The C&S “Strong” front sight was specifically developed for the Trident project. The sides of the Strong front sight have been widened at the base, eliminating the 90-degree weak point found on traditional designs. This provides a stronger design for hard-use environments. A Trijicon tritium insert is ringed with a white circle for more-positive acquisitions during a variety of conditions.

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii
The Trident II has a match grade barrel but the bushing is only finger tight to facilitate toolless field stripping .

The frame, slide and all major components of the Trident II are coated with a nickel-boron finish. This allows the pistol to operate in harsh environments with little or no lubrication. Dust and dirt are the enemy of all firearms, and 1911s are notorious for not running well without proper lubrication on the rails, barrel hood and muzzle. The PVD nickel-boron finish offers exceptional lubrication and anti-corrosion properties. In addition, carbon deposits and fouling do not stick to the finish as readily, making the cleaning process significantly easier.

Once the Trident II build is completed—but before being sent out for finishing—the pistol is test-fired at 15 yards to check for both function and reliability. It is at this step that the front sight blade is cut for the proper zero with 230-grain FMJ ammunition. The front sight is then removed and sent to Trijicon for the white circle and tritium insert. The other components are then ready to be nickel-boron coated. After all parts are returned, the pistol is then reassembled and the sights are reinstalled. The pistol is test-fired a second time for a final function check and the zero is confirmed. The test-firing is done with the three, seven-round, nickel-boron-coated magazines that are shipped with the pistol. During the process, a minimum of 56 rounds are fired through each pistol.

Range Time

Cylinder & Slide Trident II, cylinder & slide, cylinder slide, trident ii

I received the first production Trident II for testing. Laughridge was also interested in getting some initial feedback, and I noticed two minor issues. The lower trailing edge of the thumb safety needed to be radiused to remove a sharp edge. The second involved the fire control and trigger pull. The nickel-boron finish resulted in a very slick trigger pull that felt lighter than the measured 4.25 pounds. Both of these were very minor issues, but Laughridge addressed each in the production pistols.

To no one’s surprise, the Trident II proved 100-percent reliable with a variety of ammunition. I even degreased the pistol and ran it in a completely dry condition in an effort to induce a malfunction. I tested the Trident II with three loads at a distance of 25 yards.

The fact that a custom 1911 is still the first choice of many of today’s warriors is a tribute to John Moses Browning. In truth, the Trident II is not significantly different from Browning’s original design. However, modern production technology, quality parts and specific modifications enable this 100-year-old design to continue to be relevant. While there are more expensive 1911s on the market, I am not sure that there is one more reliable. The Trident II is purpose-built to go into harm’s way. Whether in the deserts of Iraq, the mountains of Afghanistan or Main Street, U.S.A., the Trident II is ready for any mission.

 

For More Information

Cylinder & Slide
http://www.cylinder-slide.com

Springfield Armory
http://www.springfield-armory.com

Larry Vickers
http://www.vickerstactical.com

Heinie Specialty Products
http://www.heinie.com

Trijicon
https://www.trijicon.com

Didn't find what you were looking for?

MOST POPULAR

Taurus Home Defender revolver in .410.

KA-BOOM: Here Comes the Taurus Judge Home Defender!

300 Blackout vs 308, rifles, ammunition

300 Blackout vs 308 Win: Which Round Reigns Supreme in AR-15s?

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

All the best new handguns seen at SHOT Show 2023.

21 Best New Handguns [2023]

TRENDING

Pete King signs Assault Weapons Ban

Does The California Assault Weapon Ban Ruling Really Matter?

us customs border protection tunnel

US Customs & Border Protection Issues Solicitation for 9mm Handguns

detroit police chase

VIDEO: Good Samaritan Rams Car into Fleeing Suspect’s Vehicle in Detroit Police Chase

SIG Micro-Compact Legion

SIG Micro-Compact Legion Pistols Provide Smaller, High-End Options

BROWSE BY BRAND

Skillset-Logo_yellow-153x47png
Ballistic_LOGO-217x47
CH-Logo_blue-153x47
T-L-SS-stack life-47x140
PDW_CCH_LOGO-300x101
PDW-2022-Sidebyside-logo 160x30-blk
GOW LOGO x101
AF_LOGO-184x47

SPOTLIGHT

The Watchtower Type 15M.

Watchtower Type 15M is Premium Forged and “All American Made”

New to the game, Watchtower Firearms is making some serious waves in the industry. After the acquisition of F-1 Firearms,...

RELATED POSTS

The 21st Tec TEC47 Rifle.

The 21st Tec TEC47 AR-10 in 7.62x39mm Accepts AK Mags

...

The Sig Sauer P320 FCU and Custom Shop circumvent restrictive state regulations.

Sig P320 FCU and Custom Shop Overcome Restrictive State Laws

...

The GOSAFE Mobile Mag and Mobile Safe.

The GOSAFE: Is This the Most Convenient Pistol Safe Yet?

...

Load More

TRENDING

The Fix It Sticks All-In-One Torque Driver Kit belongs in every range bag.

Fix It Sticks’ All-In-One Torque Driver Kit Belongs in Every Range Bag

Fix it Sticks, manufacturer of modular firearms maintenance tools and torque limiters, recently introduced its newest tool, the All-In-One torque...

Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in American Sniper.

Reel Shooters: The Best Movie Snipers & a Few of the Worst

Fans of action and war movies would be forgiven for thinking that trained snipers carry their rifles disassembled in an...

Big Horn Armory AR500 review, .500 Auto Max Semi-Auto AR

Big Horn Armory AR500: Testing the Absurdly Powerful AR in .500 Auto Max

The start of a new century seemed to wake up designers in their quest to expand AR roles via caliber...

The Sig Sauer P226 Zev.

The Sig Sauer P226 Zev Reviewed: Is It the Best P226 Ever?

Sig Sauer HQ in Newington, New Hampshire, has been a busy place for the last several years. Multiple successes with...

MOST POPULAR

The Mossberg MC2sc semi-auto pistol.

12 Best Micro-Compact Handguns for Concealed Carry [2022]

A thick veil of fog stood forever in front of me as I cruised down the highway at 6:30 in...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

Law enforcement in the United States is in constant evolution and that includes various police sidearms. These days, law enforcement...

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

Tuesday afternoon we broke news that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection selected three Glock 9mm pistols as its new standard...

All the best new handguns seen at SHOT Show 2023.

21 Best New Handguns [2023]

The NSSF SHOT Show is the premier event to get your hands on new gear. It gives us a first...

VIDEO SERIES: AT THE READY | SEASON 2

MORE VIDEOS

The 21st Tec TEC47 Rifle.

The 21st Tec TEC47 AR-10 in 7.62x39mm Accepts AK Mags

The Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32 Youth Binocular.

Vortex Bantam HD 6.5×32 Youth Binocular Gets Youth into the Hunt

HANDGUNS

The Sig Sauer P320 FCU and Custom Shop circumvent restrictive state regulations.

Sig P320 FCU and Custom Shop Overcome Restrictive State Laws

New Graphene finish.

The Taurus GX4 Micro-Compact is Now Available in Graphene

The Pedersoli Howdah.

The Pedersoli Howdah: Recreating the Howdah’s Legacy

The SK Customs Morelos.

SK Customs Morelos 1911 Heralds Generalissimo Jose Morelos

The Tisas Model 1911A1 Aviator

Tisas 1911A1 Aviator: Bringing Back the ‘Feel’ of the Original

The Sig Sauer P226 Zev.

The Sig Sauer P226 Zev Reviewed: Is It the Best P226 Ever?

RIFLES - click to see all

The 21st Tec TEC47 Rifle.

The 21st Tec TEC47 AR-10 in 7.62x39mm Accepts AK Mags

The Watchtower Type 15M.

Watchtower Type 15M is Premium Forged and “All American Made”

The Heritage Tactical Rancher Carbine.

Heritage Tactical Rancher Carbine Brings the .22 LR and Mag Fun

The limited edition RISE Armament Topo Watchman rifle.

UPDATED: New RISE Armament Topo Watchman Limited-Edition

AMMO - click to see all

HEVI-Shot HEVI-Bismuth Upland loads.

HEVI-Shot HEVI-Bismuth Upland Expands Hunting Lineup

Ammo Storage, Survival Ammo, long term ammo storage, Prepper

Best Methods for Long-Term Ammo Storage

6 .410 Ammo Options for Home and Personal Defense.

.410 Ammo for Home Defense [2023]

.44 Magnum dirty harry

Your Guide to the .44 Magnum Cartridge

The Escort PS Youth 20-gauge shotgun.

The Escort PS Youth Shotgun is Now Available in .410 Bore

The 2022 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous event.

Rendezvous Roundup: Guns & Gear at Athlon’s Signature Event

Magazines Available Now! Subscribe today for Home Delivery!
FREE NEWSLETTERS! Subscribe!
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • CORPORATE
  • ADVERTISE
  • EDIT DESK
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS

© 2023 Athlon Outdoors - Premium Firearm product and industry news, reviews and magazines" .