A Pair of Professionals

Here's my pair of Springfield Professionals in 9mm. I purchased both of them from the used gun counter at a local gun store separately in the last six months. No idea what their history is, other than they were both lightly used and still in excellent condition.

Per the label on the hard case, the Professional Operator is clearly a V2 with the new style slide markings/font and missing the classic crossed cannons logo behind the ejection port.

And...

Per the label on the hard case for the other Professional, it should be a V2, as well. But it isn't! It's got the classic crossed cannons logo on the slide! That makes it a V1, not a V2.

Getting even weirder, according to the certificates of authenticity, the Professional Operator was built in March 2019, and the Professional Oddball was built 4 months LATER in July 2019.

So, clearly one gun is a V2 (Operator, March 2019) and clearly the other isn't (Oddball, despite being a newer, July 2019 gun), so, what gives? I'm not sure, but I think the Professional Oddball was built with what was left in the parts bin. I think it's a unique transitional thing and I love it. It's been a constant companion to me, on-duty and off-duty since I got it. Additionally, the clearly-not-a-V2-but-the-box-is-marked-a-V2 Professional Oddball is also missing the "Cal 9mm" marking on the dust cover, and the manufacturer's marking and serial number on the frame is two lines instead of the customary 3 line layout.

I've swapped the factory checkered wood grips to a pair of black cherry VZ 320s on the Oddball and a pair of carbon fiber VZ 320s on the Operator. I like the smoother grips on aggressively checkered guns like the Professionals.

Without further adieu, here are some (admittedly) poor photographs on both guns, taken hastily on my coffee table. Pardon the greasy marks, I just finished cleaning after a range trip and both guns are freshly oiled and ready to go back to work.


A pair of Professionals... but one of these things is not like the other.


Clearly, this Professional Operator is a V2.


Yup, looks like a V2 to me.


The label on the box seems to agree.


This label says "V2" as well, but looks can be deceiving.


That doesn't look V2-ish to me, no matter what the box says. Looks odd...


Um.... so where's the V2 at? Not here. Definitely an Oddball.


Crossed cannons - clearly not a V2 Professional, hence the Oddball. Also missing the "Cal 9mm" on the dustcover and the frame markings are two lines, not three.

Hope you've enjoyed these photos; comments are always appreciated. The depth and wealth of knowledge in this forum is incredible, so I'd love to know more if anybody has any additional information about Springfield Professional guns from this period.