That is, all the features are there, they’re just not obnoxiously there. The frame continues with all of the things we’d find on a race gun, but turned down to 8.
TTAG’s editor Dan liked the smaller backstrap, but the larger version was necessary to get my hand in the right position for the trigger. Both a larger, more rounded version and a flatter, thinner version are included. The front and rear of the grip have heavy raised bars while the sides are stippled like skateboard tape, and also features the FN logo. The 509 LS Edge’s polymer frame is textured on every side, in a couple of different styles. This is the kind of finish customers are used to paying a pretty penny for, and it’s worth every one of those pennies. FN raised the bar on “standard” for their finish on the current US Army service rifle, and they did so again here. The whole slide is well-finished with ultra slick and ultra-durable graphite physical vapor deposition (PVD).įN guns come in two colors grey and every shade of brown on earth. (Ask me how I know.) (image courtesy JWT for ) On the 509 LS Edge, it’s aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also a nod to FN’s heritage and makes gun nerds smile. That mill cut provides an elegant transition to the muzzle end of a flat sided slide, the primary reason for its inclusion on most custom 1911s. That’s the slide cut synonymous with the Browning Hi-Power that was produced by FN as well. Does that remind you of any other pistol? It should. (image courtesy JWT for )īut just forward of those cuts is what’s really worth paying attention to.
They’re there to look cool, and on the 509 LS Edge, it does look cool. I don’t buy it, and I’d rather have the weight to keep the muzzle down. Marketing for any pistol with slide cuts on the frame says that they are there to improve slide speed and the recoil profile. All that real estate helps with precise shooting, and the length and slightly more weight at the front end helps keep the sight returning quickly to the target for fast follow-ups. That’s a 6.7″ sight radius, just a bit longer than the standard 1911 Government. The most obvious change over the previous FN 509, 509 Midsize, Compact, and Tactical pistols is the 509 LS Edge’s slide.