Springfield Armory SAINT Edge EVAC First Look: Folding QD-Barrel 5.56 Pistol

What’s up channel fans and family, and welcome to Slav Guns. This one comes from my SHOT Show 2020 coverage, shot at Industry Day at the Range. One of the press releases you guys got most excited about, especially once I posted a picture of it, was the Springfield Armory SAINT Edge EVAC pistol. I caught up with Mike Humphreys from Springfield to go over what it is, what makes it special and how it works.

Quick note: this is a first look and walkthrough at Range Day. It is not a full range test and evaluation. The price and release timing below are what Springfield quoted at SHOT Show 2020, so check current pricing and availability before you buy.

What is the SAINT Edge EVAC?

Mike walked me through the basics. The SAINT Edge EVAC is a 5.56mm pistol with a wrist brace, and that brace is a folder. On top of being a folder, it also has a barrel takedown system, so you can pull the barrel assembly off the gun without tools and pack the whole thing down much smaller than a normal AR pistol.

A couple of other small features: it runs a compact pistol grip, and everything is set up so the gun fits into that smaller case once it’s broken down.

How the takedown works

Mike showed me the process right there at the range, and it’s pretty simple:

1. Lock the bolt back (which also shows the gun is clear).
2. Pull down on the takedown tab.
3. Rotate the barrel assembly and lift it out.
4. Ease the bolt forward with the bolt hold button and fold the brace.

The end result is a 5.56 pistol folded down into a really compact package. Putting it back together is basically the reverse: line the barrel back up, making sure the gas tube aligns, and lock it in.

The case (yes, I care about packaging)

If you guys know me, you know I’m a sucker for nice packaging. I loved the upgraded Ruger packaging, and I was a huge fan of the packaging Springfield did on the Hellcat. The EVAC comes with a zippered case that holds the broken-down gun along with a 20-round Magpul PMAG. Mike mentioned they’ve been able to fit the package into some pretty small spaces, roughly the size of a large handgun safe. I told him we might have to do a review on the case by itself.

Who is it for?

Besides “it’s freaking cool and I’ve got to have it,” I asked Mike who the target buyer is. He admitted there’s a certain engineering wow factor that’s going to appeal to gearheads, and Springfield will sell it to whoever wants it. But the way they picture it, it’s more of a survival and discreet storage gun. Something you stash behind the seat of your truck, or keep stored in a floatplane. It’s a lot of firepower in a very small package.

Does it hold zero?

That’s the big question with any quick-detach barrel system. If you’re pulling the barrel off and putting it back on, does your point of impact wander? According to Mike, Springfield tested it and noticed no appreciable change in point of impact. It pretty much goes right back to zero. That’s Springfield’s claim from their testing, not something I verified at Range Day, so I’d want to confirm it myself with a full T&E.

Price and release

At SHOT Show 2020, Springfield quoted an MSRP of $1,949 for the SAINT Edge EVAC, with a spring 2020 release. That was the price then, so check current pricing at your local gun dealer before you buy.

Bottom line

The SAINT Edge EVAC is one of those guns that just has a cool factor: a folding brace and a tool-free barrel takedown that turn a 5.56 AR pistol into something you can tuck into a small zippered case. If Springfield’s return-to-zero claim holds up, it makes a lot of sense as a truck gun or survival stash gun. If you’re shopping mags, cases or range gear, check slav.li/amazon, and if you want to support the channel, join the channel.

Keep squatting.

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Would you stash a folding takedown AR pistol in your truck, or is it just a cool gearhead toy? Let me know.

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