Simple questions about sig frames

No idea what it is, but have you tried a magnet on the grip?

I believe (and I could be wrong), that only the stainless steel versions have steel frames. All others have an aluminum alloy frames. I had an early P226 and it had an alloy frame, as well as a BDA (early P220); both were made in Germany. I currently have a P229R made in the U.S. and it also has an alloy frame.

IIRC, SIG made a very short run of 229 STs. It may have been a "gun of the month" before the New Management came in. There is also a 229 Sport, which should have a compensator and adjustable sights.

There were some P220 STs made that were blackened, but I don't remember if it was Nitron or something else.

If your Elite is stainless, then the frame is indeed stainless steel. If you have the Nitron version, I am pretty sure it's an aluminum frame. Of course, if you like the 229 Elite, then you could get a Stainless Elite as well.

The Elites come with steel frames and Rosewood grips. They are still being made by SIG as far as I know. SIG also makes some of the stainless frame models with the Nitron coating, so they will appear to be identical to the alloy frame models except for the weight.

229 STs came out not long after the 220ST and 226ST pistols. They were a limited run and are much more hard to find than the others.



Nitron has historically be a process much like Melonite QPQ process. The metal gets superheated, then quenched in a solution to achieve the coating. This is not at all the same thing as K-Cote, a spray and bake finish which SIG also had on the market in overlapping timeframes.

I disagree that "if it's black, it's Nitron." The processes and results are completely different.

Kentucky Gun Co and Osage has them in stock $1250. You might find cheaper on GunBroker.

http://www.kygunco.com/sig-sauer-p229-elite-stainless-9mm-pistol-39in-15-round-rosewood-grips-27579

http://www.osagecountyguns.com/fire...sewood-grips-srt-night-sights-e29r-9-sse.html

The Elites come with steel frames and Rosewood grips. They are still being made by SIG as far as I know. SIG also makes some of the stainless frame models with the Nitron coating, so they will appear to be identical to the alloy frame models except for the weight.

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The Extreme Elite P229 has a hard black anodized frame, which means that it is alloy. That may be what RON has.
http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p229-enhanced-elite.aspx

To get a steel frame P229 it will have to be stainless steel, either a Stainless Elite (natural or nitron finish), or one of the old Sport or ST models.

RON in PA said:

... have you tried a magnet on the grip?

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This is the definitive test. Have you tried it and what did you find out?

Frame broke on two of my brother's Sig 220s, and then he gave up on that.

Depending on the stainless steel, it probably won't be magnetic.

Nuclear said:

Depending on the stainless steel, it probably won't be magnetic.

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Very true. The alloy that composes such things as decorative finishes and table wear is generally non magnetic. But the alloy used in gun frames generally is magnetic.

I just remembered that SIGArms also offered a 229 reverse 2-tone, which had a stainless frame and a Nitron finished stainless steel slide (blackened). This gun was only offered in .40 S&W. It was one of the "Gun of the Month" pistols, and online references to this pistol may require "GOTM" as a search term.

To me, the SIGs manufactured during this time frame were the pinnacle of SIG's manufacturing. Ron Cohen, of Kimber notoriety, had not yet arrived, and SIGArms (USA) and SIG Sauer (Germany) were making some truly awesome collaborations. They had none of the material or finish shortcomings of the early guns, and none of the cheapening found in the newer offerings. If I find STs or 2-tone guns (with nickel accents) from this time period, they are coming home with me.