Sig P228. Anything in particular I should know?

If it's in decent shape I'd be all over that deal.

This thread is kinda making me wonder if I should talk to a relative and see if his 228 is still around and available.

Howland937 said:

Edited above post. Guess it doesn't really matter if you guys know what I'll have in it.
Gun, 2-10rd mags, 1-13rd...box, manual etc... $500+tax

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Yup, worth it!

Howland937 said:

Yeah, I had to do that just to be sure I was looking at it right. Lots in the $700+ range sold and current bid.

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$500 in good condition is a buy it now price. IMHO

If it’s in good shape $500 is a great price.

With all this 228 love going around, I had to take mine out and admire it. Got that "been there, done that" look to it. If it could only speak, it would be in Hebrew. Luckily I could understand!

Howland937 said:

Edited above post. Guess it doesn't really matter if you guys know what I'll have in it.
Gun, 2-10rd mags, 1-13rd...box, manual etc... $500+tax

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Excellent deal. I've seen beater West Germans going for a lot more around here, and it's hard to find a nice specimen anymore.

Howland937:
This might help put into context why I stated that my three Sigs now are German-proofed guns.

My used, US-made Sig P229 (.40: DA/SA) had a >>perfect operation<<. The Only reason I traded it for the rare--in the Memphis market-- Sig P6 is because I'm mostly into certain foreign police or military handguns.

I then bought the Sig M11 brand-new. It was alright... except that it had 7 FT Extract issues in 1,100 rds. After then shipping/receiving from Sig, it had two more FTExtract issues within the next 300 rds.
That was enough ammo testing at my expense, especially after returning from the factory.

This glitch is reportedly very rare with the recent M11s, and I won't deny that at all.
But Sig USA changed from the internal extractors used by the Germans to a longer, external extractor for US-made guns.

Sig-Sauer in Germany had never changed to this component, >>> and to the credit of Sig USA, it worked extremely well on my P229 (.40)<<<.

I paid $450 for the first one I had, $499 for the one I still have.

"Really like those grips!"

Standard G10s, as far as I know.

Howland937 said:

Really like those grips!



It seems like it's in the 90% or better range as far as condition. Didn't see any areas where the finish was worn through (it's the all blued version). Actually probably better condition than my daily carry gun and it was brand new 2 years ago.

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They cannot be all blued. The frame is aluminum so it is black anodized. The slides on P228s come in various flavors. K Kote, Blued and Nitron. Special runs came with hard chromed slides and controls.

Howland937 said:

Then it's all black? It didn't look like bluing, but I wasn't sure if it was the same finish as my P238 and 1911. Just mostly meant it wasn't the two-tone finish.

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Cool!

This is a K Kote P228. K Note is an older finish only done in Germany. It is glossier than the Nitron or blue.



This is Nitron is the more modern finish which Sig still uses today. There have been several different versions. Since the gun you are looking at is a "Made in Germany" gun post reunification I would guess it is Nitron.



One last thing to consider is that the gun maybe a "German" frame assembled here in the US. One of my 3 is this type of gun. The frame still says made in Germany but it does not have triple serial numbers and lacks the German proof marks and date code on the slide seen in this pic. I would still buy if it is a USA assembled gun.

My dad has a German one, mint.
He loves it.
As he does his 220.
I shoot em OK, but shoot Glocks better.
Me and SIGs just don't fit

Howland937 said:

Ok, so I guess my next question would be...
Do the "Made in Germany" post unification versions of the P228 say "Sig Sauer Exeter NH" or would this indicate an assembled in the US version? I was under the impression it was just for import purposes...but since you're definitely more up to date on these things

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That is where Sig was located at the time of the guns importation or the importation of the parts. The real tell if the gun was assembled here in the US at Exeter or in Germany is the triple serial numbers and the date codes on the slide. They are mandated by German and European firearms law. The 3 serial numbers will be on the barrel, slide and the frame like this one. The 3rd is on the non visible side of the barrel.

You can see the serial numbers and the proof marks on the frame and the barrel. The 3 numbers should match. This is one way to determine that the pistol is original. You cannot do that on the US assembled ones because they often do not have the 3 serial numbers or all of the proof marks because they are not required by the US.

DON'T OVER THINK IT. BUY IT!



Honestly I would not worry about it as long as it is a P228 not a M11A1 which is a P229 with no rail made to look like a P228 with a fake UID#. The US assembled P228s were done before Sig when to the Cohen Kimber volume model for production. IMHO They are good to go.

would love to get another. hard to come across here or I'm not looking in the right places. I had 228 parts made in Germany and assemble sold in Exeter Mass. think it was a 98 vintage.

Eh, the external extractor (long or short) on the newer SIGs is really not an issue. As far as the West German production models being "better," that's something solely in the eyes of the beholder, er, hands of the owner (purely subjective and quite probably a bit of the snob factor going on), as there's mostly agreement that the 229s are a stronger, improved version of the 228s. I like 'em both. Below, a mid-90s "transition model" with the "new 228," the M-11A1 which is ... a 229 as we all know well.

Old Dog said:

Eh, the external extractor (long or short) on the newer SIGs is really not an issue. As far as the West German production models being "better," that's something solely in the eyes of the beholder, er, hands of the owner (purely subjective and quite probably a bit of the snob factor going on), as there's mostly agreement that the 229s are a stronger, improved version of the 228s. I like 'em both. Below, a mid-90s "transition model" with the "new 228," the M-11A1 which is ... a 229 as we all know well.
View attachment 931329

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I am not sure snobbery has anything to do with my preference for the P228 over the P229. For me it’s the fact the P228 was the first pistol I spent serious time with. I am used to it. The weight difference in the side and the dimensional differences in the frame make the P228 better in my hands. Your YMMV but there are real differences in the pistols. The differences are objective their effect on the shooter is subjective I will give you that.

They may be subtle but they are real. The P229 was built for the 40 S&W not the 9mm. It was adapted to the 9mm to help Sig with economy of scale.

WVsig said:

I am not sure snobbery has anything to do with my preference for the P228 over the P229. For me it’s the fact the P228 was the first pistol I spent serious time with. I am used to it. The weight difference in the side and the dimensional differences in the frame make the P228 better in my hands. Your YMMV but there are real differences in the pistols. The differences are objective their effect on the shooter is subjective I will give you that.

They may be subtle but they are real. The P229 was built for the 40 S&W not the 9mm. It was adapted to the 9mm to help Sig with economy of scale.

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I agree

The 100% German P228, which I have owned, basically seems to be a compact German P226.

Wasn't this the main inspiration for the design of the P228, besides being in 9mm?
Has been a while since reading "Sigfiles".

WVsig: I had a beauty just like yours. Far too nice for carry, even in my soft Remora..

I was issued one for a period in the military. I liked it much better than the M9. I'm not a fan of pistols with hammers, but if I were, the older Sigs (220, 226, 228, 229) would be my go-to.

WVsig said:

I am not sure snobbery has anything to do with my preference for the P228 over the P229. For me it’s the fact the P228 was the first pistol I spent serious time with. I am used to it. The weight difference in the side and the dimensional differences in the frame make the P228 better in my hands.

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That's pretty much how I feel about the difference between the 228 and 229 myself; besides the 1911, the P-228 is my all-time favorite pistol. What I was referring to is the very apparent snob effect when that group touts the West German pistols as being superior in every way to the new pistols, when in fact the new pistols tend to be much stronger, come with more features (frontstrap checkering, better grips, more sight options, etc.), far superior triggers (Grey Guns on the Legion and the SRT) and are as accurate without some of the inherent design flaws (which aren't necessarily flaws per se, but can and will create worn parts and or breakage faster)) of the older series. Some of us do believe the old models 228 and 226 in particular, without rails, feel better, balance better for us and, of course, they weigh less. Then there's the cachet of them not being made anymore, and being considered "classics."