j1979
Member
Just wondering why these are to be superior to the new ones, this is what Ive read anyways. Also what is the cutoff mfg date to get one of the ones made in W Germany? Thanks
West German Sig 226
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rbernie
Contributing Member
They are lighter in the slide, and handle better to some as a result.
Rather than look at the date code, you can simply look at the slide; it'll be clearly stamped 'Made in Germany' (post-91, pre-milled slide) or 'Made in West Germany' (pre-91 reunification).
As far as I know, all milled slides (intriduced with the 40S&W version) were made in the US and the stamping thusly reads 'Frame Made in Germany' or some such.
Rather than look at the date code, you can simply look at the slide; it'll be clearly stamped 'Made in Germany' (post-91, pre-milled slide) or 'Made in West Germany' (pre-91 reunification).
As far as I know, all milled slides (intriduced with the 40S&W version) were made in the US and the stamping thusly reads 'Frame Made in Germany' or some such.
Some claim the folded/stamped slides handled nicer.
I think a lot of it is emotional, 'they don't make them like they used to'.
I have a modern (frame made in Germany) P226 (Navy) that is just sweet as punch and an old (made in W.Germany) P6 with internal extractor and folded/stamped slide that is great too.
I think a lot of it is emotional, 'they don't make them like they used to'.
I have a modern (frame made in Germany) P226 (Navy) that is just sweet as punch and an old (made in W.Germany) P6 with internal extractor and folded/stamped slide that is great too.
Personally, I prefer the newer models. The older stamped slide models had better balance, and cosmetically they were a little more refined. The newer machined slide models are more corrosion resistant, have a more reliable external extractor, and the trigger is a little more smooth and consistant. However, I've noticed some cosmetic issues with the newer P226s and P220s. I didn't notice any function problems, just looks. I've made it a project of mine to look into Sig quality in the last few years and it still seems that Sig put a little more refinement into the P229 over the other models.
"You can rest assured that we do not cut corners in the production of any of our pistol models. We sell nearly double the number of model 229 .40 S&W pistols than we do any other pistol model in our line to large law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and now the US Coast Guard. Due to the demand for .40 caliber pistols in the last couple of decades from the law enforcement community, there has also been a greater number of agencies putting their pistols through extensive and abusive testing. All of our pistols are of top quality, but we do put a little more into refining the model 229 because of the market demand for it. If your product fails domestic agency testing, then you can kiss contracts goodbye. We won't have that."
-Kenneth Horne, production manager at Sig Sauer from "Law Enforcement Annual in 2007"
"You can rest assured that we do not cut corners in the production of any of our pistol models. We sell nearly double the number of model 229 .40 S&W pistols than we do any other pistol model in our line to large law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and now the US Coast Guard. Due to the demand for .40 caliber pistols in the last couple of decades from the law enforcement community, there has also been a greater number of agencies putting their pistols through extensive and abusive testing. All of our pistols are of top quality, but we do put a little more into refining the model 229 because of the market demand for it. If your product fails domestic agency testing, then you can kiss contracts goodbye. We won't have that."
-Kenneth Horne, production manager at Sig Sauer from "Law Enforcement Annual in 2007"
Thin Black Line
Member
I have both a "West German" 226 and a much newer one. They shoot
exactly the same and after tearing them apart, the quality appears
to be the same. The biggest difference I remember between new and
old is the hammer strut/spring. The new one has a plastic base that
sets into the bottom back of the grip frame. I seem to recall the old
style one looked a little more tricky to change than the new one would
have been. BTW, NO this is not to be "field stripped", it's only when the
spring actually needs to be replaced. The old one wasn't replaced for the
first time until this year when it started having problems and then ALL the
springs were replaced at once. I'm not sure on the age, but at least 17
years.
The old one came with tritium sites which are also still fine.
exactly the same and after tearing them apart, the quality appears
to be the same. The biggest difference I remember between new and
old is the hammer strut/spring. The new one has a plastic base that
sets into the bottom back of the grip frame. I seem to recall the old
style one looked a little more tricky to change than the new one would
have been. BTW, NO this is not to be "field stripped", it's only when the
spring actually needs to be replaced. The old one wasn't replaced for the
first time until this year when it started having problems and then ALL the
springs were replaced at once. I'm not sure on the age, but at least 17
years.
The old one came with tritium sites which are also still fine.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Yes - the old style mainspring retainer is a cast iron pain in the arse to disassemble and reassemble. Yesterday, I replaced the mainspring on three P6s and two West German P226s, and cursed every step of the way.
In the way of trivia - the older P226s also have dust grooves in the slide rails that the newer units lack. Dunno how useful they were, but it's a difference nonetheless.
In the way of trivia - the older P226s also have dust grooves in the slide rails that the newer units lack. Dunno how useful they were, but it's a difference nonetheless.
Thin Black Line
Member
Nice to know I wasn't doing something wrong...
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