P226 Questions

[LopezEL]

I bought this sig p226 today. The threaded barrel is what made me "pull the trigger" since I can use it with my Tirant 45 suppressor. However, I have been doing a little bit of research on this particular gun and had a few questions for you sig experts out there. Serial #U 393 9**

The proof mark near the dust cover says JK so I'm assuming this gun was made or imported in 1989. What finish would this gun have on it originally? I'm pretty sure it's been refinished because the marks on the slide "P226 Made in W. Germany" are a bit faded like they were polished before being refinished. The serial number is the same way. It is visible on the slide and the frame but it just does not look engraved evenly.

Could this gun originally have come with the threaded barrel? The barrel does not have a serial number on it. It just says Sig Sauer on the left side of the chamber (not visible unless barrel is removed from the slide) and it says 9mm Para on the right side (visible). The threads on the barrel are metric 13.5x1 left hand. My gut feeling is this barrel was added later but I don't know enough about Sigs to be sure.

The gun has the SRT trigger. Awesome short reset. This is my first DA/SA pistol (I'm more of a striker fired and 1911 shooter) but I think I can get used to shooting this 226. It also came with the nice hogue grips and two 18 round Mec Gar mags for $500. Is this price in line with what they sell for?

 

[LopezEL]

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The proof mark near the dust cover says JK so I'm assuming this gun was made or imported in 1989. What finish would this gun have on it originally?

Matte bluing on the slide, anodized frame. The frame finish, originally, is usually of a smoother texture than the slide, so I believe you're right about its being refinished. The grips, sights and barrel are all aftermarket. The SRT trigger is a SIG option, either already on the gun or as a retrofit, but is a fairly recent innovation and was not available when the gun was built.

 

[Dave P]

Sure looks like the slide and frame have been all scratched up, then refinished. Love the grips, tho.

 

[strambo]

Yup, looks like a great W. German P226 that may have seen some hard use. Refinished frame and slide, aftermarket threaded barrel, sights and replaced trigger with SRT.

Provided there are no function issues, $500 is a good price. I have a W. German from the 90's that I picked up for $550 in un-fired condition all original in 2005, that was a good deal then.

Spend some time working on your DA pull, start pulling the trigger in the high ready and time it so the hammer falls the instant you hit full extension and verify the front sight. Keep your finger on the trigger and reset it during recoil so as the sight settles the slack is out and the SA shot is ready to break. Practice a while and you can hang DA/SA with the 1911's.

I didn't like DA/SA pistols until I was issued one, taught to run it right, and sent to a combat zone with it. When I came home, I bought my own P226 and it is my daily carry. Been to a few courses with it as well.

 

[Old Dog]

Echo Strambo. In my neck of the woods, $500 would be an outstanding price for a West German P-226, refinished or not that's fully functional. Those Hogue G-10 grips aren't cheap, and the Mec-Gar 18-rounders are the best magazines out there for a SIG.

 

[1KPerDay]

Definitely refinished. Cool pistol.

Here's mine, factory finish for reference.

 

[Bovice]

I wouldn't worry about a P226 being refinished. Since they were blued conventionally in 1989, unless it wasn't used much at all in any capacity, even just carried around, the bluing would be toast. As long as it's working properly and your breech block insert is still tight, it's good. If you're seeing any reliability problems, put in a new recoil spring and get some new magazines. That's really all it will probably need.

In any German-produced slide SIG, I'd automatically put a new recoil spring in at a minimum. I've bought two P220s from that era and both were likely sold off for reliability problems that I easily fixed with a new recoil spring and fresh magazines. Breech blocks were still tight. Keep an eye on those. If it shows any signs of the breech block pin walking out, replace that pin. If the block gets loose, the slide will flex more than was intended and may crack.

 

[wgsigs]

I personally would be concerned about how the frame was "refinished". My understanding is the anodizing helps harden and strengthen the aluminum alloy frame and that any major compromise to its integrity, like removing it during refinishing could greatly harm the frame's durability.

 

[1KPerDay]

I don't believe SIG removes the anodizing during refinishing (and that looks like a "CPO" factory refinished gun to me). They just spray something on.

 

[wgsigs]

I don't believe SIG removes the anodizing during refinishing (and that looks like a "CPO" factory refinished gun to me). They just spray something on.

I don't believe SIG ever "refinishes" their alloy frames, but even if they did I don't believe the OP's P226 was refinished by SIG. SIG would not have streaks in their refinishing job (which I believe they only do to the slides) that look like brush marks, or potentially worse, underlying sanded scratches. But that is just my opinion.