s&w sigma modelsw9f

[smamet]

Can anyone tell me anything about the S&W sigma model SW9F,manu.date 1996,ss,blued slide,17 round magazine. had an offer to buy at $210.00. cond. is about 98%. Thanks

 

[FieroCDSP]

Sounds like a first run

I'm not sure what the first production year of the Sigma's was, but a 96 sounds pretty early. If you look through the threads, you'll find all kinds of references to issues with the early Sigmas. There's nothing wrong with my 40 Sigma, but it's late model that has the bugs worked out. Personally, I'd take the money and try to find something with a better rep than an early Sigma. Like a Hi-Point.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

That price is fair for a mint Sigma 9F with full caps (how many? - if just 1 then ok, 2? better). By ss, are saying me that the slide is stainless but blackened? I don't think they did that. Choice was a 9V (stainless slide '96-97) or 9F (sort of a teflon coated carbon steel). 1996 was actually late for the 9F. According to my 2nd edition (I'll be ordering my 3rd ed. soon) of Supica and Nahas, the 9F was made from 1994-1997. No information on a blackened stainless is in S&N.

I have 2 Sigmas, a 9VE and a 357V (limited production based on the 40F only in 357 Sig). My 9VE has been a champ. I've had some minor problems with my 357V (which S&W quickly addressed and returned the gun to me in record time). I suspect if you have any problems with the gun, S&W will make it right.

Between the first generation Sigmas and the later improved (or so-called E-series Sigmas), I'd have to take the E-series guns. There's a guy, screen name Denfoote, I believe, who posts on these forums and who traded into a 40F and was very satisfied with it, IIRC.

 

[denfoote]

There's a guy, screen name Denfoote, I believe, who posts on these forums and who traded into a 40F and was very satisfied with it, IIRC.

Yup!!
I traded a Glock 29 for my 40F!!!

It's been a solid performer. It fits my hand way better than the Glock did and I've had no trouble with it!!

The Sigma got a bad rap because of the so-called "agreement" that S&W foolishly signed. I suppose it was the easiest target to attack. Most of the Internet chatter, at the time, condemning the gun was from people bent on destroying S&W (the so called boycott). The introduction of an inexpensive gun that stood a chance of helping to right the financial ship had to be stopped at all costs if the boycott was to succeed!! The fact it closely resembled the Glock didn't help either!! The Glocksters gleefully jumped on the bandwagon!!!

I have to admit I was one of them!! I decided to settle the issue once and for all!! Thus the trade!! I was wrong!! The Sigma is not the monster I was led to believe it was!!

I'd go for it!!

 

[hagar]

I own 4 Sigmas, a 380, 9mm, 40 and a 357. They are all excellent pistols, and very accurate. The 380 is not a real robust pistol made for 1000's of rounds of shooting, but it has it's place. All of mine are the earlier models. The Sigma has the best, most natural fitting grip of any pistol I have ever fired, and I actually like the trigger pull most people complain about. Buy the Sigma, you won't be sorry. The other poster had it right, there was a conspiracy to destroy S&W by bashing their products.

 

[Skywarp]

I'll be the voice of dissatisfaction I guess.

I'm not a fan of any of the sigma variants. The trigger is atrocious at best unless you modify the gun. Not a fan of that at all. Their work around to avoid completely ripping off the glock is the hinging trigger, I personally dont care for it.

While working at the other other range in town, we have a 9ve and 40ve. Both broke in short order. Which sucked because my boss was trying to Push S&W autos as THE gun.


As always YMMV, and all opinions stated are my own

 

[pwrtool45]

The Sigma got a bad rap because of the so-called "agreement" that S&W foolishly signed

Well, there was that. There was also the design of the trigger return spring which required a felt wad inside the spring as a vibration dampener. When American Handgunner did their 10k "torture test" they "cleaned" and cooled the gun by dipping it in a bucket of water. (IIRC, it was water.) Somewhere along the way, the felt wad got displaced and the trigger return spring broke. I think this happened two or three times (a S&W representative was on site to observe the test and fixed the gun when it broke).

At any rate, gun owners being the panicky bunch they are didn't bother to figure out what actually happened. They read the executive summary and the Sigma's reputation took a hit. The fact that the design of the return spring was changed and the felt wad was no longer required (IIRC) was lost on everybody. (Honestly, the felt dampener seemed like a hack to me. As though the MEs at S&W knew the return spring was a problem. If I had to guess, I'd say the part was already undergoing redesign when someone in management said "Hey, I know you said those new guns aren't ready and gave me a long, drawn out technical reason why, but we're demoing one tomorrow. I'll need it at noon." So, they cobbled together a workaround, but didn't take into account the gun being rapidly heated (shot as fast as magazines could be loaded) and rapidly cooled (dunked in water when it was too hot to hold) dozens of times over the course of an afternoon.)

This is all from memory and the latter part is speculation. I stand to be corrected.