I can not speak about the quality of the USA manufactured or assembled SIG Sauer pistols since I do not have first hand experience with them, but I can give first hand comments for the European made SIG Sauer pistols as a years of Eckernförde made SIG Sauers user / shooter.
The quality and attention to the detail in the SIG Sauer pistols have been decreasing continuously especially after the year of 2000 since when the SIG is separated completely from small arms division. The firms manufacturing the SIG Sauer pistols are taken to the hands of a group of private investors who do not care about anything but decreasing costs and increasing profit margins. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you can save your traditional quality level, but unfortunately it is not likely the way it is.
My first SIG Sauer pistol was a West German P226. Even after 5000 rounds of 9x19 mm NATO ammo, the frame rails were just like new, not even a spot of chipping. The decocking lever never chipped the frame since the notch at the very rear of it was perfectly made to prevent the excesive movement of it. The locking block was sitting rock solid in the frame without any movement. The firing pin safety block was sitting in its place with its exact dimensions without protruding downwards at the right side of it. All the feeding ramps I have seen were cut symmetricaly. etc, etc...And all the P series pistols I have seen manufactured before the year 2000 was up the standards I have been excpecting from SIG Sauer, rock solid, reliable, dead on accurate.
I have never seen a locking block fluctuating in the frame before the year of 2000, but after then, almost at least half of the locking blocks are fluctuating in the frame, especially when they are pressed at the feeding ramp area, causing frame chippings during firing. All the decocking levers are chipping the frame since the notch at the rear of them is not cut deeply enogh to prevent the excesive movement of them. Most of the feeding ramps on the barrels are not cut symmetricaly as it was used to be. Most of the firing pin blocks on the stamped steel slides are protruding downwards at the very right side causing frame rail chipping. And for the MIM story, SIG Sauer have been using stamped, cast and MIM parts for over the years, but MIM parts from third world countries to cut the costs came after the year 2000.
When a part is not up to its exact standard dimensions, this may just be a cosmetic issue for someone as long as it does not disturb the function of the pistol. There are much more cheaper pistols on the market that fits the description above. But when SIG Sauer asks a premium price for their pistols, I have the right to ask for a premiumgrade pistol manufactured with premium grade parts and premium level of workmanship. Asking premium level of prices for the pistols which are not up to these standards and making money by exploiting brand loyalty by using the past track record of a firm is just cheating the customers and enthusiasts.
Best.
The quality and attention to the detail in the SIG Sauer pistols have been decreasing continuously especially after the year of 2000 since when the SIG is separated completely from small arms division. The firms manufacturing the SIG Sauer pistols are taken to the hands of a group of private investors who do not care about anything but decreasing costs and increasing profit margins. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you can save your traditional quality level, but unfortunately it is not likely the way it is.
My first SIG Sauer pistol was a West German P226. Even after 5000 rounds of 9x19 mm NATO ammo, the frame rails were just like new, not even a spot of chipping. The decocking lever never chipped the frame since the notch at the very rear of it was perfectly made to prevent the excesive movement of it. The locking block was sitting rock solid in the frame without any movement. The firing pin safety block was sitting in its place with its exact dimensions without protruding downwards at the right side of it. All the feeding ramps I have seen were cut symmetricaly. etc, etc...And all the P series pistols I have seen manufactured before the year 2000 was up the standards I have been excpecting from SIG Sauer, rock solid, reliable, dead on accurate.
I have never seen a locking block fluctuating in the frame before the year of 2000, but after then, almost at least half of the locking blocks are fluctuating in the frame, especially when they are pressed at the feeding ramp area, causing frame chippings during firing. All the decocking levers are chipping the frame since the notch at the rear of them is not cut deeply enogh to prevent the excesive movement of them. Most of the feeding ramps on the barrels are not cut symmetricaly as it was used to be. Most of the firing pin blocks on the stamped steel slides are protruding downwards at the very right side causing frame rail chipping. And for the MIM story, SIG Sauer have been using stamped, cast and MIM parts for over the years, but MIM parts from third world countries to cut the costs came after the year 2000.
When a part is not up to its exact standard dimensions, this may just be a cosmetic issue for someone as long as it does not disturb the function of the pistol. There are much more cheaper pistols on the market that fits the description above. But when SIG Sauer asks a premium price for their pistols, I have the right to ask for a premiumgrade pistol manufactured with premium grade parts and premium level of workmanship. Asking premium level of prices for the pistols which are not up to these standards and making money by exploiting brand loyalty by using the past track record of a firm is just cheating the customers and enthusiasts.
Best.
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