Is the year 1984 significant when it comes to the P226 9mm? Is this not the year Sig introduced the P226 to compete in the military trials as a replacement for the 1911? The markings are as follows:

Right Slide: Serial #115xxx
Interarms
Alexandria, Virginia

Right Frame: Serial #115xxx

Left Slide: P226
Made in W Germany
Sig Sauer

Comes in a yellow box with red lining.

I don't recall seeing an early P226 marked Alexandria, Virginia, nor do I recall seeing many P226's made in 1984. Does this firearm carry any special value? This is not my firearm.........at least not yet.

All thoughts would be appreciated.

Dan

I have something similar to that 226. I just got this ole beauty about a month ago. It was made in 87.

When I got it 4 weeks ago.


How it looks now.

dohc97...

Thats a sweet looking 226..

The contrast controls give it a little bit of class..

Jealous

I have a LNIB 1984 P226 with original box, manual, test target, two mags. Serial number U118xxx with the slide marked Tysons Corner, VA.
Bought it here on the forum for $445 shipped. I don't think they have any more value than other P226's.

quote:

Originally posted by dohc97:
I have something similar to that 226. I just got this ole beauty about a month ago. It was made in 87.

When I got it 4 weeks ago.


How it looks now.

dohc97:
Verrrrrry nice. I would say that's a keeper.

Dan

quote:

Originally posted by lbaker45:
I have a LNIB 1984 P226 with original box, manual, test target, two mags. Serial number U118xxx with the slide marked Tysons Corner, VA.
Bought it here on the forum for $445 shipped. I don't think they have any more value than other P226's.

1baker45:
Thank you for your insight. Guess I was thinking an '84 model might be more desirable as it was closer to their introduction date.

I was wondering also, if the '84 models had any functioning problems that had not yet been tweaked?

Dan

quote:

I was wondering also, if the '84 models had any functioning problems that had not yet been tweaked?

The 84 year 226 didn't have any functioning issues that I'm aware of. However I'm more careful of theses early P-series, I don't...and won't shoot +P ammo in them.
Mine was made right after yours(119XXX) Interarms was the importer when they first came out.



I'd grab it if I were you.

quote:

Originally posted by lbaker45:
I have a LNIB 1984 P226 with original box, manual, test target, two mags. Serial number U118xxx with the slide marked Tysons Corner, VA.
Bought it here on the forum for $445 shipped. I don't think they have any more value than other P226's.

I'd like to respectfully disagree. As a "shooter", for someone who has only 2 or 3 guns, or for the casual Sig purchaser, the early models might not have any special appeal - as the P226 design (until the milled slide change) didn't change much at all.

All other things being equal, however, I'd pay more for an '84 than an '87 or '94. I'm not saying there's a windfall profit to be made here, just saying that for some the age (again, all other things being equal) does make a difference. IMHO, of course.

Accorging to Wikipedia;

The P226 was designed for entry into the XM9 Service Pistol Trials, which were held by the US Army in 1984 on behalf of the US armed forces to find a replacement for the M1911A1. Only the Beretta 92F and the SIG P226 satisfactorily completed the trials. According to a GAO report, Beretta was awarded the M9 contract for the 92F due to better durability during endurance testing and a lower total package price. During the endurance testing none of the 92Fs broke, while two of the P226s cracked frames between six and seven thousand rounds. The minimum endurance requirement was five thousand rounds, so the P226s were considered acceptable. The P226 cost less per pistol than the 92F, but SIG's package price with magazines and spare parts was higher than Beretta's. The Navy SEALs, however, chose to adopt the P226 later after several catastrophic slide failures with issued Beretta M9s.

As these trials were held in 1984, the guns used in them may very well have been made before the ones imported by Interarms, and the frame design may have been changed to address the crack issue. I don't know the answers to those questions, though.

Buster:
Good information. I seem to favor the older models as well, just so long as the bugs have been ironed out of the brand new model. Kind of like, don't buy a new car model the first year it is introduced.

Dan