I just bought a NIB Black LE model SIG P229 Legion from a vender on Gunbroker. Usually, I only buy from LGS where I can thoroughly inspect a pistol before buying. However, I ordered this pistol off Gunbroker because it’s the hard to find Legion P229 Black finish with Nitron slide instead of the usual Grey/Green Legions. Usually this version is discounted and sold only to First Responders.

I looked the gun over and everything appears to be good. Nice smooth trigger, good slide to frame fit, everything is machined correctly. However, I just noticed there’s a scratch under the left rail in the anodizing down to bare aluminum.

I realize this won’t affect function and since it’s not on the rail itself it’s not a durability issue. Furthermore, this won’t be a safe queen. This will be a gun I use and carry so there are sure to be more wear and scratches in its future.

However, I can’t help but feel annoyed. It’s like buying a car and having door dings already in it. Even though you know it will eventually happen.

I don’t see/feel any burrs on the slide rails. I believe this to be a manufacturing blemish.

I called SIG and sent them pics and received an email back today stating the gunsmiths advise this is normal. Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth on a $1,300 pistol. Thoughts?

For me it’s a non-issue.

That scratch near the muzzle end looks like a burr. If it's a burr, it needs to be filed down.

quote:

Originally posted by dcowboyscr:
This will be a gun I use and carry so there are sure to be more wear and scratches in its future.... you know it will eventually happen.

You said you didn't feel any burrs. If that's the case, then I'd let it go. Should it have come that way NIB? No, but chalk it up as a learning experience. Next time look the gun over more closely and reject the transfer if you find similar blemishes you find unacceptable.

Otherwise, as you posted, you're going to shoot & carry and add similar wear & character marks to the gun anyway, and Sig has already told you they won't warranty it.

Did the grip still have the paper SIG cover? If not, someone might have used it. The scratches on the frame rail seem extreme for a new gun.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Did the grip still have the paper SIG cover? If not, someone might have used it. The scratches on the frame rail seem extreme for a new gun.

It’s NIB only test fired by SIG

Degrease the frame and slide. Get a small handful of Q-Tips. Run the Q-Tips on the frame and slide interface machined surfaces. (dry)
I think you will be surprised just how many burrs are remaining, particularly near the nose on the slide.
Every time you hit a burr, it will pull some of the cotton off the Q-Tip.
Deburr as needed.

If it were me, I wouldn't think twice about a couple minor blems on a gun I intend to use.

At the most, I'd hit those spots with some Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black and call it good. No, it's not as good as true anodizing, but by the time it wears through, the gun will have collected enough other dings that it wouldn't matter anyway.

From the time Sig wasn't lapping the slides.

My God, its full of burrs.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
From the time Sig wasn't lapping the slides.

My God, its full of burrs.

I just got an a cotton ball down the slide rails and reinspected the slide and still can’t find any burrs on it. This appears to be a manufacturing defect when they anodized the frame.

Interesting in that the scratch is below the rail.

I admit that amount of finish blemish/damage right out of the box would annoy the schlitz out of me. Yeah I know the frame finish will wear down with use but I very much want to be the reason why it happens. And I've got more than a few P-SIGs with boatloads of rounds through them that simply don't look that bad.

quote:

Originally posted by monoblok:
I admit that amount of finish blemish/damage right out of the box would annoy the schlitz out of me. Yeah I know the frame finish will wear down with use but I very much want to be the reason why it happens. And I've got more than a few P-SIGs with boatloads of rounds through them that simply don't look that bad.

Exactly! I was just looking at a used P228 and the frame rails and below them on the frame looked perfect.

It's not seen in battery, no big deal...

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
If it were me, I wouldn't think twice about a couple minor blems on a gun I intend to use.

At the most, I'd hit those spots with some Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black and call it good. No, it's not as good as true anodizing, but by the time it wears through, the gun will have collected enough other dings that it wouldn't matter anyway.

I agree ^

I can't recall how many P-series I've owned over the years, but all of them, including the 8 I currently own, have wear like this on the rails. It's also on my Berettas, CZs, Hi Power, etc. If it isn't a rough burr, I've always considered this normal.

Smother those rails with some good gun grease and shoot away.

For what it's worth, the last 229 I bought came looking pretty much like that. I didn't care for it, but I got over it and it never got worse although it's not a gun I shoot very often. Mine was a 229 SAS.

It is frustrating and I get your beef with it. For $1300, you would think it would be perfect. As you know, eventually you will get that wear with shooting. I wonder how often it was handled along the way.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ve been buying SIGs since 1992. Was just annoyed on a brand new over $1,000 pistol. Could’ve gotten over that as I was going to shoot and carry it anyway. I was more disappointed in SIG CS response. Ended up getting rid of the gun and buying a Beretta that for $600 less had better fit and finish than this P229 Legion overall.

quote:

Originally posted by dcowboyscr:
Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ve been buying SIGs since 1992. Was just annoyed on a brand new over $1,000 pistol. Could’ve gotten over that as I was going to shoot and carry it anyway. I was more disappointed in SIG CS response. Ended up getting rid of the gun and buying a Beretta that for $600 less had better fit and finish than this P229 Legion overall.

For that kind of money, I expect a tight, well finished pistol.
I usually don't buy guns without having the opportunity to inspect them first.
My son recently purchased a Sig 226 Legion SAO and the fit and finish was perfect.

quote:

Originally posted by dcowboyscr:
Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ve been buying SIGs since 1992. Was just annoyed on a brand new over $1,000 pistol. Could’ve gotten over that as I was going to shoot and carry it anyway. I was more disappointed in SIG CS response. Ended up getting rid of the gun and buying a Beretta that for $600 less had better fit and finish than this P229 Legion overall.

That really blows, I despise poor CS and adore great CS. Sig's CS has fallen off and Im afraid its not getting better. I own 5 legions and really like the line but damn I wish they adopted Stacatto's new and improved CS. They do so many great things then fall short on something like this. Good luck Cowboy with your new blaster.

PB