I have a question for the undisputed authority on Sigs- I have a W German 226 upper that has a distinct blemish on the nose end of the slide. There is a line where the nose is welded to the body of the slide. It isn’t a crack (is is symmetrical and a fingernail or pick does not feel any grabbiness) and the weld inside the slide appears solid. I’m planning on selling this as I no longer need it for a .40 to 9mm conversion as I was able to do the same with a stainless milled upper but don’t want to pass on any kind of potential hazard. I have fired several hundred rounds through it with no effect on it. Is this an area for concern? Or is it a case of an improper prep before it was finished? Thanks in advance.

Some are more prominent than others at that area, but it's totally normal for the folded slide SIGs.

And no, I'm nowhere even near the "undisputed" authority on SIGs, but thanks.

Thanks Q. I’ve seen finish blemishes on folded slide Sigs over the years but not the weld seam. I can now list this in the classifieds later today with a clear conscience.

I always thought that was the Do It Yourself kit option, so you could just cut your own P228 when you wanted a smaller gun?

Kidding of course...that's definitely one of the more distinctly visible weld marks I've seen on a Sig.

I have to ask, why is that weld mark there? Did they add the front section during the build as part of normal production? It gives the appearance they added the front section and blended it.

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Did they add the front section during the build as part of normal production? It gives the appearance they added the front section and blended it.

Exactly that. Here are some pics from the internet showing the process of folded slide manufacturing. From SIG DE, of course.

It was called electron beam welding. The heat and metal hardness is why it finishes different.

^^^
My attention was on the fine weld line between the two parts rather than the discoloration- I’d never seen a weld line despite handling a goodly number of folded slide Sigs as an armorer. Come to think of it, I don’t recall seeing any with the different finish coloration either…

A couple of extreme examples, one very prominent, the other barely seen.

This aftermarket nickel P228 I used to own several years ago..



And this P228R (barely seen)..

Count me in the camp that had no idea that this was the process of making a folded slide Sig—and I’ve had a few over the years! I would have never guessed they added the nose like that. Why was it done this way? I assume it is because the front cannot be folded like the rest of the slide due to the front being closed on the bottom?

Never knew that! Have a couple guns to check out tomorrow.

^^^
That nickel Sig really sets my mind at ease- that really is an extreme example made all the clearer by the finish.

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Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho:
Count me in the camp that had no idea that this was the process of making a folded slide Sig—and I’ve had a few over the years! I would have never guessed they added the nose like that. Why was it done this way? I assume it is because the front cannot be folded like the rest of the slide due to the front being closed on the bottom?

I have always called them 3 piece as it's breech block is a separate piece also. Pinned in place. A stainless bar stock slide is machined as 1 piece. Modern day machining for you. The Germans have used stamped and formed sheet metal parts sinse WW2.