I have an early production Sig P228 that has sat on a shelf in the origninal box for 25 years. I recently took it out and inspected it and fired a few rounds through it. I found that it shot low, so I started looking to see what sights it had on it. The front sight was a number 8 signt as expected. However the rear sight is very odd. It is not numbered but rather says "N+". I have a picture of it and it is quite clear. It really does say N+. I called Sig in the US and they can't explain it at all, since production began in the US, every one has had number 8 sights front and rear. One guess was that letters refer to date codes for night sights. However, this handgun does not have night sights so it's not any sort of date code for the tritium. It is early production from W. Germany. I sent an email to the factory in Germany. I wrote it in English, so it may take some translation for them. I heve no idea whether they will respond or even if there is anyone there that knows the history. That was a week ago and they have so far not responded.


Does anyone have an explanation for what N+ might mean? Is there any reason to think this gun is more collectible because of it?

Old P220s, the ones with a integral front sight machined into the slide came with rear sights marked N, N-, and N+ to the best of my recollection.

I had one for a time with a N+ rear. So basically SIG had 3 sights to choose from to ensure the weapon shot POA-POI, instead of the numbers the now use today.

It seems like someone used one of those on your P228 - for what reason I don't know (mistake, low stock, ?). And I have no idea how the N nomenclature relates to the numbers of today.

Sounds like another victim of the Sig Sauer parts bin. Sometimes Sig will put whatever parts are on hand to complete a gun. I had a 220 Sport stock with a 226 recoil spring once. I have seen some other mismatched guns like SAS frames with non SAS slides, 220 Sport short rail frames mated to 220 Carry slides, etc...

quote:

I called Sig in the US and they can't explain it at all, since production began in the US, every one has had number 8 sights front and rear. One guess was that letters refer to date codes for night sights. However, this handgun does not have night sights so it's not any sort of date code for the tritium. It is early production from W. Germany.

I have a couple of them, it's not a date code. As Rhinoso noted above, N sights are the old school sights originally used on the old, usually spur hammer, P220's. Can't say Ive ever seen a set of those on anything other than a P220. Numrich actually had them listed at one time several years back, but not any more.

A 25 YO P228 would have been fully assembled and proofed in Germany, if it has contrast sights, it shipped that way from Germany. There were some parts guns later on that were assembled here in the US, but those would be a minimum of 5 years after yours was made.

N-, N, and N+ sights on a P228 wouldn't make it any more or less valuable, certainly a production mistake though, I suspect.

I don't know if the convention still follows on current production rifles, but Swiss SAN SIG 55X rifle's front sights were marked in the same way (N-, N, N+) and could be replaced to adjust POI elevation.

From an old armorer manual:

RearSight by GaryBF, on Flickr

This thread is worthless w/o pics

OP - Please post images of your 25YO 'early production Sig P228' so that we may further assist you....More is Better!

Also, please note the following from the SigSauer website:

"All SIG SAUER production duty/combat pistols are set up to use a “combat” sight picture. This is where the front sight completely covers the bullseye of the target. Using a six o'clock (“pumpkin on a post”) or center mass (“half'n'half”) sight picture will result in low impact."

Not sure if you're aware of this, but figured I'd share just in case this could be part of your issue.