What makes a P229 Elite truly an Elite? I've seen various versions, ones with the legacy slides, others with the full slide serrations on the rear, nitride finish, stainless or possibly nickel, and there seems to be a difference in the size of the "Elite", some the size of a billboard and others rather subdued. I know there will be differences between older and newer productions which will account for most differences. I also looked at a number of the auction sites, and the values seem to vary widely, anywhere from $385 upward of $1400. Looking at the pictures, there doesn't seem to be any particular feature that determines whether they're valued at the low end or the upper.

I have a P229r Elite, ser# AFU07xxx with the nitride finish, legacy slide, that came with the short trigger and standard grips. With that feature set, does it fall in the higher end valuation or is it just a 229 marked with "Elite" and nothing really special?

Don't get me wrong, I don't plan on selling mine, I just found it interesting that there were so many variations both in features and value for what is essentially the same gun.

Short version, what makes them so very different? What makes one over the other so much more "Elite"?

I have one that I bought not because I necessary wanted an "Elite", but I was after a P229 and I found this one at a good price. Mine's a later gen with the full-length rear slide serrations.

"Features" that I've noticed on mine are:

1. Factory Night Sights
2. Relief cut on the front strap under the trigger guard
3. Solid guide rod
4. SRT
5. Adjustable trigger (over travel only)
6. Front serrations (IMO not an upgrade)
7. Beavertail
8. E2 Grips (which I replaced)


I'm assuming all those things are factory because it was a very unmolested gun, but I guess there's a change the previous owner added some of them. It's also possible that I'm missing a few details, but these are the ones I've noticed.

I also had the slide cut done and added the optic...it didn't come like that.

The Elite’s now days use the same frame as the Legion. Also one less magazine and no G10 grips like what the Legion comes with .

quote:

I have a P229r Elite, ser# AFU07xxx with the nitride finish, legacy slide, that came with the short trigger and standard grips. With that feature set, does it fall in the higher end valuation or is it just a 229 marked with "Elite" and nothing really special?

Originally, what defines the “Elite” are these features: (1) front slide cocking serrations, (2) beaver tail frame, (3) front strap checkering and (4) SRT.

Then, the “Enhanced Elite” had the factory E2 grip. Then, the “Stainless Elite” (SSE), as the name implies, is all stainless steel and bears wood grips. The “Alloy Stainless Elite” (ASE) has aluminum alloy frame that’s finished in white color to mimic stainless.

Legacy slide or full height rear serration slide doesn’t matter. Naming system remained the same, with the exception of the ASE. There’s no Legacy slide ASE, since it was introduced long after they abandoned the Legacy slide.

Then the current generation Elite, all with full height rear serration slides, as noted above, has the exact same frame as the Legion’s but wears the E2 grip, and they dropped the “Enhanced” from the name. It’s now just “Elite”. You can tell this from the original right away by its shorter beaver tail, higher rear undercut trigger guard and serrations at the bottom of the trigger guard.

Btw, if you browse Sig’s website under P229 Elite, note that they still use photo of the old Enhanced Elite, not the current generation Elite.

Great information, Q. Mine meets the 4 basic requirements, or should I say met. I hate the SRT shoe, so I replaced it with the standard. I also replaced the stock grips with the E2's as they fit me far better. Thanks for the information.