I'm puzzled by a listing on Gunbroker which shows a P225 with a KE date stamp and a serial number that corresponds with 1994, but that is stamped "Made in W. Germany" on the right side of the slide. Germany was reunified in 1990. I have a 1997 that is stamped just "Germany". Did Sig delay in changing that? Also, when did Sig start putting six-digit serial numbers on the barrels? The advertised '94 has only "9mm para" stamped on the barrel.

In many cases there were SIG parts manufactured in West Germany prior to unification, however they weren't assembled into complete guns until after unification. On some SIGs, assembled/ proofed after unification, you will find the "W" over-stamped with the SIG Trisekelion.

As an example, my first SIG P226, purchased new, is a KC and it is marked as West German manufacture.

SIG Sauer's initial practice, as with many European gun manufacturers of the time, was to serialize certain major parts. As to when the practice was discontinued, it was phased out slowly across the various models as parts produced in Europe were, in some cases, switched to production in the U.S. SIG Sauer U.S. manufacturing ramped up slowly over a period of years across certain specific parts for specific platforms which explains why SIGs from this time frame could have both German and U.S. parts.

Sometime in the mid-'90s is when certain parts started to omit the S/N. SIG Sauer DE, however, continues the practice on at least some of the guns they produce and some of those are imported into the U.S.

Welcome to the forum.

1990. HOWEVER there was some worry that E German stuff wouldn't be up to par so companies were allowed to still use W Germany for five years after the reunification (1995).

Depends on the model.

P220s switched over in 1995-96 and for a short time the "W" was peened over with a the triple S symbol, seen here in 1996.

quote:

When did "W Germany" stamp change to "Germany"?

1995.
This year has both W. Germany and Germany.

KF (1995) W. Germany and Germany P228s.

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I find this article helpful:

https://www.realgunreviews.com...y-sig-really-german/

I have a Japanese spec P230 marked W Germany and I seem to recall they were available after the 1995 date, but likely could have been made prioer.