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Over the past year or two, there has been a slew of SIGs being imported from Europe by various outfits, often times models that were never available in the US.

However, have you seen any unusual SIGs "officially" imported by SIG NH (or earlier VA)?

I'll start us off with a P226 I used to own. It was a German-made and proofed P226R. Physically, the only thing unusual about it was it had a German-made milled slide. Other than that, it was just a regular old P226. Some of you might be thinking of that series of 1000 "P226R German" pistols sold around 2011 (500 folded slide ones with standard grips and 500 milled slide ones with E2 grips). The crazy thing is that mine wasn't part of that series. It was in a totally different serial number range. Also, unlike the E2 P226R German, mine came with standard grips, machined parts, and Ilaflon for the finish instead of Nitron. It also came in the small black plastic case with the outer cardboard box bearing the label and had a test target (like the X-Fives and P210s of the day), whereas the "P226R German" pistols all came in the SIG NH packaging of the day (labeled medium-size black plastic case with gray clasps) and lacked test targets. Sure enough though, mine still had SIG SAUER INC. EXETER NH import marks. I called SIG to ask them about it, but they couldn't tell me much. I'll post a picture of it when I dig out my old hard drive.


Formerly known as tigerbloodwinning
 
Posts: 464 | Registered: April 14, 2018Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Age Quod Agis
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I saw a 229 in .45 that is reportedly one of four ever made. It was carried by a vendor at a gun show, and I was able to handle it.

Very nice, interesting piece.



"I vowed to myself to fight against evil more completely and more wholeheartedly than I ever did before. . . . That’s the only way to pay back part of that vast debt, to live up to and try to fulfill that tremendous obligation."

Alfred Hornik, Sunday, December 2, 1945 to his family, on his continuing duty to others for surviving WW II.
 
Posts: 13013 | Location: Central Florida | Registered: November 02, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
My other Sig
is a Steyr.
Picture of .38supersig
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quote:
Originally posted by MacGyver:
However, have you seen any unusual SIGs "officially" imported by SIG NH (or earlier VA)?


Can't say that I have.



 
Posts: 9462 | Location: Somewhere looking for ammo that nobody has at a place I haven't been to for a pistol I couldn't live without... | Registered: December 02, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by ArtieS:
I saw a 229 in .45 that is reportedly one of four ever made. It was carried by a vendor at a gun show, and I was able to handle it.

Very nice, interesting piece.

Was it maybe the P221 that there a couple pictures of online? That one looks very much like a large P229 (Legacy).


Formerly known as tigerbloodwinning
 
Posts: 464 | Registered: April 14, 2018Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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A couple of years back I likely saw the same pics of that P221. In hindsight it does seem a shame that SIG didn't choose to develop and push this one through to the finish. Though I do wonder what the flush fit mag capacity would've been (more than the P227?), and the proposed girth of the grip.

EDIT: oh I forgot. As far as I can remember, I don't think I've seen an unknown, non-catalog import classic P-SIG. But I only started paying attention to SIGs since about the mid 2000s. Anything that came before that...beats me. Since working at the shop I have seen a few non-catalog NH pistols, from the P-SIGs and from the 1911 line.


-MG
 
Posts: 2268 | Location: The commie, rainy side of WA | Registered: April 19, 2020Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Oriental Redneck
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quote:
, have you seen any unusual SIGs "officially" imported by SIG NH (or earlier VA)?

P226 SL Ilaflon, no rail no tail - 2011
P226 SL White, no rail no tail - 2012
P226* Stainless frame RT - 2011, 2012, 2013.

* Sorry, meant to write P228. Have no idea I wrote P226 on the last one. Didn't even notice it, until just now.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 12131,


Q






 
Posts: 28022 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: September 04, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Oriental Redneck
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quote:
mine came with standard grips, machined parts, and Ilaflon for the finish instead of Nitron. It also came in the small black plastic case with the outer cardboard box bearing the label and had a test target (like the X-Fives and P210s of the day).....

Sure enough though, mine still had SIG SAUER INC. EXETER NH import marks. I called SIG to ask them about it, but they couldn't tell me much. I'll post a picture of it when I dig out my old hard drive.

If it was imported by SIG NH, there must be their label on top of the German factory label on the outer cardboard box. What's SIG NH's Part Number? If it lacks the NH label, then it was not imported by them, and that's why they couldn't tell you anything about it.


Q






 
Posts: 28022 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: September 04, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have one.

Don't know a lot about it but purchased from Exeter, 226S, 9mm, muzzle brake similar to the 226 Sport, extended controls, bridge for optic, hook on back of slide, extended magazine.

DE proof mark. "Race gun" look.

I would post a photo if I knew how to do that.
 
Posts: 46 | Registered: May 11, 2018Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
P226 SL Ilaflon, no rail no tail - 2011
P226 SL White, no rail no tail - 2012
P226 Stainless frame RT - 2011, 2012, 2013

The first two I assume are the Afton Arms ones. But I’ve never seen that 3rd one before. Do you have a pic?
quote:
Originally posted by 12131: If it was imported by SIG NH, there must be their label on top of the German factory label on the outer cardboard box. What's SIG NH's Part Number? If it lacks the NH label, then it was not imported by them, and that's why they couldn't tell you anything about it.

I don’t remember the box label. But I’d think the laser import marking (like all other Exeter-imported German SIGs of the day) on the slide would be pretty definitive that it was imported by them.


Formerly known as tigerbloodwinning
 
Posts: 464 | Registered: April 14, 2018Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Oriental Redneck
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quote:
Originally posted by MacGyver:
The first two I assume are the Afton Arms ones. But I’ve never seen that 3rd one before. Do you have a pic?

Sorry, I made the correction. It's P228. Yes, they were all Afton Arms ordered. But all were NH imports, with NH factory labels.

quote:
I don’t remember the box label. But I’d think the laser import marking (like all other Exeter-imported German SIGs of the day) on the slide would be pretty definitive that it was imported by them.

Not quite. Granted, most German SIGs with the NH import mark were imported by Exeter. But, exceptions always exist. Following are just two examples of guns that had Exeter import mark but were not imported by them. The P220 was imported by PW Arms, the P226 by MMBI. And SIG NH wouldn't know anything about them, if you call, because they didn't import them. So, I'd say, based on the DE and US factories being owned by the same parent company, they had the NH import mark done before exporting, not the usual way that was done after the guns get to this side of the pond. And, whoever, beside SIG, subsequently imported the guns had to put their import mark on them.

P220, BC (2012) date code, imported by PW Arms




P226, BI (2018) date code, imported by MMBI.



Q






 
Posts: 28022 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: September 04, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Oriental Redneck
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quote:
Originally posted by monoblok:
A couple of years back I likely saw the same pics of that P221. In hindsight it does seem a shame that SIG didn't choose to develop and push this one through to the finish. Though I do wonder what the flush fit mag capacity would've been (more than the P227?), and the proposed girth of the grip.

P221


Q






 
Posts: 28022 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: September 04, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Ice age heat wave,
cant complain.
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quote:
Originally posted by Alpha Bravo:
I have one.

Don't know a lot about it but purchased from Exeter, 226S, 9mm, muzzle brake similar to the 226 Sport, extended controls, bridge for optic, hook on back of slide, extended magazine.

DE proof mark. "Race gun" look.

I would post a photo if I knew how to do that.


Email it to me and I'll host it for you.




NRA Life Member
Steak: Rare. Coffee: Black. Bourbon: Neat.
 
Posts: 9760 | Location: Orlando, Florida | Registered: July 12, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Baroque Bloke
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An interesting thread. I wonder if SIG NH monitors SIGforum.

They really ought to be a member, and chime in when the occasion warrants.



Serious about crackers
 
Posts: 9617 | Location: San Diego | Registered: July 26, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Unusual Sigarms pistols that I have owned but do not own now.

P220ST
P220ST Nitron
P220ST Langdon

P220 Two Tone No Rail

P226 Sportstock (Had four)
P226ST No Rail (SL)
P226ST (9mm)(40) (Had a bunch of these )
P226ST Reverse Two Tone (40)

P229 Sport (40)
P229ST No Rail (40) (Had two)

All of the P226 had the “Dimple on the frame”

Also had a P220 Match Da/Sa (with factory Night Sights)

Regards
R


"The more People I meet, the more I like Dogs."
 
Posts: 2951 | Location: Houston,Texas | Registered: July 04, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Ice age heat wave,
cant complain.
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For Alpha Bravo






NRA Life Member
Steak: Rare. Coffee: Black. Bourbon: Neat.
 
Posts: 9760 | Location: Orlando, Florida | Registered: July 12, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Oriental Redneck
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^^^ That is the original X5 Open.


Q






 
Posts: 28022 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: September 04, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
Not quite. Granted, most German SIGs with the NH import mark were imported by Exeter. But, exceptions always exist. Following are just two examples of guns that had Exeter import mark but were not imported by them. The P220 was imported by PW Arms, the P226 by MMBI. And SIG NH wouldn't know anything about them, if you call, because they didn't import them. So, I'd say, based on the DE and US factories being owned by the same parent company, they had the NH import mark done before exporting, not the usual way that was done after the guns get to this side of the pond. And, whoever, beside SIG, subsequently imported the guns had to put their import mark on them.

I totally agree with those guns pictured. Like you, I also believe (and have for a long time) that SIG DE did most (or all) of the Exeter import marks. Especially since some of the marks would have been impossible for SIG NH to do without refinishing the guns prior to sale. However, I don’t think that the “double import” situation with the PW Arms P220 or your P226 SL SO is what happened with mine. Mine didn’t have any other import marks, just the SIG SAUER INC EXETER NH laser mark on the slide (the same mark as my folded slide P226R German, your old P229/P229R German, and many X-Fives of the day). As a result, the only explanation other than SIG NH importing it is that a slide intended for a US-destined X-Five Short & Smart (which AFAIK is the only gun we regularly got here with that slide) was already import-marked, but then used to assemble a plain P226R. The completed gun then ended up being a bring-back (don’t even know if you can do that anymore). This seems much less likely to me than the SIG NH employee I talked to just lacking knowledge.


Formerly known as tigerbloodwinning
 
Posts: 464 | Registered: April 14, 2018Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Oriental Redneck
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If they did import your gun, then whoever took your inquiry was just lazy and didn't want to look up the info. They cannot use the 2005 cutoff excuse, as these guns were made and imported years later. They have them in records. If you still have the serial number in your files, email them and ask. Maybe you'll get lucky this way. Talking to a CSR on the phone about these things is usually fruitless, because their task on the phone is usually taking your orders.

As an aside, some importers used to put their marks well out of the way. The Attic and MMBI used to place them at the bottom edge of the mag well. Roco Firearm Technology used to put theirs on the grip frame under the grip panel. If you don't know to look for them, you'll miss them.


Q






 
Posts: 28022 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: September 04, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
^^^ That is the original X5 Open.


Well done.
 
Posts: 46 | Registered: May 11, 2018Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I called SIG NH about mine again and they were able to confirm they did indeed import it. It was sold under the label “E26R-9-SP”, and it left the factory in 2012, which is later than its serial number would have suggested.


Formerly known as tigerbloodwinning
 
Posts: 464 | Registered: April 14, 2018Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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