Hello all,
Just acquired a Sig P230 modified for the Japanese police, the so called "JP" model. It's in pretty good shape, but could use a refinish. I was curious if there were any experts on this particular pistol here, I assume it was simply built in West Germany and modified there, then sent to Japan, but I don't know for sure. If so, was the bluing on the P230 done by Sig back then your simple garden variety hot salt bath bluing?

Any specific info on these would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

I cannot speak to the specific Japanese contract pistols but Forgotten Weapons did a video some time back on them it MIGHT have some insight for you.

https://www.forgottenweapons.c...the-japanese-police/

The only real difference is the lanyard loop, there might be a premium for people who like unusual contact guns and Japanophiles.

I think they're neat, enjoy it!

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The only real difference is the lanyard loop, there might be a premium for people who like unusual contact guns and Japanophiles.

I believe the Japanese police models also have a manual safety added.

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Originally posted by toivo:

quote:

The only real difference is the lanyard loop, there might be a premium for people who like unusual contact guns and Japanophiles.

I believe the Japanese police models also have a manual safety added.

Correct

It does have the safety and the lanyard, for sure. Love to get some detailed info on how many Sig made for Japan, how many escaped capitivity and made it over to the US. Also, I'd love to know if this had Sig's typical blue finish done in house, and if a modern hot blue job would replicate the original just fine....

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Love to get some detailed info on how many Sig made for Japan, how many escaped capitivity and made it over to the US....

That’s something you’re unlikely to ever get a definitive answer for in this lifetime. SIG US will have “no records” regarding these West German made guns, and SIG DE no longer exists so who knows what happened to their records. As to how many escaped Japan and made it to the US, you’ll need to find out who all the importers were and ask everyone of them.

Re isn’t a thing wrong with the way that gun looks I can’t imagine why you’d want to refinish it.

There are internal differences to accommodate the safety. There’s a hump inside the hammer slot and the hammer is cut for the safety; it’s also the rebounding style which has a different hammer strut.

I swapped early 230 parts in mine to improve the trigger, removed the safety, lanyard loop and grips and put early Swiss walnut on them from Morini (factory option).

Also, I had CCR refinish my slide as it was well worn. Their CPII Dusk finish looks like it could be the factory finish.

CCR has a pic of it on their site;

The other black one has a polycoat type finish on it vs. a proper bluing. Over almost 30 years of production, there are many differences in how these pistols were made. It's interesting to see the form evolve. One of my stainless guns has a modified P232 7,65B / 32acp barrel in it and of course the JP spec is 7,65B as well.