I picked up what is probably an older 239 40 Cal. It is in excellent shape but I am having a bit of trouble placing the approximate manufacture date by the serial number.

The Sig Serial Number list on this forum has 239's typically beginning with SA or SBU.

The number on the 239 I have is S4-47XXX. I looked through a goodly number of the subsequent posts on the serial number topic but did not see any with a Letter and Number as the first digits. I only have two other 239's and both begin with SA; they are from the mid-90's.

The case appears to be from the Nineties. In the post about identifying cases, on the first page, CSwimm posted a photo and calls it a Dark Grey Plastic with a partial foam insert. The sticker was missing from the case.

Does any one have any guesses/observation about a possible date of manufacture?

Are you sure it is S4- and not SA4-?

I have s SA4-67xxx from 2002

quote:

Are you sure it is S4- and not SA4-?

I concur. My P239-40 is SA4-111XXX. There are a few SA4s sprinkled in the P239 serial number list.

Absolutely sure. Only S4 in front of the numbers. Purchased from my local FFL who reported the number as beginning with S4 also.

Check the date code on the inside of the grips, if they're original to the gun?

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Check the date code on the inside of the grips, if they're original to the gun?

How can you tell of the grips are original, when buying a used gun?

Should have thought about that myself. Grips do appear to be original to the gun, after taking them off it appears as if the gun had never been fired, or if fired, minimally, it was absolutely pristine inside.

The date code on the grips is 07/1997.

I still am a bit confused about why the serial number would be different than other 239's of the same time period.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 0658,

“S4-“ is supposedly an early serial indicating a .40S&W/.357SIG frame. Later frames are “SA4-“.

All “SA-“ frames are supposedly 9mm.

Interesting thread. The grips on my original 40 says 10/97. The serial # seems barely etched onto the frame.

I have an SBU serial number for my 40SW 239 purchased new in 2010. This may have been on the shelf for a while.

quote:

Originally posted by Mountain Walker:
I have an SBU serial number for my 40SW 239 purchased new in 2010. This may have been on the shelf for a while.

“SAU-“ or “SBU-“ is a U.S.-made frame.

quote:

Originally posted by striker1:

“SAU-“ or “SBU-“ is a U.S.-made frame.

Quite correct, as far as I can tell it is just as well made as my German frame P229 40SW and my German framed P239 a CPO IN 9mm. I was Skeptical at first but after shooting and cleaning sessions I can say that Sig finely crafted these pistols for law enforcement. Also these 40SW models were made with a taller slide designed to handle the 40/357 cartridges. With the 180 grain 40 S&W cartridge, the recoil is quite manageable.

“S4-“ is supposedly an early serial indicating a .40S&W/.357SIG frame. Later frames are “SA4-“.

Interesting bit of information.

Striker, Are you indicating that it is an American frame for the 40/357 Sig or is it a German frame?

quote:

Originally posted by 0658:
“S4-“ is supposedly an early serial indicating a .40S&W/.357SIG frame. Later frames are “SA4-“.

Interesting bit of information.

Striker, Are you indicating that it is an American frame for the 40/357 Sig or is it a German frame?

It's a German frame. The U.S. frames didn't start until about 2005 or so.

I just looked at all 7 of my P239s and they are all SA4 prefixs

My oldest is the all black P239 wearing the Cocobolo Hogue grips, it is a 1997 purchase