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SIG Sauer to Present Guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with Ceremonial M17s
Matthew Moss, The Firearm Blog, 10/4/2018

Sig Sauer has announced that it will present the US Army's 'Old Guard' with special ceremonial versions of the US Army's new M17 Modular Handgun System pistol. If you have ever wondered what a more 'traditional', non polymer M17 might look like, now we have some idea.

SIG will present the US 3d Infantry Regiment, who provide the guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with four specially made engraved ceremonial M17s. The pistols have an aluminum grip frame and a steel slide, small wooden inserts have been added to the grip and the whole pistol is highly polished.

Interestingly SIG chose to give the ceremonial pistols the 21-round extended magazine, which will also have an aluminum base, incorporating an engraving of the names of the Greek figures featured on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The slide serrations take the form of a 'XXI' roman numeral signifying "the twenty-one steps it takes for the Tomb Sentinels to walk by the Tomb of the Unknowns and the military honor of a 21 Gun Salute."

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"The M17 Tomb of the Unknown Pistols are unique M17 pistols that were created using the same specifications for the U.S. Army’s M17 Modular Handgun System. The ceremonial pistols are 9mm striker-fired pistols with a non-railed aluminum grip module, stainless steel slide, wood grip inserts, a 21-round magazine, and features the same optic cut as specified by the MHS contract, front night sight, removable rear plate, and black controls. The pistols also feature a high polish to withstand the inclement weather while the Tomb Sentinels stand guard.

The M17 Tomb of the Unknown Pistols will be presented to the Old Guard in an official ceremony on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Arlington National Cemetery Chapel. The ceremony will begin at 9:00am and include a private presentation ceremony, followed by a Changing of the Guard in which the 3rd Guard soldiers will return to duty with their M17 Tomb of the Unknown Pistols."

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I hope SIG will make some limited release of an all metal "M17".

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"The M17 Tomb of the Unknown Pistols are unique M17 pistols that were created using the same specifications for the U.S. Army’s M17 Modular Handgun System.

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Originally posted by sigfreund:

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"The M17 Tomb of the Unknown Pistols are unique M17 pistols that were created using the same specifications for the U.S. Army’s M17 Modular Handgun System.

Where is the safety?
Not that I believe one is necessary, but ….

I also wonder whether if they will actually be carried on Unknowns guard duty and if so, if they will be loaded. Mention of inclement weather would indicate they are to be carried, but as far as I know carrying handguns would be a first.

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Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Guy on the left has a pistol.

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Originally posted by cyberiad:
I think it would look better without the extended magazine