P220 - 9mm: From One to Three

April 20, 2019, 08:51 PM

mcs1564

Back in December I picked up a 9mm P220 in really great condition and was on the lookout for another that would see the range a bit more often and that I would also use with my .30 Luger barrel.

I had recently picked up a 220 in .38 Super and decided that I'd rather trade it off for another in 9mm and a bit of cash.

Ended up with a very clean KF date coded PW Arms import. Went to pick it up Thursday and while I was there, a gray cardboard Sig box in the case caught my eye. It belonged to a RPS Assembled JD date coded 9mm that is probably the best example of a heel release 220 that I've held.

Needless to say that I ended up walking out with two. Some quick cell phone pics:

April 20, 2019, 09:18 PM

12131

Fantastic looking trio.

April 20, 2019, 09:19 PM

MacGyver

Those look terrific. Congrats!

What is the story behind "assembled by RPS"?

April 20, 2019, 09:26 PM

12131

^^^ A lot of theories, but nothing confirmed. GaryBF and OTD are best at explaining this "RPS" stuff, because they did the most research on it.

April 20, 2019, 10:14 PM

P-220

Great looking P-220's. Thanks for sharing.

April 20, 2019, 10:26 PM

Abn556

I had a heel drop P220 exactly like that. It was an ‘87 model. Bought at a US Army Rod and Gun Club in Augsburg, Germany. The trigger on that gun was great.

April 20, 2019, 11:38 PM

SevenPlusOne

Wow, nice.

April 21, 2019, 12:07 AM

David Lee

Beautiful addition. I've recently seen a American mag release spur hammer P220 and a pair of W. German P226s all unfired, consigned at a local shop. What a treat to see those and if not for being treated badly by that shop, I might have put them on eternal lay a way. All 3 must be from someones collection.

April 21, 2019, 09:21 AM

mcs1564

Thanks for the comments everyone. The JD was the first 9mm 220 that I’ve ever come across in a shop around here, much less an older P-series in that good of shape.

Granted, I don’t hit the local shops as often as I used to, but, there’s always a lack of used inventory and what is available typically doesn’t come close to justify the asking price.

Lucked out in that it was priced on the lower end of what I’ve seen sell on the typical auction sites.

April 21, 2019, 10:38 AM

.38supersig

Cool!

I've always liked the P220 in any caliber. Now you'll have to decide if you want to keep one as the dedicated 7.65mm or look for the illusive 7.65mm P220...

April 21, 2019, 11:25 AM

GaryBF

quote:
What is the story behind "assembled by RPS"?

Theories abound, but have been shot down. No one knows who, or what, RPS was.

I owned a JC similar to yours, also Assembled by RPS, however, mine came in a blue box.

P220JCboxlabel by GaryBF, on Flickr

April 21, 2019, 01:06 PM

airbubba

a nice triple play, congratulations.

April 21, 2019, 03:01 PM

Bill-in-Texas

Black pistols never looked so good!

I hope to be ready with cash on hand if ever I have such an opportunity... Very nice, indeed!

Thanks for posting excellent pics.

-Bill

April 22, 2019, 07:02 AM

mcs1564

quote:
Originally posted by .38supersig:
Cool!

I've always liked the P220 in any caliber. Now you'll have to decide if you want to keep one as the dedicated 7.65mm or look for the illusive 7.65mm P220...

Yeah, while I don't think I'll be looking to track one down in 7.65mm, if I pursue importing a 9mm Steyr conversion kit, I may look for another 9mm heel release to use with both.

For now, though, the plan will be to use the KF and swap barrels back and forth.

April 22, 2019, 07:03 AM

bac1023

Very nice

Here are mine from 1976 and 1983...

April 22, 2019, 03:01 PM

Citadel

quote:
Originally posted by mcs1564:
Back in December I picked up a 9mm P220 in really great condition and was on the lookout for another that would see the range a bit more often and that I would also use with my .30 Luger barrel.

I had recently picked up a 220 in .38 Super and decided that I'd rather trade it off for another in 9mm and a bit of cash.

Ended up with a very clean KF date coded PW Arms import. Went to pick it up Thursday and while I was there, a gray cardboard Sig box in the case caught my eye. It belonged to a RPS Assembled JD date coded 9mm that is probably the best example of a heel release 220 that I've held.

Needless to say that I ended up walking out with two. Some quick cell phone pics:

Where did you source your .30 Luger Barrel?

April 22, 2019, 03:34 PM

mcs1564

quote:
Originally posted by Citadel:
Where did you source your .30 Luger Barrel?

I ordered it from Bar-Sto along with .30 Luger conversion barrel for a Hi-Power project.

If you plan on ordering one, give them a call ahead and make sure you specify that it's for a 226.

April 22, 2019, 03:58 PM

Il Cattivo

Man, you're leading me astray in all kinds of ways - BarSto's finally making those in .30 Luger! Just ordered one.

April 22, 2019, 07:39 PM

mcs1564

quote:
Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
Man, you're leading me astray in all kinds of ways - BarSto's finally making those in .30 Luger! Just ordered one.

Well, we do seem to be a group of enablers!

Not sure how much fitting it may need. Mine dropped right into the 220, however, it was originally fitted for a 226 by Robert Burke.

April 22, 2019, 10:11 PM

Citadel

quote:
Originally posted by mcs1564:
quote:
Originally posted by Citadel:
Where did you source your .30 Luger Barrel?

I ordered it from Bar-Sto along with .30 Luger conversion barrel for a Hi-Power project.

If you plan on ordering one, give them a call ahead and make sure you specify that it's for a 226.

Orders in. couple of weeks. Thanks, been looking for one.