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Udo, I emailed photos to you as I do not currently have a photo sharing site.
Also, since we are talking about early P220s I wanted to share info about the reason for the change to the Frame in/around 1994 when Sig added the Hammer Reset Spring.
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Older P220s, including the Browning BDA never had a Hammer Reset Spring. This is an important difference in the safe handling of older P220 pistols manufactured in/before 1994-ish. If the Decocking Lever is not used and the Hammer is lowered incorrectly using the thumb and trigger method ~ the Hammer is free to move and will discharge the weapon if it strikes the Firing Pin.
This unsafe configuration was determined to be the cause of a negligent discharge in 2002 when a San Fernando, CA SWAT officer dropped his duty belt. The P220, while still holstered hit the concrete causing the hammer to impact the chambered round. The officer was killed from a single gunshot wound through the head in the station's parking lot.
https://catonews.org/we-rememb...ficer-jesse-paderez/=====
Perhaps the least commonly understood safety feature employed by P220s manufactured during after 1994-ish (as well as all P225, P226, P227, P228, P229, and P239) models is the Hammer Reset Spring.
The Hammer Reset Spring is a small spring attached to rear of the Hammer and concealed by the plastic Hammer Stop. If the Decocking Lever is not used and the Hammer is instead lowered incorrectly by using the thumb and trigger method ~ Once the operator releases the Hammer, the Hammer Reset Spring pulls the Hammer away from the Firing Pin and into the Safety Intercept Notch.
I can usually identify Sig users that grew up firing 1911 pistols because they will thumb down the Hammer. Back in the 1970s and 80's, only a few pistols previously had a Decocking Lever. Up until that point in time, thumbing down the hammer was the norm and for many it was a hard habit to break. I think it was also a trust issue on a new technology called a Decocker that released the Hammer and sent it towards the Firing Pin.
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There is a simple test to determine if your pistol has a Hammer Reset Spring without having to disassemble you pistol. This test can also be used to verify the Hammer Reset Spring is functioning correctly on pistols made after the design change.
With a CONFIRMED UNLOADED P220, rack the Slide and with the pistol pointed in a safe direction pull the Trigger while thumbing down the Hammer. Keep the Trigger pulled all the way to the rear ~ until the Hammer is in the down position then gently push the Hammer forward to see how far it travels to impact the Firing Pin. This is the normal firing sequence of your P220 pistol.
Release the Trigger and Hammer, then rack the Slide again. Use the Decocking Lever to return the Hammer to the ready position. The Hammer will rest in the Safety Intercept Notch and will not move forward when you apply forward pressure with your thumb on the Hammer. Use of the Decocking Lever is a hard and fast rule with all of my Sigs.
Rack the Slide for a third time and using the Trigger and thumb method, return the Hammer to its resting position. After you release the Trigger, gently use your thumb to push the Hammer forward. If the Hammer moves forward and touches the Firing Pin you have an early P220 without a Hammer Reset Spring. If the Hammer does not move, then your P220 was produced after Sig made the change or you have a bad Hammer Reset Spring in a newer model Sig.
If you own an older P220, you have a simple procedure to safety operate it ~ Always use the Decocking Lever and never thumb down the Hammer.
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