Posted: 12/16/2025 1:28:02 PM EDT
I purchased this Sig Sauer P220 at the Small Arms Review show, and didn't notice until after getting it home that it's not marked "Made in W Germany, or just Germany, but I thought for sure it was an earlier model with matching earlier (not blue) case. Did Sig Sauer produce these in the states with no rail, and in black cases. I thought that the first American produced P220s were with blue cases, and had the light rail?    
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As you surmised, it's a former police gun. Serial number puts the manufacture date around 2000. The Hogue rubber grips came factory and may have a date clock wheel on the inside of the grips. After unification in 1990, there was a grace period for west German manufacturers to keep marking items made in W. Germany, since they didn't want their products to seem inferior if buyers thought they came from the East Germany. Also companies like SIG would run batches of things like slides and not produce another lot for several years. I think SIG stopped using W. Germany marked slides around the late 1990's. I bought a similar gun of the same vintage years ago from gun broker. It needed a hammer reset spring and a good cleaning. |
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Forgot to mention I noticed it came with a 7 round magazine with the metal follower and integral floor plate lock on the magazine spring. I ordered some years ago from Wolff. My advice buy a pack of replacement springs now before they're discontinued. The newer stainless 8 rounders will work, new ones are spendy. You can get police surplus ones from time to time from outfits like recoil gun works, aim surplus, CDNN etc. Enjoy your 220! |
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After reunification, the Federal Republic of Germany allowed businesses to stamp "made in W. Germany" until 1995, as mentioned earlier in this thread due to the perceived decline in quality from East German made goods. SIG did that. After 1995, the overstamped the "W." on slides and frames that they had left over. Then they went to "Made in Germany" and even didn't stamp their slides on where they were made. During all that time, SIGARMS went from being an import only business for SIG Sauer to being a domestic manufacturer. They moved to New Hampshire and by 1992, were starting domestic production of P22x series guns. And during that time too, SIG Sauer in Germany also was still manufacturing guns. So, you had guns made statside, guns made in Germany, and a mix and match. SIGARMS got SIG Sauer made frames, slides, and barrels from Germany and assembled 'em stateside, hence no German proof marks. They also mixed and matched parts too. German made frame, American made slide, etc. SIG didn't start making railed models until about 2001ish give or take. So, your pistol is probably German made and US assembled, even if it isn't marked made in Germany since SIG Sauer made parts for the US market. I believe SIGARMS manufacturing in the US was always milled slides since they started making the P229 stateside in 1992 and that was a milled slide from the get-go. My 1998 made P220 is marked "Made in Germany" on the right side of the slide and it is a stamped sheet metal slide like your. The frame has no markings on where it was made. Hell, the frame doesn't say SIG anywhere on it just like your gun. Mine doesn't have German proof marks either, meaning it was assembled stateside.  |
| This gun feels like German made quality. I purchased a couple Sig P220s with the rails when they came out around 2006, and the quality was very disappointing. Not nearly as accurate either. I suspect as well as you do that mine is German made, but assembled in the US. |
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Originally Posted By tim01433: This gun feels like German made quality. I purchased a couple Sig P220s with the rails when they came out around 2006, and the quality was very disappointing. Not nearly as accurate either. I suspect as well as you do that mine is German made, but assembled in the US. Great build quality and nice shooting pistol like an earlier 220 I have that was made in W. Germany. I like the older folded slide SIGs they balance better for my grip. |
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