Posted: 11/8/2007 9:23:51 PM EDT
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Does anyone know the history of the factory boxes the pistols have come in? From the old cardboard and foam style to the different color plastic ones? What colors have the CPO pistols come in besides red? Were the black boxes very common? Thanks! 
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There are AT LEAST 6 different boxes that I can remember... I'll need to dig them out and also find some photos before giving an order to them. After Cardboard, the Grey Boxes hit, and I know there are a few styles of those around. The Blue boxes are new, and have gone through a few generation changes... There are also Blue/white blue/black boxes for LEO sales, and even some pure white boxes. Red boxes are CPO only. Red bands on the guns = CPO Blue bands on the guns = Factory NEW |
Thanks for the great info! Have CPO's ever come in anything other than red boxes? |
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The VERY first releases of CPO's were Grade 1, 2, 3. The best grade was 1. The lower grades were sold to CDNN and other Distributors and were fairly beat weapons. (were talking about finish chips, gouges and massive dings - my FIRST sig was an LEO trade in, that looked like it was dragged behind a motorcycle on the freeway - but it was the finest shooting weapon I had ever fired up until that time.) Slowly they dried up and only grade 1 weapons were left. (they are still around for CDNN and other distributors to purchase, but no dealer can purchase a Grade 2 or 3 weapon from SIG anymore) AT first, they were released in Blue boxes, but very shortly after, they started coming in the red boxes. (it was a huge step and a dramatic change for SIG to enter the used gun market) So far, the CPO's have been a blessing and a plague for SIG. They entice the sales for SIG with lower prices and hook future buyers with the SIG design, but they also plague SIG when someone isn't happy with the finish of their "used" gun. (because they are purchasing a FACTORY Certified Pre-Owned Weapon, they want it to look AMAZING for being used. Some are, but most fit into the 98% range. Some small problems, perhaps wear on the barrel or the slide having some information milled off of it.) CPO's are GREAT weapons, some are better than others, but in the end, there are always a couple that make it out with finish problems. (from my experience, I'd say that 18/20 are Minty and those 2/20 have some sort of finish wear or went through the refurb wrong) I own more than a few CPO's personally and would recommend them to anyone looking for a SIG for FAR less than retail price. If you are in the market, check the EE here on AR15.com, Gunbroker and the Classifieds over at SIGforum. -Jason C |
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Very True about the bands. When SIG started to Blue Band the NEW guns, they realized that customers were confused with both CPO and NEW weapons having the same bands... so the CPO's changed to RED. Also, all newer boxes, both red and blue come with a "born on date" (located near the bar code) This should give you a good estimate when it was processed at SIG, but not when it was made. (Blue box guns are close, but Red box guns could be FAR off - since they are refurbished.) -Jason |
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SIG-Sauer P226 "Also I think I should mention the boxes, up until about 1991 they came in a yellow cardboard box, and after that a grey cardboard box, until 2001 when they started selling them in plastic carry case boxes. In the US the packaging has been different since about 1992 from Europe, there has been a succession of plastic boxes, some with padlocks (and the US guns come with a much crappier manual than the European guns, with their Swiss four-language manual)."
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