New toy, from Germany, via New Hampshire...

[Tamara]

Many moons ago, I had a SIG P-228. Loved it, and used it for a purse gun for a long while. When the "high-cap" scare of '94 happened, I literally sold it off my hip in the gun shop for $800.

Thankfully, I've recently had the opportunity to trade into another, this one with K-cote and Trijicons.

I'd almost forgotten how much I'd missed this popgun... :D

[DragonDog]

Good going, Tamara! Congratulations!

Can never go wrong with a Sig. You should get you a nice shiny 220ST to go with it. The King and The Queen?

Enjoy.

[22mag]

My Sig 228 with the little Sig 232 as back up stays in my company ..while others may come and go.

[Tecolote]

Congratulations Tamara. May I ask, is it one of the proofed in Germany or assembled in the US P228s? I've told by a very honest shop owner that new German made/assembled P228s are getting rarer than hen's teeth. Wonder if he's got his info wrong?

[CastleBravo]

I had one of those a while ago. Didn't suit me so well, but the thing was maybe the most reliable mechanical thing I've ever owned. It was invincible.

[tlhelmer]

Here is mine.

[tlhelmer]

I guess I should have posted the pic.

[JY-]

http://home.rochester.rr.com/youngones/third/P220239-1.jpg

[Tamara]

This one is liberally sprinkled with German proof marks.

These stamped slide guns just balance and point so much better for me than the milled-slide guns. I just got rid of a P-226 Stainless in .40 not long back; it was a fine pistol, but I just couldn't warm up to it. This P-228, on the other hand, is a sweetheart... :)

[Greg Bell]

(Read this with syntho-James Earl Jones voice:


Now, young one, purchase a 229 and the circle will be complete. Moo ha ha ha (evil laugh) ha ha ha.

[spleenandideal]

I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for anyone with a soft spot for the P228. :)

[Kermit]

Congrats! Always nice to see when a good gun finds a home :D

[garrettwc]

Forgive my ignorance but could someone enlighten me on the significance of some of what has been posted here.

I know the 228 is rare, mainly I have been told, due to the fact that SigArms is filling US Government contracts and they just aren't available to civies.

What's with the german proofmark issue? Is this an early version when the company was Sig Sauer? I remember something about the slides being milled stainless that is painted black. What are the differences between Tamara's gun and the typical new Sig in the gun store.

[IanS]

Congratulations!:D

I too have been reunited with a Sig (this time a German proofed Sig P226 9mm manufact. in 1995) in pristine condition after been Sigless for a few years. My previous Sigs were P229's and an (American proofed) P220 but of all the Sigs the stamped steel P226, P228, and P225 in 9mm have always been the "ideal" or archetypal Sig Sauer pistol to me. I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of the "new" American Sigs but something was lost in the "translation" I feel ;)

I'm gonna shoot it as much as I can but its gonna get lots of tlc. :D Have fun with yours.

And for god's sake, lets not part with them this time.:o



WaltherP99man,

Sig Sauer is still Sig Sauer. German proof marked means they have been "proofed" or tested in Germany. And it also means the entire pistol was manufactured and assembled in Germany as well. Your Walther P99 and other German pistols like the H&K USP's and P7's have similar markings. Currently, Sig Sauer (or Sigarms) is manufacturing the stainless slides for the P229, P226, and some P228's in the United States while the frame is imported from Germany. The final pistol (American slide and German frame) is then assembled and proofed in the U.S.

Tamara's P228 was entirely manufactured, assembled, and proofed in Germany. Sort of like when an American buyer imports a "gray market" (not intended for U.S. consumers) BMW from Germany.

[Tamara]

Now, young one, purchase a 229 and the circle will be complete. Moo ha ha ha (evil laugh) ha ha ha.

Sorry, I remember getting all excited when the 229 first came out; "Ooh! A 228 in .40!", but I was, like, 25 years old then, so I was pretty easily excited. Like the rest of the milled-slide SIGs, the 229 just feels awkward and top-heavy to me. :(


Ian11,

This 228 is old enough to actually say "Made in W. Germany" on it. I'd reckon it dates to the early '90s.

[Al Thompson]

I used to have a nice 228. Found someone who liked it better.. Always good to trade with a friend. :D

[Tecolote]

Just to add some information, US market:

P220 (45)
Stamped slide, made/assembled Germany (German proofmarks)
Stamped slide, German made/US assembled (no German proofs)

P226 (9mm, .40, 357SIG)
Stamped slide, made/assembled Germany (German proofmarks)
Stamped slide, German made/US assembled (no German proofs)
US made stainless slide/German frame, assembled in the US (no German proofmarks)

P228 (9mm)
Stamped slide, made/assembled Germany (German proofmarks)
Stamped slide, German made/US assembled (no German proofs)

P229 (9mm, .40, 357SIG)
US made stainless slide/German frame, assembled in the US (no German proofmarks)

P239 (9mm, .40, 357SIG)
US made stainless slide/German frame, assembled in the US (no German proofmarks)

[Marko Kloos]

This 228 is old enough to actually say "Made in W. Germany" on it. I'd reckon it dates to the early '90s.

It'd have to be 1990 or before, since the unification took place in October 1990.

[Tecolote]

Actually the number of manufactured slides exceeded the number of pistols made before 1990. Even in the early 90s SIG Sauer was still using slides marked W. Germany that had been made prior to reunification.:)

[tlhelmer]

That makes since. My 228 is proofmarked KH (97' i believe) and only has "made in Germany" on the slide, not West Germany.

It has the best/smoothest trigger on any of my DA/SA guns.

[billcameron]

Hope you saved some 13 round mags from back in 94. They are expensive now.

[Zander]

Like the rest of the milled-slide SIGs, the 229 just feels awkward and top-heavy to me. Loaded with 13 rounds of .40Auto or .357SIG, the P229 balances quite well for me.

Not to say that there's anything wrong with the P225, P226, P228 or any other stamped-slide SIG; they are, after all, SIGs...the most reliable out-of-the-box combat pistols on the market these days.

Get those extra-round Mec-Gars for the P228 while you can still find them...

[Zander]

I'd reckon it dates to the early '90s. -- TamaraWhy not just check the date code and be sure? It's clearly marked as a two-letter code immediately adjacent to the proof marks...

[Greg Bell]

TAMARA said:

"Sorry, I remember getting all excited when the 229 first came out; "Ooh! A 228 in .40!", but I was, like, 25 years old then, so I was pretty easily excited. Like the rest of the milled-slide SIGs, the 229 just feels awkward and top-heavy to me."

Darth SIGARMs says:

You have learned much, young one, but you are not a Sigi yet...You don't know THE POWER OF THE MILLED SLIDE!!!

[JIH]

Loaded with 13 rounds of .40Auto or .357SIG, the P229 balances quite well for me.Actually, this is an important consideration. I've ran across some pistols which feel nice and balanced when unloaded, but put a mag in them and you've upset the balance.

Personally, I'd rather it be balanced when it's loaded...

[Gonzo_308]

How is the firing Pin?:D

[Turk]

Tamara and others,

I'm considering a Sig in 357 sig. What's so good about the P228? I see on the Sig website its being sold to LEO an Military only. I don't want a full-size pistol.

Thanks,


Turk