What is up with the Sig P238 Spartan?

Straitshot · January 11, 2020, 01:52 PM

About two years ago I bought a Sig Sauer P238 Spartan and Sig was showing the MSRP around $900. I believe I paid around $650 for one I purchased back then online, and I looked for weeks to find one that cheap. Today at the local gun show I saw a new one selling for $450 so when I got home, I looked online and I have found them ranging from $900 to $439. What is the deal? The Spartan has a steel frame instead of the alloy frame which makes it a bit heavier than the other P238 models. That was the reason I purchased it.

TunnelRat · January 11, 2020, 01:56 PM

Time passed, demand probably decreased, and SIG dropped the price or the retailers dropped the price accordingly?

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Straitshot · January 11, 2020, 03:19 PM

Well, what ever the reason I thought $450 was a deal so I purchased another one. I looked on Sig Sauer's web site and they no longer show the Spartan so I guess they have discontinued it. They do show a Spartan II but it has an alloy frame instead of the steel frame.

I have owned both the steel frame and an alloy frame P238 and I like the steel frame because of the added weight. I just shoot it better.

**Aguila Blanca** · January 11, 2020, 04:27 PM

Competition. Since Sig Arms came out with their P238, Kimber released the Micro 380, Colt brought back the Mustang, and now Springfield Armory is selling a Mustang clone.

wild cat mccane · January 11, 2020, 06:57 PM

Knowing the LCP will take most .380 sells, there just going to be variation in version variants of others (like the P238)

Laz · January 14, 2020, 10:20 AM

I have a non-CA version HD and an HD Nickel. I like the steel frames and still long for a 938 HD which has never materialized. I wanted a Spartan but the price was higher than I was willing to pay. Recently, Sig unveiled the Spartan II with aluminum frame and slashed the prices on the original steel Spartans. I finally got one for more than the $450 you saw but a price more in line with other 238s and less than many (under $600). I was told Sig was discontinuing the all-steel models, though I’m not sure about the CA version. I like the alloy 238s but think the steel models are little treasures.

Actually Bud’s Gun Shop is still showing them for $574 cash price.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/search.p...&type=Handguns

Straitshot · January 15, 2020, 04:57 PM

Laz, I too like the alloy frame models but prefer the steel frame models. The one I bought two years ago has been a quality firearm and very reliable. I just shoot them better as they seem to absorb the recoil better. I thought the $450 price on the Spartan was such a bargain I went back and purchased it so now I have two of them. One for each hand.

wild cat mccane · January 17, 2020, 01:23 AM

The ridiculousne...interesting selection of three languages on this thing...

Straitshot · January 17, 2020, 03:51 PM

wild cat mccane, it is a Greek phrase "MALON LABE" meaning "come and take them". I guess since it is a Spartan model Sig thought that was an appropriate embellishment. The newer Sig Spartan II model has the phrase on it as well.

wild cat mccane · January 17, 2020, 04:53 PM

I mean, Greek in Greek, Sig Sauer German in English (that's not German), and general English.

I'm not saying it's stupid...but it's not something I'm not getting past as cool

January 11, 2020, 01:52 PM	#1
Straitshot Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Location: West Texas Posts: 199	What is up with the Sig P238 Spartan? About two years ago I bought a Sig Sauer P238 Spartan and Sig was showing the MSRP around $900. I believe I paid around $650 for one I purchased back then online, and I looked for weeks to find one that cheap. Today at the local gun show I saw a new one selling for $450 so when I got home, I looked online and I have found them ranging from $900 to $439. What is the deal? The Spartan has a steel frame instead of the alloy frame which makes it a bit heavier than the other P238 models. That was the reason I purchased it.

January 11, 2020, 04:27 PM	#4
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,459	Competition. Since Sig Arms came out with their P238, Kimber released the Micro 380, Colt brought back the Mustang, and now Springfield Armory is selling a Mustang clone. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

January 14, 2020, 10:20 AM	#6
Laz Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 1999 Posts: 1,278	I have a non-CA version HD and an HD Nickel. I like the steel frames and still long for a 938 HD which has never materialized. I wanted a Spartan but the price was higher than I was willing to pay. Recently, Sig unveiled the Spartan II with aluminum frame and slashed the prices on the original steel Spartans. I finally got one for more than the $450 you saw but a price more in line with other 238s and less than many (under $600). I was told Sig was discontinuing the all-steel models, though I’m not sure about the CA version. I like the alloy 238s but think the steel models are little treasures. Actually Bud’s Gun Shop is still showing them for $574 cash price. https://www.budsgunshop.com/search.p...&type=Handguns __________________ Laz I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody, who can save anybody. Last edited by Laz; January 14, 2020 at 10:27 AM.

January 11, 2020, 01:56 PM	#2
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,214	Time passed, demand probably decreased, and SIG dropped the price or the retailers dropped the price accordingly? Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

January 11, 2020, 03:19 PM	#3
Straitshot Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Location: West Texas Posts: 199	Well, what ever the reason I thought $450 was a deal so I purchased another one. I looked on Sig Sauer's web site and they no longer show the Spartan so I guess they have discontinued it. They do show a Spartan II but it has an alloy frame instead of the steel frame. I have owned both the steel frame and an alloy frame P238 and I like the steel frame because of the added weight. I just shoot it better.

January 11, 2020, 06:57 PM	#5
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,624	Knowing the LCP will take most .380 sells, there just going to be variation in version variants of others (like the P238)

January 17, 2020, 01:23 AM	#8
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,624	The ridiculousne...interesting selection of three languages on this thing...

January 17, 2020, 03:51 PM	#9
Straitshot Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Location: West Texas Posts: 199	wild cat mccane, it is a Greek phrase "MALON LABE" meaning "come and take them". I guess since it is a Spartan model Sig thought that was an appropriate embellishment. The newer Sig Spartan II model has the phrase on it as well.

January 17, 2020, 04:53 PM	#10
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,624	I mean, Greek in Greek, Sig Sauer German in English (that's not German), and general English. I'm not saying it's stupid...but it's not something I'm not getting past as cool