Older P220

**chutestrate** · March 3rd, 2014, 11:42 AM

I have an older Sig P220 with a stainless slide (I think), and black alloy frame. How can I tell if the slide is stainless or nickel? It appears to be stainless. There are wear scratches, and rubs on the finish, and it's more of a matte color. I'm just curious.

**daschnoz** · March 3rd, 2014, 12:34 PM

If it is a 1 piece machined slide, it is SS (made in the US). If it is a 2 piece slide (made in Germany), it is not SS.

For a time, frames were made in Germany and mated to US made, SS slides, so using the "made in" stamp on the frame may not be 100% reliable in determining the origin of the slide.

You may want to contact Sig with the serial number. They (more than likely) will be able to give you an answer.

**Boots_DE** · March 3rd, 2014, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by daschnoz

... You may want to contact Sig with the serial number. They (more than likely) will be able to give you an answer.

My Sig was proofed in 1989 and I hoped to get some historical data about it, so I called Sig.
They told me their records go all the way back to ............................. 2005!

Oh well ...

**PGU5802** · March 4th, 2014, 11:40 AM

They definitely go back further. They were able to look up the serial number of my 229 and tell me it was made in 1992.

**Pizza Bob** · March 4th, 2014, 12:07 PM

If it has a pinned-in breech block and a triangular shaped flat milled on the top of the slide, forward of the ejection port with the apex toward the front sight, it is a "folded" slide. That means it was fabricated from carbon steel flat stock. If this is your slide, it is nickel plated - if not it is monolithic machined stainless steel.

Here's a picture I found on the Internet...

HTH

Adios,

Pizza Bob

**Deleted** · March 4th, 2014, 01:57 PM

If it turns out to be an all German gun... be very nice to it and let no one talk you into selling it.

**wanneroo** · March 4th, 2014, 04:47 PM

Hopefully I can find an older German P220 .45 later this year. I decided after coming within a second or two of having a momma bears teeth bite off a piece of my ass down in the canyon, that maybe I need a 45 rather than a 9mm. I like the looks of the P220. Not a fan of 1911's at all.

**GonzoGeezer** · March 4th, 2014, 04:47 PM

Try calling customer service at SIG a second time. I did that for my P220. The first guy immediately said there was no information on my 2002 because the database only goes back at 2005. I called again and this time the guy I got said yes, the database goes back to 2005 but some of us have other lists. He was able to answer my questions (2002 German slide, US frame, assembled in US).