Usually, in firearms-related message boards and social media marketing groups just like the SIG Sauer Legion fb group, I’ll see the terminology “West German SIG” and “German SIG” put interchangeably. I’ll also discover weapons also known as “German-made” when that might maybe not in fact function as situation. Some proprietors erroneously (but innocently) assume that a P-Series SIG Sauer with “Made in Germany” stamped on the slip, or a-frame etched “frame-made in Germany” is no different than a pistol with “Made in W. Germany” stamped regarding the slide — when that is in fact false.

There are certain differences between SIGs made in Germany (or West Germany) vs. those created using areas built in Germany and assembled in the US. Those variations depend upon which brands we’re getting in regards to. For a discussion on distinctions throughout the P226 model, like, check-out my P226 adaptation records and Head-to-Head assessment movie. On whether those differences render one variation better than the other was a matter of argument… better remaining to debate forums and myspace organizations. There’s no denying, but that SIG enthusiasts generally tend to locate “true” German and specially West German SIGs rather a lot more collectible and attractive, and so a brief history of just how to separate different SIGs predicated on her real provenances could be of good use.

“Made in W. Germany” SIGs

Switzerland have big cheddar, chocolate, and pocket knives, but their strict laws and regulations badly limit the strength of Swiss firms to export guns. Thus Swiss agencies desiring to promote items outside of Switzerland can work surrounding this restriction by partnering with a non-Swiss company. Very in the early 1970s, SIG (which got its emails from Schweizerische Industriegesellschaft — meaning “Swiss business Company”) partnered with a West Germany-based Sauer & Sohn, who had been noted for their unique top quality shopping rifles, in addition to SIG Sauer cooperation was given birth to. Their first mutual project was the SIG P220, which launched in 1975. Prior to her cooperation with Sauer, SIG have previously produced the SIG P210 your Swiss military, so the two businesses constructed upon the axioms from the SIG P210 the SIG P220, that they planned to export.

Because Sauer & Sohn’s manufacturing unit had been situated in Eckernforde, western Germany, all guns developed at this premises received a “MADE IN W. GERMANY” stamp to their slip:

Early West German SIG P220 with “Made in W. Germany” stamped regarding the slip

These model furthermore happened to be brought in to the United States by SIGARMS INC. in Tysons spot, VA, the first 1985 area of SIG Sauer’s US functions — which in turn consisted best of importing and selling the western German-made guns.

Normally, the “MADE IN W. GERMANY” stamp appears in uppercase, but there are samples of the stamp being in name case, just like this 1988 SIG P226:

1988 SIG P226 with “Made In W. Germany” stamped on the fall

This brings all of us to your essential guideline for identifying a-west German SIG: in the event it doesn’t need “MADE IN W. GERMANY” (or “Made In W. Germany”) stamped on slide, it is anything besides an “outright” West German firearm. When it simply states “MADE IN GERMANY,” it’s perhaps not a-west German SIG, and it’s wrong to refer to it as this type of.

Source for the term “Made in Germany”

This is a good location to get a simple pause and explain the beginnings of the term “Made in Germany,” because it’s perhaps not how you feel, and you also may well not actually accept it.

In 1879, Otto von Bismarck, earliest Chancellor of Germany, lifted import tariffs on all international merchandise entering Germany so that you can shield German companies by continuing to keep the prices regarding products low when compared to foreign items (Governments however do this type of activities now). Because of this coverage, the German manufacturing market increased quickly, and German stores began growing their unique exports over the marketplace of Europe. Because British-made products are considered the highest quality at that time, German merchants routinely designated and packaged their merchandise falsely — attempting to move them off as British-made.

Which means that it had been Britain that created the expression “Made in Germany,” and pushed German stores to make use of they to prevent counterfeiting.

As time proceeded, German-made merchandise at some point constructed their global track record of top quality and trustworthiness, in order that now the term “Made in Germany” is a level of quality, although the term just isn’t trademarked or controlled by any central regulating institution.

The term “Made in Germany” was still popular even on western German goods from 1945 until 1973, after western German government courtroom ( Bundesgerichtshof ) made a ruling your expression “Made in Germany” does not let consumers to properly differentiate between your two Germanys of that time, and thus “Made in western Germany” (also “Made in GDR”) began to look instead. As for how and when they transitioned to “Made in Germany,” especially in the fact of SIG Sauer pistols, you’ll have to read on to find out!

Proof Scars and Go Out Rules

A different way to recognize a-west German SIG will be the presence of evidence marks and day requirements, though their life by yourself doesn’t automatically establish a pistol’s provenance. Even when German proof scars and big date requirements manage show up on the weapon, it’s still maybe not correct to refer to it as an outright West German SIG when it’s missing out on the “MADE IN W. GERMANY” regarding the slide.

The full conversation of SIG Sauer Proof markings and time requirements free Sober online dating deserves its own post, therefore I gone forward and wrote one. Possible simply take a rest from this article and study they today, or test it whenever you’re done with this one. It explains the origin of verification marks, just what “proofing” are and exactly why it’s important… and dispels some of the net stories nearby SIG verification markings in particular.

Nevertheless the TL;DR type of that article is that verification scars show where as well as how a firearm was actually test discharged and stated not harmful to incorporate, as well as bonafide West German SIGs need one verification mark showing where it had been examined, another verification level showing what type of test that passed away, and a two-letter date rule stamped about “chin” in the slide, as on this 1989 SIG P226:

Proof markings and date code on a 1989 western German SIG P226

According to gun model and antique, it is additionally feasible observe your order associated with proof markings swapped, like with this 1977 SIG P220:

Proof scars and date signal on a 1977 SIG P220

German weapon makers used the following emails to indicate proofing schedules:

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