Awhile back, I found an excellent and early Sig P220 that has the Browning markings and was new in 1977. While looking into the P220, I subsequently learned the P230 was originally put into manufacture in 1977 (I never realized the design was that old), and I started keeping any eye out for an early one.

Fast forward to now. I found what I guessed was an early P230 on an auction site. The slide is marked:

HAWES FIREARMS CO
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
MADE IN W. GERMANY

I have seen Interarms marked P230s in the past and I took a gamble that this would be an early one. I was high bidder on the auction and here it is. Initially, I couldn't find the date code, turns out the date code was on the inside on the chamber. The code is HG, indicating a 1976 manufacture date. Is the general knowledge on when P230s manufacture started wrong? Is there anything special about this P230, or do I happen to just have an early, garden variety Sig P230?

Any info, insight, or knowledge would be appreciated.

Attached Images

	SIG P230 (3).jpg (164.9 KB, 84 views)
	SIG P230 (13).jpg (46.5 KB, 65 views)

Not an expert by any means, all I know is that production started in 1976 and in 1996 a two-tone finish was offered. Not sure when production ended.

The P230 was offered in .22LR, 32ACP, .380ACP and 9mm Ultra (9x18 a true Nazi cartridge).

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Jorge

Frink early P220s were inported by Hawes too. I believe Hawes pre dates Browning BDA markings.

Man yours is mint for a 77

Heck, I never knew about Hawes, only the BDA via Browning.

Your P230 looks a bit like the Walther PP.

I'm no Sig expert either but really like my P220 that says "W Germany" and also Sig Arms, Exeter, N.H.

I'll have to look into finding the born on date for mine too.

Those are great shooters, I've acquired two of them in the past couple years, both in .380.

Some were made in .32 ACP, someday I hope to find a good example in this caliber also.

Recoil is not bad, DA/SA with decocker is a very safe action...just remember to decock before holstering.

Magazines do not drop free. Promag makes spare mags, but the originals are better.

Your pistol looks super nice. Dawes Firearms is most likely the importer.

Both of mine have the model number on the left side of the slide, above the trigger. Right side of slide is marked 9mm kurtz, Sigarms INC, Exeter NH and also has the serial number.

9mm kurtz = .380 ACP


Would you mind posting a photo of the left side, and of the sights?

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John

The Hawes Firearm Company were a major American importer of European firearms during the 1950s and 1960s. Hawes were the first importer of JP Sauer & Sohn firearms into America. JP Sauer & Sohn are the oldest firearms manufacturer still active in Germany.

Hawes contracted with manufacturer JP Sauer & Sohn, Germany, to produce a series of single action guns in several calibers known as the Marshall series. These were mid range quality firearms made cheaply in Germany while the German market was undervalued, and sold on to Americans under an American brand.

They also contracted with Italian manufacturer Galisi to import small .25 semi automatics. They are likely to have imported guns from several other European manufacturers and sold them under the Hawes name to the American market.

Hawes revolvers did not have a hammer block, and therefore often fired unintentionally if the chamber beneath the hammer was loaded and the hammer suffered an impact. They were sued for this lack of a safety feature many times, and stopped importing firearms into America as a result.

Hawes Firearms Co. Weapons

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John

From memory, the 230p model was eliminated in 96 (I have a 230SL from last year of manufacture) in favor of the 232.



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Here is a picture of the other side. The picture of the sights didn't some out.

Attached Images

SIG P230 (17).jpg (144.7 KB, 15 views)

Nice condition. The ones I've seen imported by SIG of Exeter NH have the serial number stamped on the right of the slide AND on the frontstrap of the grip.

I have another P230 that was imported by C.I.A. and their import mark is on the slide via their ****** way of dot-peen engraving.

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John

230SL I picked up last fall, 380.


9241990140832188393709

Of minor interest, I have a P230 SL, a P232, and one of the Japanese contract ones in .32 acp (want a .22lr so bad, never seen one).

They all have proof house markings in different locations on the exterior of these pistols. The Hawes imported one that I started the thread with has all the proof house markings on internal parts. Just a little interesting thing to note (for me at least).