I am looking at an early Sig P226. The markings on it are painted on. The examples I've seen online have engraved markings. Did they mark them both ways back then?

I am waiting for a clearer photo of the right side of the gun. Once I have the serial number, I'll be able to nail down a date on this, but I think it's mid 80s based on the Tysons Corner designation and the presence of "mud rails".

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I bought a new P226 in early 1989 but haven't seen or fired it in a while. Curious as to what mud rails are.

That's an earlier one with the Tyson's Corner mark. Mud rails are the scallops cut into the frame where the slide rides; you can see them in the picture. I had one just like it several years ago and carried it on duty for a couple of years. It was used when I bought it and not in as good a condition as the one you pictured. I even sent it off to Nitex in Dallas, Texas, and had a hard chrome finish done on it. Never knew how many rounds it had shot before I got it, but I lost count after 15,000 rounds while I had it. It was very reliable and I don't recall any problems with it. I would jump on that one if the price is not too excessive.

Thank you for the mud rail explanation. I'd not heard the term before; my gun doesn't have them.

I would bet the roll marks have been filled in with chalk to make them more legible. Very common with internet sellers and collectors.
Tyson's Corner was the US importer for German made Sig's from 1985-'87. I believe they all have the "mud rails", which are relieved sections of frame rail designed to retain grease. The mud rail frames are considered weaker than the conventional design and the feature was eliminated by 1988.

A Tyson's Corner gun might bring a premium to a collector. If you are just looking for a shooter I would go for one of the LEO trade-ins that pop up from time to time for $500 or so.

"Mud rails" are equivalent to sand cuts for FAL owners.

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Release the Kraken

date should be decoded by this....

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Thank you for the coding information. Just looked at my P226 and guess I'm not very observant. Not sure I've ever noticed those markings in the 30+ years I've had the gun.

Thank you for the information. So far the seller and I haven't been able to agree on a trade, but we'll see what happens.

I have bought a few P226s for $850- $1000. All were in pristine condition, one was German made , one was MK25 SEAL model and one had Nitron insides but no Trident on LEFT slide.

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V/r,
Markham

The ‘Mud Rails’ if IRRC were added to qualify for the early 1980’s US Military JSSAP Trials, which the P.226 sadly did not win. A variant of the PB 92-S, 9 NATO was ultimately chosen for reasons which remain‘unclear’ to this day! Rumor dictates it was chosen over the Sig because we needed to renew the leases on our Italian based Airbases, along with Beretta tendering an lower price point for the ‘package deal’ of part’s & support components ? Based on my knowledge, that scenario sounds quite plausible to me ?

Best, Dom P.

Have a W Germany Sig P226 with the Tysons Corner import marking. It, too, has the mud rails. Never knew that was the name for the scallops.

My Sig 226 is marked JJ = 1988 - When I bought mine it was hard to find. The Seals were buying them up!
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My West German 226, no mud rails, no "Tyson Corners" markings. I lived near Tysons Corner in Falls Church for a short time in the late '60s. My dad was stationed at the Pentagon for a special duty National Guard project.

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Mine is also a "JJ" gun purchased new in 1989. I've never been much of a 9mm enthusiast, but enjoyed developing cast bullet loads for the P226 and several other 9mm pistols. The Sig may be the most accurate of the bunch. I seldom shoot these guns anymore, but it would be hard to get rid of such a good pistol as the P226, despite the chambering.