Found Grail Sig P220

[mbliss57]

I have been looking for this for a long time. I was stationed in West Germany when the Sig Sauer P220 came out in 1976. I have always wanted that 1st year gun. The P220 back then was chambered in both 9mm and .45ACP and 38 super. Very hard to find one from 1976. But here it is with all the right proof marks, 9mm P220 with box and docs and correct original magazines. I just acquired the P220 and a P226 (1990) and they are still at my FFL awaiting pickup.





P226 1990 West German

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

P220 in 9mm? Not sure I have seen the P220 in 9mm, only .45ACP. That is pretty cool.

 

[just plain joe]

If memory serves me correct, the P220 was originally available in 9 m/m, .38 Super, and .45 A.C.P. with the ".45" being the most common.


JPJ

 

[BAM-BAM]

Didn't the 9mm 220 replace the Sig 210 with the Swiss???????


IIRC they came into the US in .45 as the "Browning BDA" ...... mag release on the butt!

Did they import a 9mm......... again IIRC in 76 no one wanted a big single stack 9mm!!!!!!


I've got a W Ger Sig 220 ....... which will shoot cloverleafs at 50'

 

[M29since14]

Did they import a 9mm......... again IIRC in 76 no one wanted a big single stack 9mm!!!!!!

Yes, they did. BDA 9mms are not common. SIG P220s in 9mm were imported in both European and US mag release styles and are easier to find. The imported models I've seen were not like the OP's gun that has the radius front slide. Presume that must have stopped after the first few years... ?

 

[mbliss57]

Yes, they did. BDA 9mms are not common. SIG P220s in 9mm were imported in both European and US mag release styles and are easier to find. The imported models I've seen were not like the OP's gun that has the radius front slide. Presume that must have stopped after the first few years... ?

P220s in 9mm can be found in the Sig data base as late as 1984. yes these were also available in .38 Super and .45 ACP. The BDAs had their own S/N set are are scarce. They only produced them 1976-1980.
This gun has no import marks and the Euro style mag release.
I also have a P6 and P226 1984 & 1990 both West german imports. I still need an early P220 in .45ACP.

Here is the s/n and year stamp info data base page from the Sig Forum: I think this is ok to post...If not I am sure I will be informed Sig Sauer Classic P-Series - Serial Number List and associated manufacture/import years/information - Topic

 

[bc1023]

P220 in 9mm? Not sure I have seen the P220 in 9mm, only .45ACP. That is pretty cool.

Wow, really?

That was the original caliber. It was Sig Sauer's first pistol and it was built to replace the costly Sig P210.

It didn't come chambered in 45ACP until it was "Americanized".

I much prefer the gun in 9mm.

 

[bc1023]

Didn't the 9mm 220 replace the Sig 210 with the Swiss???????

Yes

That was the main reason it was developed. Its Sig Sauer's first pistol.



Here's mine from 1976...











Here it is with my 1983 9mm P220 so you can see the differences...

 

[oneounceload]

The question then becomes: WHY are they still waiting at your FFL? Do you have a waiting period where you live?

 

[M29since14]

Mbliss57... thanks for the link. My P220 in 9x19 in a heel-release, Made-in-Germany gun. (AB, so 2001 manufacture, I guess.) Nice gun, but I do get annoyed at the heel-release. It does appear to be not quite as accurate as I had hoped. May need to keep experimenting til I find ammunition it likes... ?

Congrats on rounding up your old 220. Nice to find something you really want!

 

[TA]

Even more scarce, the P220 was also chambered in .30 Luger.

 

[M29since14]

Yes. The gun was deliberately designed to be more or less modular, so a 9x19 220 can be converted to 7.65 Parabellum with only a proper barrel and recoil spring. I've been looking for a barrel but never have seen one for sale. Would be fun to have.

 

[mbliss57]

The question then becomes: WHY are they still waiting at your FFL? Do you have a waiting period where you live?

I'm in England and he's in Ohio. I get back on Dec 25th. So hopefully the day after or the 27th I'll have it in my safe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ed Fowler]

This is a real sweetheart, traded sides at least 2 times in the sand box and was liberated by a friend from a gentleman who he said did not need it any more. Had Bruce Gray work his magic on it and it is a favorite. JB code and I like carrying the single stack 9mm 220 made in West Germany.

 

[CustomChevyGuy]

Congrats on the grail purchase!
I, like many others, hadn't realized that the P220 was chambered in anything other than 45. I guess you learn something new every day.

I handled a Western Germany made P220 at a LGS a few years ago, but at the time wasn't in the market for 45. At some point I'll cross paths with one when I am looking to expand my personal selection.
I bet the 9mm is a soft shooting pistol!

 

[Old Corp]

I was working at an LGS in the 70's when the Browning BDA examples came on the market. Distinctly recall the shop having the 9mm, .38 Super and .45, all at the same time.

IIRC, they did not sell well back then. Sorta strange design for the era, and .45's were Colt 1911's by God!

 

[Grayfox]

I'd love to have one in 38 Super. Sadly, those are way above my price range.

 

[dobk63]

Sig-Sauer had some left over serial numbered BDA frames and used them to make 7.65 Para P220s. It has a Browning BDA 45 serial number (frame , slide , and barrel) and frame is even marked BDA 45.

 

[jag312]

I'd love to have one in 38 Super. Sadly, those are way above my price range.

I'd love to have one, too. I have yet to see one, and I've been looking for years.

 

[Tmnguuyen]

P220 dolphin nose

Love those old sigs. The trigger and hammer snap is so distinctive German. The BDAs have polished slides a bit nicer...

 

[JayFramer]

LOVE the old German folded carbon slide pre-rail P220s. Here's mine:

An ideal stopper, German engineering and better made than the newer American guns. Don't need a rail, I use the Harries method. Going to send this one off to SIG-Sauer for their refurbishment program and where they replace the night sights, springs, inspect all parts, detail strip and clean, and relube to factory specs. This was a police trade in and was made in '99. In fantastic shape but this is my main home defense and open carry weapon so I want it to be at its prime.

 

[Amp]

I got mine around 77 or 78 but its in a plastic box marked SigArms. Its a 45 and shoots better than me.
Sadly it spends most its time in a warm dark safe.

 

[Andyd]

My HG marked pistol in 9mm.

 

[mbliss57]

I got mine around 77 or 78 but its in a plastic box marked SigArms. Its a 45 and shoots better than me.
Sadly it spends most its time in a warm dark safe.

I believe if you bought it in 77 or 78 and it says Sig Arms not Sig Sauer that is a Swiss made pistol. I am not 100% sure but I know that Sig was the Swiss company and Sauer the German.. Do you have pics of the proof marks. They will be a clue. Also does it say only Sig Arms or made in West Germany too?

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations on the find

The Browning BDA came into the US chambered for 9MM Luger, 38 Super or 45 ACP.

My first one was a BDA 45 from 1977. I was looking for some new pistols for my Father and myself to carry at our auto repair shop and the BDA was the winner. I even still own that first one.

That BDA is the bottom right of this photo. The top left is the first P220 I bought with a dovetailed front sight so I could have Trijicons. The lower left is my 38 Super and the upper right is my first stainless. My 9MM P220 is not photographed

The SIG P220 was originally chambered in a total of six calibers. In addition to the three already mentioned, it was also produced in 22 LR, 30 Luger and 9MM Steyr. In recent years the 10 MM Auto cartridge became the seventh caliber offering of the P220 family of autos

I have had a long and satisfying relationship with the P220 family of auto loaders. I try to keep my old ones even if newer ones are added.

I have a few others, including some of the P220 Master Shop offerings, but that is for another thread

 

[colt_saa]

I believe if you bought it in 77 or 78 and it says Sig Arms not Sig Sauer that is a Swiss made pistol. I am not 100% sure but I know that Sig was the Swiss company and Sauer the German.. Do you have pics of the proof marks. They will be a clue. Also does it say only Sig Arms or made in West Germany too?

As I remember it, the entire reason for SIG of Switzerland to seek the joint venture was that the Swiss company was forbidden to export firearms. Truthfully I do not recall it great detail, after all this happened over 40 years ago.

So SIG formed a partnership with JP Sauer and Shon of Germany thus breathing life into SIG-Sauer

 

[mbliss57]

As I remember it, the entire reason for SIG of Switzerland to seek the joint venture was that the Swiss company was forbidden to export firearms. Truthfully I do not recall it great detail, after all this happened over 40 years ago.

So SIG formed a partnership with JP Sauer and Shon of Germany thus breathing life into SIG-Sauer

Your recollection is correct from what I have read. So Swiss instead of German proof marks and no W Germany gun and a SIG or Sig Arms gun would be Swiss made. Likely a Military gun. P75 (1975) which became P220 for civilian market. If S/N start with an A it was military, Z customs/ border police, G civilian.

 

[Fishslayer]

Love the P220. Those older ones turn up on my local classifieds ftom time to time.

My own grail 220 is one in 10mm. When they show up the owner's usually asking around $2K.

Gotta love the Kalifornistan roster.

 

[Coaltminer]

Grail Sig 220

Brother has one bought in the '80's, Euro mag release, 9mm. FFL dealer he knew bought 7 of them, NIB. Got it for $300. Shoots well, just not my thing. Cheers and Happy Christmas. Merry is outdated by 2 hundred years. Fa la la la la. Scroogy over and out

 

[Rock185]

Neat guns all. I remember when those Browning BDAs were first being imported. I was a blue steel and walnut kind of guy, and kinda thought, "what the heck is Browning doing with those things? I mean from blue steel and walnut, to what appeared to me to be sheet metal slides and plastic? Well as we know, they proved to be great guns.

My 220s were all .45 ACP till recent years. At different times, I acquired two P220 9mms, '94 and '95, with "American" type mag releases. Sold the WG '94 unfired, but still have the '95. I have enjoyed shooting this one a little bit