Why do they call it a Sigma?
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novalty
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Smith's Initial Glock Made Affordable???
westcoast362
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I remember seeing a list of names that S&W considered, it was forty or so long. I think it was in The American Rifleman a few years ago. They picked it like any other product names, by focus groups, committees etc.
They should have focused on the quality of the Sigma when it first came out. If they had then they might have given Glock a run for it's money. Instead the Sigma became the butt of a lot of jokes. If today's Sigma had been available back then S&W would have had a winner. They blew it.
Brian894x4
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I can personally attest that the first few batches of Sigmas had serious quality issues. Back when the Sigmas were just hitting the market, a large organization purchased a batch of multi-hundreds these guns and we found that about half of them had broken firing pins right out of the box. That sure didn't do much for confidence. Over the next few years, we found firing pin springs and parts were either broken or missing. On some guns, parts of the firing pin mechanism were actually found to be missing, although many did continue function.
I also have seen inside of chambers rust and pit after the guns went through a rain storm but not were cleaned and dried later. Also there were recalls on magazines and other minor issues over the course of their service life.
That all said, S&W had excellent customer service and over the course of carrying these weapons, they were replaced at least once and I think possibly twice with upgraded models at no or minimal charge.
Also, guns that at least came from the factory with all of their parts in working order, functioned very reliably at the range.
They were decent shooting guns that fired and jammed about as often as the Glocks, which means rarely and accuracy was comparable to the Glocks.
However, initital quality of the initital run of guns sucked big time, but this was improved in later models. But in the end the Sigma lacks some of the Glocks features, such tenefer finish, which prevents rusting issues and this is where much of the money is saved.
I was shocked to see how just how much S&W copied the basic Glock design. I totally understand Glock getting a little PO'd when they first came out.
In the end, that organization later switched to Glocks, mainly because the Glock was and continues to be, the industry standard and because I believe there were still some quality issues with some of the guns that couldn't be resolved.
I also have seen inside of chambers rust and pit after the guns went through a rain storm but not were cleaned and dried later. Also there were recalls on magazines and other minor issues over the course of their service life.
That all said, S&W had excellent customer service and over the course of carrying these weapons, they were replaced at least once and I think possibly twice with upgraded models at no or minimal charge.
Also, guns that at least came from the factory with all of their parts in working order, functioned very reliably at the range.
They were decent shooting guns that fired and jammed about as often as the Glocks, which means rarely and accuracy was comparable to the Glocks.
However, initital quality of the initital run of guns sucked big time, but this was improved in later models. But in the end the Sigma lacks some of the Glocks features, such tenefer finish, which prevents rusting issues and this is where much of the money is saved.
I was shocked to see how just how much S&W copied the basic Glock design. I totally understand Glock getting a little PO'd when they first came out.
In the end, that organization later switched to Glocks, mainly because the Glock was and continues to be, the industry standard and because I believe there were still some quality issues with some of the guns that couldn't be resolved.
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HspncElvis
Member
I can't attest to any batches of Sigma's having quality problems. Mine is a FINE firearm. As I said before. Accurate and reliable. I purchased mine January of 2009. Have put several rounds through it and find it to be a quality weapon. I have not had the need for Customer Service, but I hear S&W has a fine one. End result, I am VERY happy with my Sigma 9mm.
The first batch of sigmas were horrible, yours is fairly new. They came out in 1994 and were pretty much crap.
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writerinmo
US Veteran
Yes, they certainly were. Frames cracking at the rear, horror stories galore. If you happen to have one now and send it in for warranty work they usually send you a new version and keep the old one.
alaskavett
US Veteran
Misspelling
It was MENT to be STIGMAS, as in less then perfect
Ok so hear comes the heat on this Kyle
It was MENT to be STIGMAS, as in less then perfect
Ok so hear comes the heat on this KyleDragon88
Member
Haha the S&W Stigma. That's perfect. 
alaskavett
US Veteran
The "FIX" was to put Internal Lock on the Revolvers so they could compete with what had been reliable.Kyle
leejack
Member
Why do they call it a Sigma?
Because Cadillac was already taken!
Because Cadillac was already taken!
pricandelinquent
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LMAO thats a good one
Why do they call it a Sigma?
Because Cadillac was already taken!
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leejack
Member
Why, thank you sir!
ScottJ
Member
Seriously, outside all the posturing in this thread I think the name grew out of the Six Sigma quality standard that was resurging in popularity at the time.
Sort of ironic since early quality quality issues are what causes such posturing today.
Sort of ironic since early quality quality issues are what causes such posturing today.
I have a SW40F that I bought shortly after they became available. I had been shopping with a Sig Sauer in mind. The salesman handed me a Sigma, asking "How does this feel?" It felt really, really good. When I found that its price was half of the Sig, I decided to buy this new American made gun.
It took some 'getting used to it' time. I found it did best if I pretended it was a larger version of my 442 Airweight; shoot it like it was a double-action revolver. After about 500 rounds of playing at the range, I tried some informal action shooting. During one stage it suffered a light primer hit, but was OK (for a while) after I cleared the unfired round. A few magazines later, though, it refused to fire altogether, and was barely able to dimple the primer. I called S&W, who had me send it back, and they promptly replaced the firing pin.
Since I don't shoot thousands of rounds a year, I don't know that the frame will crack soon, or ever. If it does, I may choose to accept a new gun (Sigma or otherwise) if S&W makes the offer, or I may just retire the SW40F and convert it into a non-firing keepsake.
It took some 'getting used to it' time. I found it did best if I pretended it was a larger version of my 442 Airweight; shoot it like it was a double-action revolver. After about 500 rounds of playing at the range, I tried some informal action shooting. During one stage it suffered a light primer hit, but was OK (for a while) after I cleared the unfired round. A few magazines later, though, it refused to fire altogether, and was barely able to dimple the primer. I called S&W, who had me send it back, and they promptly replaced the firing pin.
Since I don't shoot thousands of rounds a year, I don't know that the frame will crack soon, or ever. If it does, I may choose to accept a new gun (Sigma or otherwise) if S&W makes the offer, or I may just retire the SW40F and convert it into a non-firing keepsake.
leejack
Member
Done!
I think the early generation problematic sigmas and the new reliable ones got all mixed up in this thread.
No harm, no foul.
happy shooting and best wishes to all!
I think the early generation problematic sigmas and the new reliable ones got all mixed up in this thread.
No harm, no foul.
happy shooting and best wishes to all!
"JJ"
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yeeee-haaaaw!!! Just a bunch of good ole' boys! Never mean any harm! Beats all you ever saw.... OOPS flash back for a second there I watched that show every day after school! Sometimes it is hard to relay emotion or intent through text on a screen. I think when all is said and done, we all enjoy our guns & the fact that we get to have them!! I love my Sigma & I am glad to have friends who share in that passion! BTW, I buy the whole Six Sigma quality thing also!
I watched that show every day after school! Sometimes it is hard to relay emotion or intent through text on a screen. I think when all is said and done, we all enjoy our guns & the fact that we get to have them!! I love my Sigma & I am glad to have friends who share in that passion! BTW, I buy the whole Six Sigma quality thing also!
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.357 mag
Member
Glad it got taken care of. Your a bigger man than me for sure.
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