Daewoo DP-51 / K5

Daewoo DP-51 pistol, left side.

Daewoo DP-51 pistol, right side.

Daewoo DP-51 pistol, partially disassembled.

Characteristics

Type	Triple action (Double / Single action with fast Action)
Caliber(s)	9x19 Luger / Parabellum, also .40SW in DH-40
Weight unloaded	800 g
Length	190 mm
Barrel length	105 mm
Magazine capacity	13 rounds

In the 1990, after the excessive trials, South Korean army adopted the first domestically designed 9mm pistol, the K5. Developed and manufactured in Korea by the Daewoo Precision Industries branch of the Daewoo Corporation, the K5 pistol is now standard sidearm of the armed forces of South Korea. It is also offered for export in several modifications and calibers. The basic 9mm K5 is sold as Daewoo DP-51, its compact variant is sold as DP-51c, and the variant in the .40SW is sold as DH-40. These pistols are well made and shoot well.

Daewoo K5 / DP51 pistol is short recoil operated, locked breech weapon. It uses a conventional Browning-type locking system, with two lugs on the barrel engaging cuts inside the slide. Locking and unlocking is controlled by the cam-shaped lug at the bottom of the barrel. Frame of the pistol is made from aluminium alloy; all other parts are made from steel. Trigger is of “triple action” type. This means that other than traditional double or single action fire modes it has “fast action” mode, apparently borrowed from FN’s GP “Fast Action” pistol. In this mode hammer is cocked by the cycle of the slide, then it is pushed forward by the pressure on the hammer head. In this position, the main spring remains cocked, so only light pressure on the trigger is necessary to recock the hammer and fire the gun in the “double action manner”. Or, alternatively, hammer can be recocked manually to be fired in single action for maximum first-shot accuracy. Sights are fixed, with the rear sight dovetailed to the slide. Magazines are of double stack type; proprietary magazines holt 13 rounds, but DP-51 also can use Smith-Wesson 5906 magazines, which will slightly protrude from the bottom of the grip.

Manual safety:Ambidextrous levers at both sides of the frame, above and behind grip panels. To set on safe: pull the lever up. To disengage safety: pull the lever down; red dot will appear on the frame.

Field stripping procedure: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button 2) check the chamber for remaining cartridge 3) retract the slide until the notch on the left side of the slide will be aligned with the front of the slide stop lever 4) push the slide stop pin from the right side, then pull and withdraw the slide stop completely toward the left 5) ease the slide and barrel assembly forward and out of the frame 6) remove the return spring and barrel from the slide
Assemble in reverse order

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Truvelo ADP / Wilson Combat ADP / Heritage 'Stealth'

ADP pistol, right side.

ADP pistol, left side; note that pistol bears Italian "Tanfoglio P 25" markings on the slide.

Characteristics

Type	Double Action Only with pre-cocked striker
Caliber	9x19 Luger / Parabellum (also .40SW)
Weight	560 g (19.5oz) empty
Length	160 mm (6.3")
Barrel length	95 mm (3.75")
Magazine capacity	10 rounds

The ADP (Advanced Defensive Pistol) has been developed by South African gun designer Alex Du Plessis in about 1991. ADP pistol was intended for concealed carry by various police and security services, as well as by civilian users. First production guns appeared in 1994 from South African company Aserma. At about the same time, rights for ADP design were sold to Italian company Tanfoglio, that briefly manufactured ADP as Tanfoglio P-25. Same pistol also was sold in USA trough second half of 1990s as Heritage Stealth. In the year 1995, an improved version of the basic design was introduced, the ADP mark II pistol. In about 1998, the noted South African arms making company Truvelo Armory took over production of ADP pistols, chambered for 9mm and .40SW ammunition. A new .45ADP (based on shortened .45ACP case, basically similar in concept to current .45GAP) round also was advertised in this pistol, but apparently it was never made in quantity. In the year 2004 it was announced that Truvelo will cease production of ADP pistols because of "insufficient market demand", but early in 2006 US-based company Wilson Combat announced that it will import newly made ADP Mark II pistols into United sates under its own name, so it seems that production of this gun will be resumed.

ADP pistol uses gas-delayed blowback action with stationery barrel. Gas piston is located below the barrel, and hot powder gases are fed there from the bore via small port near the chamber. Gas piston is inserted into the cylinder from the front, and is connected to the slide, in the same manner as in famous HK P7 pistol. The frame is made from impact-resistant polymer, with removable steel insert that hosts slide rails and barrel. Trigger is striker-fired, double-action only with pre-cocking (therefore second strike on misfired round is impossible without at least a partial slide retraction). Manual safety is somewhat unusual in its placement, as its levers are located just behind the trigger, at either side of the frame. Sights are fixed, with the rear sight blade dovetailed to the slide.

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RAP-401 and RAP-440

RAP-440 pistol, left side.

RAP-440 pistol, right side.

Characteristics

Type	Double Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	9x19 Luger / Parabellum and .40SW
Weight unloaded	915 g
Length	165 mm
Barrel length	89 mm
Magazine capacity	8 (9mm) or 7 (.40) rounds

In the late nineties, the South African police issued a requirement for a compact, concealable pistol chambered for 9x19 ammunition. In 1997, the contract for a new police pistol went to the Republic Arms Company, which had developed the RAP-401 pistol, a relatively compact sidearm suitable for concealed carry. Later on, Republic Arms also produced a .40 calibre version of the same pistol, intended for export. This was designated RAP-440. It seems that RAP pistols were influenced by the Spanish Astra A-75. RAP pistols are favored for their reliability and mild recoil; on the other hand, these pistols are somewhat heavy for their pocket size.

The RAP-401 is a short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol of all-steel construction. It uses a modified Browning type locking system, as the barrel engages the slide with a single lug that enters the ejection window. Unlocking is controlled by a cam-shaped lug below the barrel. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and frame-mounted safety, which also doubles as a decocker. Sights are fixed. Magazines are single-stack; the magazine release button is located at the base of the trigger-guard.

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Vector CP1

Vektor CP1, right side.

 

Vektor CP1, left side.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Chamber: 9x19 Luger/Para
Weight w. empty magazine: 720 g
Length: 177 mm
Barrel length: 100 mm
Capacity: 13 (standard magazine) or 12 (compact magazine) rounds

9mm Vektor СР1 pistol was intended as a concealed carry weapon for police and civilian public. Designed and manufactured by the Vektor, a small-arms division of the South African military DENEL Corporation, it has an unusual, streamlined design with a polymer frame and an even more unusual safety, located at the front of the trigger-guard. Introduced during the late nineties, it is still manufactured in limited numbers, mostly for export.

The CP1 uses a gas- delayed blowback action with gas cylinder located below the barrel, design probably borrowed from the German HK P7 pistol. Trigger is double action, striker fired. Manual safety is located at the front of the trigger guard. To set on Safe, the button must be pressed rearward from the front; to set on Fire, button must be pressed forward from inside the triggerguard. Pistol also fitted with automated trigger safety. Magazines are double stack; 12-round magazines are flush fit with the bottom of the grip, 13-round magazines have extended finger rests at the bottom.

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Vektor SP1 and SP2

Vektor SP1 pistol, left side. Note that safety is engaged while hammer is cocked.

 

Vektor SP1 pistol, rght side.

Vektor SP1 pistol, General's (compact) model.

Vektor SP1 Sport pistol, with long barrel and adjustable target sight.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Caliber SP1 - 9x19mm Luger, SP2 - .40SW
Length 210 mm
Weight unloaded 995 g
Barrel Length 118 mm
Magazine 11 rounds (.40SW), 15 rounds (9mm)

In 1992 Vektor (a small arms division of the South African DENEL corporation) produced an improved 9mm version of the Z-88 pistol (a locally produced copy of Beretta 92F), known as the Vektor SP1. A little later, Vektor also introduced a .40 S&W calibre version of the SP1, known as the SP2. Both pistols were and still are exported to Europe and South America, in several versions. SP-1 pistol is currently in service with South African armed forces.

The Vektor SP1 and SP2 pistols are almost the same, except for the calibre and magazines, and broadly based on the Italian Beretta 92 design. SP stands for “Service Pistol” and both weapons are full-sized, holster type pistols of solid construction. Vektor also makes compact versions of both models, marketed as “General models”; these have shorter barrels, slides and grips.
The Vektor SP1 is a short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol. It uses a Walther-type tilting locking piece, located below the straight-recoiling barrel, to lock it to the slide. The frame is made from aluminium alloy, other parts are steel. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and a frame-mounted, ambidextrous safety that allows for "cocked and locked" carry. Sights are fixed; the front sight is pinned to the slide, the rear is dovetailed. Magazines are double stack; the magazine release button is located at the base of trigger-guard.

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Lahti L-35 and Husqvarna M/40

Lahti M-35 - Finnish military model.

Husqvarna M/40 - Swedish military model (simplified L-35, manufactured under license).

Husqvarna M/40 - major parts.

Characteristics - Data for original Lahti L-35 pistol

Type: Single Action
Chamber: 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum
Weight unloaded: 1220 g
Length: 245 mm
Barrel length: 107 mm
Capacity: 8 rounds

The L-35 pistol had been developed by the Finnish designer Aimo Lahti and manufactured by Finnish company VKT from 1935 until 1985 or so. It was adopted as a standard sidearm for Finnish army in 1935. In 1940, Sweden purchased a license for Lahti pistol, simplified it and began production as a Husqvarna M/40 pistol. Due to simplification and poor quality of steel used in M/40, these guns tended to crack when fired 9mm "submachinegun" ammunition, and also M/40 were less reliable than original L-35s, so in the 1980s almost all M/40s were recalled from military service and replaced by older m/07 pistol (licensed Browning M1903 pistols) as an emergency feature. Later, Sweden forces adopted the Glock 17 as a standard service sidearm.

Techically, L-35 is a recoil operted, locked breech pistol. It uses short recoiling barrel with barrel extension of rectangular cross-shape. Inside that extension the bolt is located, also of squared cross-section. Bolt and barrel extension are intrlocked by wertically movable locking lug, which is cammed out of engagement when hitting the frame after a short recoil. The L-35 is a concealed hammer fired, single action gun, that featured manual safety at the left side of the frame. On the top of the barrel extension there is a loaded chamber indicator. another intersting feature of the L-35 is a bolt accelerator, which gives to the bolt additional energy to operate in extreme cold or dirt.

The Husqvarna M/40 was diifferent from the L-35 in some respects: first, it has larger trigger guard; second, M/40 had no loaded chamber indicator; third, and most important, M/40 lacked the bolt accelerator, which lead to the decreased reliability. The backstrap of the grip of M/40 also had been cut for removable shoulder stock / holster. The M/40 pistol had been manufactured during the 1940-1946, with total of less than 100.000 pistos.

On the other hand, the original L-35 was extremely reliable and robust gun, with the only drawback of being slightly too heavy.

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Sphinx 3000

Sphinx 3000 Standard pistol (full size model with adjustable sights)

Sphinx 3000T pistol (short-barreled Tactical / Police version with flashlight installed on integral rail)

	3000 Standard	3000 Tactical
Calibers	9x19mm Luger/Para; 9x21mm IMI; .40S&W
Weight unloaded	~ 1040 g	~ 950 g
Length	215 mm	195 mm
Barrel length	115 mm	95 mm
Capacity	16 rounds (9mm) or 12 rounds (.40)

Sphinx pistols are made in Switzerland, by the Sphinx Systems Ltd company. The Sphinx 3000 pistols are direct descendants of the already famous Sphinx AT 2000 pistols. The Sphinx 3000 pistols were introduced in 2003, and are available in various versions and calibers, for sport (IPSC and IDPA), self-defense and security / police services. Sphinx 3000 pistols offer extremely high workmanship and reliability, top class accuracy and reliability, almost indestructible all-steel design. These pistols are by no means cheap, but offer probably the best "out of the box" quality money can buy. More models of this pistol is available for sport shooters, including models specially adapted for various IPSC and IDPA classes. These models can be factory fitted with extended magazines, red-dot scope mounts, sport-tuned single action triggers and other options. According to the sources at Sphinx company, the .45ACP version of the Sphinx 3000 is now in development (as of March 2004).

Sphinx 3000 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. The barrel is operated using a Browning cam system, and is locked to slide by single lug via large ejection port. Frame and slide are made from steel for maximum rigidity. The frame is completely machined from two steel blocks and then permanently assembled. Trigger guard is shaped for comfortable two-hand hold. Frame on all Sphinx 3000 pistols has an integral accessory rail under the barrel. Sphinx 3000 pistols feature a Double Action trigger with external hammer, but can be fitted (on request) with Single action trigger systems. Various models can be fitted with standard safety which can lock the hammer either in cocked or uncocked position, or with the decock-only lever. The safety or decocker levers are ambidextrous and provided on both sides of the frame. The slide stop lever is also installed on both sides of the frame. Tactical models are similar in design but have shortened slide and barrel, and can be ordered with SA, DA or DAO triggers. Tactical models are fitted with fixed sights with white inserts; Other models are usually fitted with adjustable sights. In any case, both front and rear sight are dovetailed into the slide, and can be easily replaced if required.

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Sphinx AT 2000

Sphinx 2000 pistol, left side

Sphinx 2000 pistol, right side

Sphinx 2000P pistol (with decocker lever, shortened barrel and slide)

	AT 2000	AT 2000P
Calibers	9x19mm Luger/Para; 9x21mm IMI; .40S&W
Weight unloaded	~ 1000 g	~ 940 g
Length	204 mm	184 mm
Barrel length	115 mm	93 mm
Capacity	15 rounds (9mm) or 11 rounds (.40)	13 rounds (9mm)or 10 rounds (.40)

Sphinx pistols are made in Switzerland. The Sphinx AT 2000 pistols are based on the earlier ITM AT-84 and AT-88 pistols, which also were made in Switzerland. The earliest AT-84 pistols were plain licensed copies of the Czech CZ-75 pistol, manufactured during second half of the 1980s. The AT-88 introduced several improvements, including the firing pin safety and slightly different barrel / slide locking, and Sphinx 2000 pistols, produced since circa 1990, inherited these features from AT-88. Sphinx pistols are made in vide variety of models and modifications, suitable for self-defense, police duty, and practical shooting under IPSC and IDPA rules. Sphinx pistols are extremely well made, with beautiful finish and almost indestructible all-steel construction. These pistols are quite expensive, but offer probably the best quality and reliability the money can buy. Sphinx 2000 pistols in various models are in use by Australia, Belgium, Norway, Swiss and Venezuela police forces.

Sphinx AT 2000 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. The barrel is operated using a Browning cam system, and is locked to slide by single lug via large ejection port. Frame and slide are made from steel for maximum rigidity. All Sphinx pistols feature a Double Action trigger with external hammer. Various models can be fitted with standard safety which can lock the hammer either in cocked or uncocked position, or with the decock-only lever. The safety or decocker levers can be installed on either side of the frame or on both sides simultaneously. The slide stop lever also can be installed on either or both sides of the frame. Compact ("Police") models are similar in design but have shortened slide and barrel, and, in some versions, also slightly shortened grip, which accommodates the shorter magazine (13 rounds instead of standard 15 rounds). Standard and police models are fitted with fixed sights with white inserts; Sport models are usually fitted with adjustable sights. In any case, both front and rear sight are dovetailed into the slide, and can be easily replaced if required.

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SIG P210

Early production (pre- P210 designation) SIG S.P. 47/8 pistol, left side

Early production (pre- P210 designation) SIG S.P. 47/8 pistol, right side

SIG P210-2, basically same as the Swiss Army Pistole 49. These pistols were available with either wooden or black plastic grips.

SIG P210-4, as made for West German BundesGrentzSchutz (Border Guard). Note that it has no lanyard ring on the grip

SIG P210-5, a dedicated "Sport" version with long barrel and adjustable sight

SIG P210-7, a small-bore .22LR training / sport pistol.

SIG P210 partially disassembled

Type: Single Action
Chamber: 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum, 7.65x19mm Parabellum, .22LR (all interchangeable)
Weight unloaded: 900 g
Length: 215 mm
Barrel length: 120 mm (150 mm in P-210-7)
Capacity: 8 rounds

The SIG P210 pistol was born from Swiss Army trials for a new military pistol, which were conducted between 1943 and 1947. SIG based its pistols on patents of Charles Petter, bought from France during the late 1930s. Early SIG pistols displayed the clear influence of Petter designs, being copied from his French Mle.1935 pistol. In the search for an ideal military pistol both W+F (State owned arsenal in Bern) and SIG also tried both single-stack and double-stack magazine designs. Interestingly enough, the Swiss army found thick-gripped pistols with double-stack magazines to be less accurate, due to their less comfortable grip; so only single-stack designs competed in the last stage. In the final chase between the W+F 47 and SIG S.P. 47/8 the latter won the trials, and in 1949 it was officially adopted as Selbstladepistole SP/49 (or Pistole 49 for short). Also known as the “Neuhausen” (after the city where pistols were made), the S.P. 47/8 (before adoption of the P210 trade mark in 1957) or under its current commercial designation of SIG P210, this pistol quickly earned the distinction of being the most accurate and most expensive military pistol ever made. Also adopted by the army of Denmark, as well as the West German Border police (BSG - Bundesgrentzschutz) and some Swiss police units, this pistol was later converted with a series of sport modifications, and a great many shooting matches were (and still are) won with this gem of workmanship.

The SIG P210 is a short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol of all-steel construction. It is somewhat unusual in that it has inner slide rails, that is, full-length slide rails are machined on the inside of the frame. Most parts are machined from solid steel forgings and then hand fitted. This results in increased durability and accuracy, but also greatly increases the cost of manufacture. The locking system is of the Browning type; the barrel locks into the slide with two lugs which fit into cuts on the underside of the slide. Unlocking is controlled by a cam-shaped cut made in the lug below the chamber area. The trigger is single-action, with an external hammer and a frame-mounted safety. In line with older Petter patents, the hammer, its spring and sear are made into a single removable unit. On service type pistols sights are fixed; both front and rear sight blades are dovetailed to the frame. Magazines are single-stack; magazine release is located at the base of the grip (except for recent production P210-8 pistols, made for US market, which have a button-type magazine release at the base of the trigger guard).
Over time, there have been several modifications of the basic P210 design, distinguished by digits after the dash, i.e. P210-2, P210-4, P210-5 etc. While service guns were made in 9mm caliber only, commercial pistols were also available in 7.65x21 Luger/Parabellum caliber, as well as in 5.6mm rimfire / .22LR. Caliber conversion units were available, as well as a complete kits that included one frame, two slides (7.65/9mm and .22LR) and three barrels and return springs.
The basic versions of P210 included the following:
· P210-1 – commercial version with polished finish
· P210-2 – same as the service type SP/49; matte finish
· P210-3 – version for Swiss police, polished finish, fixed sights
· P210-4 – version made specifically for the German border police (about 5,000 made, most in 9mm and a few in .22LR for training); has no lanyard ring on the grip
· P210-5 – sport type commercial pistol with adjustable sights, and standard or extended 150mm barrel
· P210-6 – sport type commercial pistol with fixed sights; differs from P210-2 with better finish and more expensive grips
· P210-7 – dedicated .22LR version
· P210-8 – “American” version with side-mounted magazine release

Manual safety: lever on the left side of the frame. Push lever up into horizontal position (marked with white “S” letter) to engage safety; pull it down to disengage safety, position is marked with a red “F”. 

How to field- strip (disassemble) P210: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the slide back slightly, to align disassembly marks on the slide and barrel; 4) holding the slide partially retracted, push the slide stop axis pin inwards from the right, then pull the slide stop lever out of the frame toward the left; 4) carefully push the slide forward and out of the frame; 5) pull the hammer unit up out of the frame; 6) remove the return spring with its guide from below the barrel; 7) pull the barrel out of the slide.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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SIG-Sauer SIG Pro

SIG-Sauer SIG Pro 2340 in .40SW caliber (9mm SP 2009 pistol looks exactly the same except for the markings)

SIG-Sauer SIG Pro SP 2022 pistol, developed for French police and gendarmerie forces.

 

Type: Double Action or Double Action Only
Chamber: 9x19mm Para, .357SIG, .40 S&W
Weight with empty magazine: 760 g (9mm); 790 g (.40 & .357)
Length: 187 mm
Barrel length: 99 mm
Capacity: 15 (9mm) or 12 (.40) rounds

The SIG Pro pistol is another joint effort between two famous European arms makers, the SAN Swiss Arms (formerly known as SIG Arms) and the J. P. Sauer & Sohn of Germany. Originally developed as a .40SW caliber service pistol with modular design, it was first announced in 1998 as the SIG Pro SP 2340. About one year later, the 9mm version, designated the SP 2009, was introduced and entered production. The SIG Pro is used by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as by number of other law enforcement agencies worldwide. In the 2003, the French law enforcement agencies (including Gendarmerie and Police Nationale) adopted a slightly modified version of the SP 2009. New version of SIG Pro, designated as SP 2022,  is to replace Beretta 92G and some older pistols. Total of 250 000 SP 2022 pistols are ordered by France. 

The SIG Pro is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses a fairy traditional browning cam-operated locking system. Barrel locks into the slide via enlarged ejection port. The frame is made from polymer, with detachable grip panels. Grip panels can be easily replaced and are available in several different sizes and shapes. The modular hammer unit can be installed in traditional DA or DAO versions. There's no manual safety on all SIG Pro pistols. Instead, SIG Pro pistols are fitted with typical SIG-Sauer frame mounted decocker lever, and with automated firing pin safety. The overall design is slightly different from earlier SIG-Sauer pistols such as P220 or P226, as there is no separate disassembly lever on the frame of SIG Pro, and the slide release lever looks quite different. The SP 2340 and 2009 pistols are fitted with proprietary accessory rail under the barrel, while SP 2022 is fitted with integral Picatinny rail. SP 2022 also can be equipped with detachable silencer. Fixed sights are dovetailed into the slide.

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SIG-Sauer P250 DCc

SIG-Sauer P250 DCc (compact) without magazine, left side view; version of 2004.

SIG-Sauer P250 DCc (compact) without magazine, right side view.

SIG-Sauer P250 DCc (compact) in the hand. Trigger is pulled partially, and the bobbed hammer is visible at the rear of the slide.

 

SIG-Sauer P250, version of 2008
image© SIG-Sauer

Three frame sizes for SIG-Sauer P250 Compact pistol, front to back: S (small), M (medium) and L (large) grip sizes.
image© SIG-Sauer

Diagram showing modular nature of the SIG-Sauer P250 pistol. The receiver unit in the center (with slide rails and trigger / hammer) is the main part of the design, which accepts all other interchangeable modules.
image© SIG-Sauer

Type: Double Action Only
Calibers: 9x19mm Parabellum; .357SIG, .40SW and .45ACP to be announced later
Weight unloaded: 700 g / 24.6 oz
Length: 183 mm / 7.2"
Barrel length: 98 mm / 3.9"
Capacity: 15 or 16 rounds (9mm)

The SIG-Sauer P250 DC is the most recent addition to the famous SIG-Sauer line of pistols. First announced at the IWA-2004 exhibition in Nurnberg, Germany (March 12-15, 2004), this pistol then faced almost 4 years of continued development, which was a combined effort of German engineers at J.P.Sauer and American engineers from SIGARMS. The gun was re-introduced in late 2007, and is now (February 2008) available in single caliber (9mm), single frame size (compact) and three grip sizes (S - small, M - medium and L - large). Other calibers and barrel / frame sizes are to be announced later. The key feature of the P250 is its complete modularity - using a variety of barrel / slide and frame combinations any user will be available to assemble any conceivable configuration, using the steel serialized receiver as the central assembling point. This will be most useful for large police departments of security companies which will be able to tailor their pistol inventory for various tactical needs (compact pistols for concealed carry, full size pistols for holster carry, various calibers) and for various shooters (variety of grip sizes for each frame configuration), yet have only one pistol type with unified training and maintenance procedures.

The SIG-Sauer P250 DC pistol was developed and is now produced by the famous German arms manufacturer, the J. P. Sauer & Sohn Ges.m.b.H., which is a part of the international SIGARMS corporation. Development of the pistol started circa 2001. The P250 was designed according to the latest official German guidelines for police pistol.

The SIG-Sauer P250 DC is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses typical SIG-Sauer cam-operated barrel, which locks into the ejection port on the slide. The frame is made from high impact-resistant polymer. A steel receiver unit is inserted into the frame and held in place by the axis pin of the disassembly lever. The receiver is the only serialized part of the gun, and it contains frame rails and a fire control unit (trigger, hammer and all necessary linkage and springs). Single receiver unit will accept any frame size and any caliber kit (consisting of the barrel and slide). The slide stop levers are located on both sides of pistol. The SIG-Sauer P250 DC has a Double Action Only trigger with spurless hammer, and no manual safeties. The automated firing pin safety prevents the accidental discharges if gun is dropped or roughly handled. The trigger system has a very short trigger reset in DAO mode (about 3 mm or 1/8"), and the trigger pull is constant and consistent, with pull weight about 4 kg (9 lbs). SIG-Sauer P250 DC is fitted with combat-type sights with three white dots, and the frame has an integral Picatinny rail for flashlights or laser pointers.

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SIG-Sauer P245

 

Type: Double Action
Caliber: .45ACP
Weight unloaded: 815 g
Length: 185 mm
Barrel length: 99 mm
Capacity: 6 rounds

First introduced in 1998, this compact pistol is a "cut-down" variant of the famous SIG-Sauer P220 pistol. Intended mostly for US market, this pistol is suitable for concealed carry and as a police backup weapon. The P245 has a traditional SIG-Sauer reliability, and, while somewhat heavy for a concealed gun, it offers a good recoil control. P245 is manufactured in Germany by the J. P. Sauer & Sohn company, which is a part of the international SIGARMS corporation.

P245 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses a typical Browning-style cam operated barrel, which locks into the ejection window in the slide. The slide is made from stamped steel, and has a separate breechblock held within the slide by the cross-pin. The frame is made from aluminum. The trigger is double action, with external hammer and a decocking lever on the left side of the frame. There's no manual safety, but P245 is provided with automatic firing pin safety.

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SIG-Sauer P-230 and P-232

P-230 - early production 9mm model.

P-230 with aftermarket grip panels.

P-230 partially disassembled.

P-232 in 9mm - a currently produced pistol.

Data for P-232
Type: Double Action
Chamber: 7.65x17mm Browning (.32ACP) and 9x17 mm Browning Short (.380ACP) both models; also 9x18mm Police for P230
Weight unloaded: 500 g standard model; 600 g SL (stainless steel frame) models
Length: 168 mm
Barrel length: 92 mm
Capacity: 7 rounds (9mm) or 8 rounds (7.65mm)

The SIG-Sauer P-230 pistol was designed and produced in Germany by the joint venture of the J.P.Sauer (Germany) and a SIG Arms (Swiss) as a compact police and self-defence pistol. P-230 hit the market circa 1977 and was manufactured untill the 1996, when it was replaced by the P-232 pistol, which is no more than technologically and ergonomically improved P-230. Original P-230 was offered in variety of 3 calibers - 9mm Browning Short, 7.65mm Browning and a now discontinued 9mm Police, which was designed as a most powerful round suitable for simple blowback pistols. 9x18mm Police is rougly equal in terms of power to the Russian 9x18mm Makarov, but these two ARE NOT interchangeable! Attempt to fire 9x18mm Mak in the 9mm Police P-230 can result in serious damage to the pistol and injury to the shooter!

P-230 and P-232 are quite similar internally. Both are simple blowback operated, hammer fired pistols, with double action triggers and a manual decocker levers mounted on the left side of the frame, behind the trigger. P-232 also featured automated firing pin safety. Both pistols lack the slide stop. Both pistols can be found in standard form, with steel slide and aluminium alloy frame and blue finish, or in SL versions, with both slide and frame made from stainless steel. Latter models are slightly heavier and wear a polished steel finish. P-232 featured drift-ajustable rear sights, dovetailed into the slide. Feed is from single stack magazines for 7 9mm or 8 7.65mm rounds. It should be noted that both P-230 and P-232 feature magazine catch, located at the heel of the grip.

Both P-230 and P-232 are high quality, durable and reliable guns, as every other pistol, produced by the famous Swiss-German alliance. These guns are well suited for personal defence, concealed carry and as a backup guns, offering good accuracy and mild recoil.

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SIG-Sauer P239

 

Caliber: 9 mm .357 SIG .40 S&W
Length, overall: 168mm
Height: 132 mm
Barrel length: 91.5mm
Weight w/o magazine: 775g
Capacity: 8 rounds (9mm), 7 rounds (.357 & .40)

This personal-sized (in SIG Arms terms) handgun is made in USA at SIG Arms factory. Technically it is similar to P228 compact gun, and differs only in size and magazine: while P228 has a dual-stack magazine for 12 rounds, P239 has a single-stack magazines for 7 or 8 rounds (depending on caliber).
P239 is a blowback-operated, locked breech design, with modified Browning-style linkless locking via slide ejection port. It has same DA or DAO trigger mechanism with striker pin safety, manual decocker (lever on the left side of the frame), slide stop. Slide is machined from solid steel. Frame is made from aluminium alloy.
P239 is reliable like all its bigger brothers from P22x family, and very accurate for its small size. It may be not so light, but packs a lot of firepower in compact package and is very popular as a concealed carry and police backup or off-duty gun.

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SIG-Sauer P228 and P229

SIG-Sauer P228 pistol, left side.

SIG-Sauer P228 pistol, right side.

SIG-Sauer P229 pistol, left side.

SIG-Sauer P229 pistol, right side.

 

SIG-Sauer P229 pistol with accessory rail and DAO trigger (no decocking lever).

Characteristics

	P228	P229
Type	Double-Action or Double-Action Only semiautomatic
Caliber:	9x19mm Luger	9x19mm Luger, .357 SIG, .40 SW
Length, overall:	180 mm	180 mm
Barrel length:	99 mm	99 mm
Weight, w empty magazine:	825 g	905 g
Capacity:	13 rounds	13 (9mm) or 12 rounds

The SIG-Sauer P228 pistol was developed from the larger SIG-Sauer P226 pistol in 1989 in the same way as the earlier P225 pistol had been developed from P220 – which means that the designers basically chopped some length from the barrel and slide, as well as from the grip. The overall shape of the P228 also was made slightly less angular and more suited for concealed carry. In around 1991 the P228 was adopted by US Armed forces as the M11 pistol, and is issued to Military Police and some other units. The P228 is also a highly popular police and civilian sidearm and is widely issued to law enforcement forces in Europe and the USA. The P229, which was developed especially for the US market and is assembled in the USA using both German and US-made parts, is technically similar to the P228 except for the heavier slide, made by machining a bar of steel as opposed to the P228 slide, which is made by stamping and forming from sheet steel. The heavier slide on the P229 is necessary because of the more powerful ammunition used in this pistol. P229 pistols also can be adapted to any of three calibers (9mm, .357 and .40) by switching the barrel and return spring; P228 pistols are 9mm only and cannot be converted to other calibers.
Like the larger P226, the P228 and P229 pistols are available in aluminium frame/steel slide or stainless steel frame and slide versions, with standard DA or DAO triggers.

How to field- strip (disassemble) P228 and P229: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the slide all the way back and lock it there with the slide stop; 4) rotate down the disassembly lever, which is located at the left side of the frame, above the trigger; 5) release the slide and carefully push it forward, and out of the frame; 6) remove the return spring assembly from below the barrel; 7) remove the barrel from the slide.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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SIG-Sauer P226

Original (early production) SIG-Sauer P226 pistol in 9mm, with stamped slide, left side view.

Original (early production) SIG-Sauer P226 pistol in 9mm, with stamped slide, right side view.

Current production SIG-Sauer P226 pistol in .40SW, with machined slide. Note slight difference in the slide shape compared to older model.

SIG-Sauer P226 "tactical" of recent manufacture, with Picatinny-type accessory rail and extended barrel, threaded for use with sound suppressor (sliencer).

Characteristics

Type	Double/Single Action or Double Action Only semi-automatic
Caliber:	9x19mm Luger, .357 SIG, .40SW
Length, overall:	196 mm
Barrel length:	112 mm
Weight (with empty magazine) :	aluminum frame: 870 g (9mm), 920 0g (.40 and .357) stainless steel frame: 1180 g
Magazine capacity:	15 rounds (9mm); 12 rounds (.40 and .357)

The SIG-Sauer P226 pistol was developed as an improved, high capacity version of the P220, specially for the US XM9 trials of 1982-84. The P226 was one of just two pistols that nominally passed all of the technical requirements for these trials, but at the last moment it lost to the other design, the Beretta 92SB-F, on the basis of the overall cost. Despite this, the P226 quickly became one of the most popular service pistols, being used by police, military and security forces, as well as by many civilian shooters, around the world. Initially available in 9mm, it was subsequently adapted to .40 S&W and .357 SIG calibers, which are extremely popular in the USA. In fact, the P226 was the first pistol to be chambered for the .357 SIG, a high velocity, high penetration 9mm cartridge, preferred by many American highway patrol services as well as by the US Security Service. 

The SIG-Sauer P226 is basically similar to the SIG-Sauer P220 pistol, except for the slightly different shape and double-stack magazines of greater capacity. It is available in a number of versions, with standard aluminium or stainless steel frames, with or without a Picatinny rail. Triggers are either a typical SIG-Sauer double action arrangement with a frame-mounted decocker and an automated firing pin block, or a double-action-only setup without decocker. 9mm and .40/.357 versions of this pistol also may differ in the design of the slide – while 9mm pistols may have a stamped steel slide, larger caliber pistols have heavier slides, machined from a solid bar of steel.

Manual safety: None; decocking lever at the left side of the frame, in the cut of the grip panel. 

How to field- strip (disassemble) P226: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the slide all the way back and lock it there with the slide stop; 4) rotate down the disassembly lever, which is located at the left side of the frame, above the trigger; 5) release the slide and carefully push it forward, and out of the frame; 6) remove the return spring assembly from below the barrel; 7) remove the barrel from the slide.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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