Guns of the Decades - 1980s: SIG Sauer P226

Welcome back to Guns of the Decades, where we highlight a certain firearm and discuss its place in the decade. It's not supposed to be an all-encompassing record of the firearm or a claim that it was the best firearm of the time, it's just a fun read about a gun in a particular decade. Today the decade is the 1980s, and the firearm is the SIG Sauer P226.

P226 at TFB:

• SIG P226 MK25 – A Retrospective
• A Retro Sig P226 is Coming Back!
• TFB Review: SIG Sauer's New P226 XFIVE Pistol
• TFB Review: SIG Sauer's P226 Legion RXP
• SIG P226 vs. Beretta 92: Which is the King of Metal 9mms?

In the 80’s, neon colors were in. Young people were enterprising and enthusiastic about the future. Exciting shows like Night Rider showed glimpses of the future. Restaurants asked if you preferred the smoking or non-smoking section. Hair styles were as big as ambition at the time.

The SIG Sauer P226 was developed in the early 1980s, as SIG’s entry into the U.S. Military’s XM9 service pistol trials. Like many other handguns, the P226 was not a brand-new platform. It originated from another model in SIG Sauer’s catalog, the P220. The single-stack version named the P220 was introduced in 1975 and was modified in 1984 to meet the requirements of the XM9 trials. This new design featured a double-stack magazine and was chambered in 9mm. It was aimed to meet all of the requirements of the XM9 trials and was named the P226. The U.S. military was hoping to adopt a new sidearm, and SIG Sauer was hoping to fill the demand with the P226.

At the time, SIG Sauer was a Swiss company, and the actual production of the P226 took place in West Germany. World War 2 ended in 1945. It’s pretty interesting to think that just 39 years before the XM9 trial, the US and Germany were fighting one of the bloodiest wars in human history on opposing sides. In fact, more time has passed between the XM9 trials and the present day, than had passed between the ending of WW2 and the XM9 trials.

The fact that a German-manufactured handgun could be considered the U.S. military’s new sidearm proved that once-sparring nations could work together. There are many intricacies to the story of West versus East Germany, and the Berlin Wall. There's way too much history to cover in this article. Even if we can't sum up the entire story, I think there’s a good lesson there. Moving past conflict can pave the way for something as innovative as the P226.

The P226 was eventually adopted by the Navy SEALs. The SEALs tested their new Beretta M9s to the point of failure. Some slide cracks were reported, and even an incident where the Beretta’s slide departed the firearm and hit the operator in the face. Supposedly the saying went “You’re not a Navy SEAL unless you’ve eaten Italian steel.” I’ve read that eventually the ammo was found to be way over-pressured and was the cause of the Beretta slide cracks. It could have also been the metallurgy of the early slides. I wasn’t there, and have read conflicting stories, so I can’t say for sure. The past deficiencies of the Beretta M9 platform have been remedied, and if you buy a new one in 2024, you have nothing to worry about, but in 1989 the damage had been done both literally and figuratively.

The adoption of the P226 by the SEALs led to it selling like hotcakes on the civilian market. I still remember overhearing a guy buying one at the gun counter in the 90s, and proudly touting that it was the sidearm chosen by the SEALs - and for good reason. The SEALs are known to operate in some of the most adverse conditions, including being submerged in salt water. It was no small feat to gain the SEALs' seal of approval (pun intended). The endorsement of the SEALs showed the P226 was one of the most reliable and highest-quality handguns on the market.

Although the P226 was introduced over 40 years ago, it is still a relevant defensive or offensive sidearm today. It undoubtedly contributed to SIG Sauer’s growth and success, and honestly, I don't think I've ever heard anyone give it a bad review. It is a redemption story for the ages and proves that success will follow decades into the future if you hold on to a reputation of quality and reliability.

So what are your thoughts and opinions of the P226? Did you have a P226 in the 80s, or did you pick one up later? Did you shy away from it for another pistol? I always like to read the comments, and this series in particular has had some really cool stories in the comments section.