SIG SAUER’s influential P226 turns 40 years old in 2024.
SIG SAUER has produced a number of notable handguns over the years, and among their most iconic is the P226. It was originally designed as SIG’s entrant into the US military’s XM9 Service Pistol Trials in 1984, as the Pentagon sought an updated 9mm replacement for the M1911. SIG’s offering emerged at the top of the testing gamut neck-and-neck with Beretta’s 92, which was eventually adopted as the DoD’s new M9 chiefly due to cost factors. Despite finishing as runner-up, the SIG’s quality and performance did not go unnoticed. Dozens of specialized military units (most notably the US Navy SEALs) and law enforcement agencies across the US and abroad have employed variants of the hammer-fired workhorse for the last four decades, with great success. Now SIG have announced a yearlong 40th birthday celebration in store across 2024 for their famous handgun.
SIG SAUER P226 @ TFB:
Among this hammer-fired handgun’s many adopters, none are more notable than the US Navy SEALs, who designated it the Mk25.
SIG SAUER to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the P226 in 2024
NEWINGTON, N.H., (January 5, 2024) – SIG SAUER is pleased to announce the commencement of the yearlong 40th Anniversary celebration of the iconic P226 pistol.
“With a legacy of accuracy and reliability, and millions upon millions of rounds of proven performance, the P226 has earned its reputation as the premiere service pistol, and is the standard by which all other combat pistols are measured,” began Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, SIG SAUER, inc. “To celebrate the rich military and law enforcement history of the P226, we will commemorate the 40th Anniversary with a special edition pistol and release a historical video series detailing the development and service of the P226. We will also have an official declaration of February 26, 2024 as P226 Day, as well as programs and promotions throughout 2024.”
SIG SAUER developed the P226 to compete in the U.S. Military’s XM9 service pistol trials. Even though it was not ultimately selected, the performance and capability of the P226 captured the attention of the elite U.S. Navy SEALs. They would officially adopt the P226 in 1989 to become the MK25, and it would serve throughout the Global War on Terrorism as their official service pistol. The selection by the SEALs marks the beginning of a rich history between SIG SAUER and the U.S. military and the P226 became the cornerstone of several future successful partnerships to include the M17, M18, and the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program. Today the legendary P226 has seen decades of refinements and is highly regarded for its enduring quality, superior reliability and accuracy amongst law enforcement professionals, military units, collectors, and shooting enthusiasts.
To learn more about the P226 or models currently in production or locate a SIG SAUER authorized dealer visit sigsauer.com.
In addition to its original 9mm, this acclaimed pistol has been manufactured in .357 SIG, .40S&W, 7.65mm Parabellum, 9x21mm IMI, and .22LR
Whether it has been helping combat enemies in the hands of US, Canadian, or French special operations personnel, or helping keep the peace with the US Army’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Air Marshals, or the Texas Rangers, there’s little argument that this top-tier pistol has enjoyed quite a distinguished service history. While it may not boast quite the notoriety of 1911s or the proliferation of Glocks, there’s plenty to celebrate with this gun. It has served as a faithful companion to many shooters over the last forty years and should continue to do so for many more to come. Do you have a 226? Which model, and how do you like it? Have you used one as a service weapon? Do you prefer it, the M9 that was chosen over it, the P320 which has recently begun replacing the Beretta, or something else entirely? Which has been your favorite version of this handgun produced in the last four decades, and why? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! See you at the range.
Images courtesy of SIG SAUER.
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