The SIG P210 is a locked breech semi-automatic pistol designed and
manufactured in Neuhausen am Rheinfall by Swiss Arms AG, formerly SIG Arms AG.
It is of all-steel construction chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and
7.65×21mm Parabellum. It was used from 1949 to 1975 by the Swiss army and
police units. It was also adopted and is still in service with the Military of
Denmark, in 1951 by the German Bundespolizei and in shooting sports.
The pistols were decommissioned and replaced by the SIG P220 but second-hand
210s are greatly valued by shooting sports competitors. The P210 is also
considered as an investment for some collectors and often fetch prices over
US$2500. This varies around the world; an average price in Sweden is $1500–2000
while in Spain a P210 will sell for no less than €4000.
History The design was derived from Charles
Petter Modèle 1935A pistol. In 1937 SIG acquired a license for Petter system in
order to develop a replacement for the Luger Parabellum 06/29, which had been
in service since 1900. Development was slowed by the Second World War. After
testing various experimental models, the pistol entered on service in 1949 with
the Swiss army and for civilian market. Some previous series were tested by
Swedish sport shooters and by the Danish army. In 1957, the civil designation was
definitely changed to P210 according the company nomenclature policy.
Design The SIG P210 is a single-action pistol,
with a magazine capacity of eight rounds of 9 mm, 7.65 mm, or .22 Long Rifle. It
is a licensed development from French-Swiss designer Charles Gabriel
Petter's Modèle 1935 pistol. It has a frame-mounted manual safety that blocks
the trigger and a magazine disconnecter safety that blocks the trigger when the
magazine is removed. It has a 120 mm high quality barrel and the pistol is
very durable and reliable. The slide and frame are machined from blocks of steel,
which makes production rather costly compared to recent pistol designs,
manufactured of pressings and welds. Its hammer action is built into a
removable assembly for easy maintenance, after the fashion of the Tokarev TT-30
pistol, whereas its slide rides inside the frame rails, rather than outside as
in the traditional Browning pattern. This later feature mimics the
frame-to-receiver interface of its predecessor in Swiss military service,
the Luger pistol, allowing for a very tight fit between the slide, barrel, and
frame without compromising reliability. This construction feature contributes to
the unusually high accuracy for which the SIG P210 is known. It ships with a
50-meter test target typically showing a group of five to ten shots in a cluster
under 5 cm in diameter. Variants
There are a number of SIG P210 model variations.
SIG P210-1: The first version chambered in 9 mm Luger and .30 Luger, with wood
grips, fixed sights, and polished blued finish. The P210-1 was issued to the
Swiss armed forces, and it was also sold commercially.
SIG P210-2: The most common Swiss army version chambered in 9 mm Luger, with
plastic grips, fixed sights, and bead blasted finish.
SIG P210-3: The Swiss police version chambered in 9 mm Luger and .30 Luger,
with wood grips, fixed sights, and polished blued finish. Have been built
only 900 specimen for the police of Basel, Lausanne, Glarus and a few units
for sale to private individuals. SIG P210-4: The German border guards
Bundesgrenzschutz issue chambered in 9 mm Luger, a modified version of the
P210-2 that omits the lanyard loop and includes a loaded chamber indicator.
Serial numbers are D 0001 to D 5000. SIG P210-5: The sports extended barrel
version chambered in 9 mm Luger and .30 Luger, with wood grips, an adjustable
trigger, a 150 mm extended barrel with a detachable front sight mount, adjustable
target sights, and bead blasted finish. SIG P210-6: The sports version chambered
in 9 mm Luger and .30 Luger, with wood or plastic grips, an adjustable trigger,
fixed or adjustable sights, and bead blasted finish, built on the standard or
heavy frame. SIG P210-7: The .22 LR rimfire version
with wood or plastic grips, fixed or adjustable sights, the latter version
fitted with a special cut down hammer. The special slide, barrel, recoil
spring, and magazine fitted to this pistol are available as a conversion kit
adaptable to all P210 centerfire models. SIG P210-8: The deluxe sports version
chambered in 9 mm Luger, with a side mounted magazine catch, wood grips, an
adjustable trigger, adjustable sights, and bead blasted finish, built on the
heavy frame. SIG P210-5LS: The 2003 version chambered
in 9 mm Luger, which has a side mounted magazine catch, wood grips, adjustable
sights, bead blasted finish, and a longer slide and barrel fitted on the
heavy frame. SIG P210-6S: The 2003 version chambered
in 9 mm Luger, which has a side mounted magazine catch, wood grips, adjustable
sights, bead blasted finish, and a standard slide and barrel fitted on the
heavy frame. SIG P200: A double barrel variant of the
P210 also exists. A certain geometrical variation on half
moon configuration trigger, are done in sports versions.
The SIG M/49, usually called only Neuhausen in Denmark, is the Danish
military issued version for officers, military police, and special forces,
chambered in 9 mm Luger, and is a specially marked version of the P210-1
or P210-2. This is the standard sidearm in the Danish military, though heading
on nearly 60 years of continuous use; the SIG M/49 is being replaced with the
HK USP, but still in service as main pistol in the Danish military.
Serial numbers starting with a P were made for private use. Those that start
with an A are the property of the Swiss army. Those that start with an D belongs
to the Bundesgrenzschutz issues. Those that have a P added to the rear of a
serial number that starts with an A have been sold by the Swiss army to
civilians. A stamped "P" on the front of the trigger guard shows that a weapon
was left as a gift to the owner upon leaving the Armed Services. Danish and
German P210s have their own special serial numbers.
SIG Sauer P210 Legend series: In 2010 SIG Sauer introduced a new version
called the P210 Legend, now manufactured in SIG Sauer's Mastershop facility in
Eckernförde, Germany instead of the traditional SIG plant in Neuhausen am
Rheinfall, Switzerland. While the general profile of original P210 design
was followed for the new gun, SIG Sauer this time around chose to use a
button-style, frame magazine catch, an elongated 'beavertail' shaped similar to
those found on 1911 and SIG Sauer Elite pistols, more extensive use of stainless
steel, as well update of other features and specifications. Two versions were
originally offered at launch: a fixed sight base model and the Target version
that comes with an adjustable rear sight. A limited run collector's variant
of the basic model was also offered at launch; referred to as the First
Edition, this version consisted of a sequentially numbered run to a total
number of 210 examples featuring ornate engraving and metal inlay. In 2012, SIG
Sauer introduced a new variant of P210 Legend, called the Super Target, which
featured additional modifications such as an extended barrel length to 6
inches, control reconfiguration to a 1911-style thumb safety and wood grips
with integral magwell funneling. In 2013 SIG Sauer introduced the Silver series
of the P210 Legend, which consists of the existing Legend models finished in
silver colored PVD instead of the standard proprietary Nitron finish that
is commonly used on SIG Sauer handguns. SIG Sauer P210 Legend series:
Discontinued In late 2014, the Silver series was not officially imported into
the U.S. civilian market by SIG Sauer and is strictly considered a "rest of
the world" product by the company. Additionally, as of 2015 The Sig Sauer
Legend, Legend Target and Legend Super Target series are no longer offered for
sale in the US as evidenced by their listing as a "Discontinued Product" on
the Sig Sauer U.S. website. Gallery
Users Denmark: used by the Danish Defense
Force. Kazakhstan: since 2007.
Latvia: used by the Latvian National Guard.
Monaco: used by the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince.
Switzerland: used by the Swiss Military and various police forces.
West Germany: used by the Bundesgrenzschutz and GSG9.
Illustrious royal collectors Jordan King Hussein
Monaco Prince Albert Spain King Juan Carlos
United Kingdom Prince of Wales References
Armbruster, Erwin, & Werner Kessler. Begegnungen mit einer Legende—SIG SP
47/8 / P 210. Kessler Waffen AG, 2007. Sample
Doebeli, Hans P. Die SIG-Pistolen. Stuttgart: Motorbuch-Verlag, 1981. ISBN
3-87943-739-4. Vetter, Lorenz. Das große Buch der
SIG-Pistolen. Dietikon-Zürich: Stocker-Schmid, 1995. ISBN
978-3-7276-7123-4. External links
Description of Pistole 49, official Swiss Army webpage
SIG P210 History and images SIG P210 history and design features
SIG P210 parts and variations SIG P210 serial numbers
SIG P210-2 disassembly/reassembly Commemorative Confederatio Helvetica
1291-1991 for the 700th Swiss Confederation anniversary