Type Semi-automatic pistol In service 1949–present Designer Charles Gabriel Petter | Place of origin Switzerland Used by See Users Designed 1947 as SP47/8 | |
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The SIG P210 (Swiss Army designation Pistole 49) is a locked breech self loading, semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured in Neuhausen am Rheinfall (Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland) by SIG. The former SIG P210 model is now the SIG Sauer P210.
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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 (as M/49 Neuhausen or simply Neuhausen), in 1951 by the German Bundespolizei and in shooting sports.
The pistols were decommissioned and replaced by the SIG Sauer P220 (Swiss Army designation Pistole 75) which was designed as a replacement for the SIG P210 by the newly formed SIG Sauer company in 1975. Second-hand P210s are greatly valued by shooting sports competitors. The SIG Sauer P210 was made by SIG Sauer, GMBH in Eckenforde, Germany and was exported to SIG Sauer of New Hampshire until recently when it was announced that SIG Sauer in New Hampshire will produce the SIG Sauer P210 in Exeter, N.H. in the United States beginning in 2017.
History
The design was derived from Charles Petter Modèle 1935A pistol. In 1937 SIG acquired a license for the Petter Browning system from SACM in order to develop a replacement for the Luger Parabellum 06/29, which had been in service since 1900. Apparently not satisfied with the Petter Browning design or the changes they had made to it, SIG evaluated no less than 11 prototypes from 1942 through 1944. Selbstladepistole Neuhausen model 44/16 pistol production began in 1944. Some of the original Petter Browning features had been retained, specifically the self-contained firing and recoil systems. The Neuhausen 44/16 had a magazine capacity of 16 rounds.
Development was slowed by the Second World War. After testing various experimental models (such as the aforementioned 44/16 with a double column magazine), the 47/8 model was adopted in Oct 1948 as the Pistole Modell 1949 and (SP47/8) for civilian market. Some previous series were tested by Swedish sport shooters and by the Danish army (Danish Defence designation Pistol M/1949). In 1957, the civil designation (SP47/8) was definitively changed to P210 according to the company nomenclature policy.
The 47/8 model supported easy change of the barrels between 7.65 and 9mm Parabellum and a kit to convert to .22 caliber. See Table.
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 (.22 LR). 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 (150 mm in the 210-5 variant) 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 more 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 latter 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 (54.7 yd) test target typically showing a group of five to ten shots in a cluster under 5 cm (2 in) 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 (120 mm barrel) 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 M/1949: Usually called only Neuhausen in Denmark, this is the 47/8 model purchased for the Danish military and issued version for officers, military police, and special forces, chambered in 9mm Luger. 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 a 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" (="privat") 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 P210-A: In January, 2016 SIG Sauer announced production of the P210-A in the Exeter, NH, USA factory. Three versions are planned: Standard, Target and Carry; with a magazine release close to the trigger guard as opposed to a heel style release.