SIG SAUER’s P226, born from the crucible of the US Military’s XM9 Service Pistol Trials in 1984, may have taken second place, but its build quality, performance, and reliability spoke volumes. Despite narrowly missing the top spot, the P226 became a legend, embraced by special forces units and SWAT agencies worldwide. Now, as SIG SAUER celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the P226 stands tall as an enduring industry icon, a testament to its decades of service and unwavering excellence.
By Drew Bryant January 9th, 2023, theloadoutblog.com
During its time, SIG SAUER has produced several iconic pistols and rifles over the years, and the SIG P226 stands as one of its most iconic ever made. The P226 was SIG’s entry into the US Military’s XM9 Service Pistol Trials in 1984. The military was looking for a replacement for the iconic M1911 that has served for over 70 years. At the end of these extensive trails, SIG and Beretta stood on top of the mountain. Beretta’s 92 would eventually win the military’s XM9 Service Pistol Trials. Although finishing second, SIG’s build quality, performance, and reliability didn’t go unnoticed by others with juice within the military. Despite narrowly missing the top spot, the P226 became a legend, embraced by special forces units and SWAT agencies worldwide. During the next forty years, the P226 received multiple variants and improvements with great success, becoming a workhorse pistol for many. Now, as SIG SAUER celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the P226 stands tall as an enduring industry icon, a testament to its decades of service and unwavering excellence.
Below is the press release from SIG on celebrating the P226 40th Anniversary.
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.
Hello, everyone and welcome to The Loadout Blog. The purpose of this website is to share educate, inform, and build a lasting culture around firearms. I want to create a hub of reliable, cohesive, and relevant material for today's shooter. I am seeking to appeal to all demographics so from the novice, to experienced, along with LE and military communities. I am here to be transparent and honest on all matters discussed or chronicled on this site. I will post content once a week at minimum or more often if time allows.
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