User:Digitallymade/sandbox/Sig1911

SIG Sauer of Newington, NH USA manufactures a full line of 1911 styled handguns. The earliest models were very faithful to the John M. Browning designed Colt M1911 Pistol which became the United States standard sidearm and served in that capacity for some seven decades before being replace by the Beretta M9 handgun.

=Sig Sauer 1911 Series of Handguns listed as of January 2018 =

Full Size Models

 * 1911 Emperor Scorpion Full-Size
 * 1911 Fastback Nightmare Full-Size
 * 1911 Match Elite Stainless Full-Size
 * 1911 Max Full-Size
 * 1911 Nickel Rail Full-Size
 * 1911 Spartan Full-Size
 * 1911 Stainless
 * 1911 Stainless Super Target Full-Size
 * 1911 STX Full-Size
 * 1911 TACOPS Full-Size Picatinny Rail, 9 x 19mm Parabellum, 10mm S&W, .45 ACP
 * 1911 Target Full-Size
 * 1911 We The People Full-Size
 * 1911 XO Full-Size

Carry Size

 * 1911 Fastback Emperor Scorpion Carry
 * 1911 Fastback Nightmare Carry
 * 1911 Spartan Carry

Compact Size

 * 1911 Army Compact
 * 1911 C3 Compact

Sub Compact Size

 * 1911 Two-Tone Ultra-Compact
 * 1911 Ultra-Compact

Ultra Compact Size

 * 1911 Ultra Compact Nickel

Micro Compact

 * P238 We the People

These are all of the Sig Sauer 1911 models currently listed on their web site. January 2018

Some historical context
Due to the poor performance of the .38 Long Colt Revolvers used in the Philippines during and after the Spanish-American war the US Army sought a new handgun to be chambered in a larger caliber. Tests began in 1907 and culminated in a design from John M. Browning created for the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co. designated Model 1910, but with changes made to that design. It was type accepted as the Government Model M1911 and was modified again later to be the US Government M1911A1 handgun. When discussed this model handgun is often described with varying names including "Government Model," "1911", "1911A1" and very commonly as the "Colt .45 Automatic." In most discussions of this type of handgun many people simply refer to the various difference makes as "1911" handguns.

Contrary to many inaccurate reports the Colt 1910 design did not beat the Luger 9 x 19mm handgun which had been designed for and adopted by the Imperial German Army. The 1910 handgun trials featured a Luger chambered in .45 ACP, just as the Colt did. . The Luger actually beat the Colt in every significant way except for the one criterion that mattered. The US Army was never going to adopt a foreign designed weapon. That policy was not substantially changed until late in the 20th century.

Firing Pin Safety-Trigger Pull Quality
The Colt 1911 lacked a firing pin safety and was noted for an unfortunate tendency to fire, if loaded, if dropped on it's muzzle. This is in spite of there being an external thumb safety and a grip safety. Neither blocked the movement of the firing pin. A sufficiently strong shock caused the firing pin to move forward with enough force to fire the cartridge. Sig Sauer 1911 pistols (all that are currently made) have that firing pin block which is not released until the trigger is actually pulled.

Some states in the USA require that 1911 style handguns have a firing pin block safety. Such a device was added to the design in the Series 80 versions. A number of users of the Series 80 models report that the additional parts resulted in a "ruined" trigger pull quality.

The first Sig Sauer 1911 series handguns were very faithful to the original Colt M1911A1 design, but later (and all current models) have a firing pin block safety. Sig Sauer users do not seem to find a problem with the quality of the trigger in their 1911 series handguns.

Materials of Construction
All government model 1911 handguns were made entirely out of steel. The Sig Sauer 1911 models are made of steel and stainless steel.

Magazine Capacity
The .45 ACP models featured 7 round magazines initially and later 8 round magazines. Colt made the 1911 is .38 Super and 9 x 19mm also. The Sig Sauer 1911 series has models that are faithful to the original 1911 appearance in calibers from 9 x 19mm Parabellum, .357 Sig .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto. Due to the variation in caliber magazine capacities vary too.

Pressure Rating
Many of the Colt 1911 style handguns are not certified by their makers to accept SAAMI Plus P pressure ammunition. All Sig Sauer handguns are.

Modern Accessorization
Sig Sauer 1911 handguns sometimes feature modern accessories such as Picatinny rails, extended capacity magazines, different finishes, and many variations in appearance. Some are specialized for target shooting and come in more calibers that the original 1911 models did.

Various Size and Styles
The Sig Sauer 1911 series features 21 models in different sized and styles. The P238 Micro Compact is the smallest of the 1911 style offerings.

Early models no longer listed
The SIG Sauer GSR ("Granite Series Rail") is a series of pistols with a stainless steel frame and slide based on the Colt M1911 Pistol. The SIG Granite Series was awarded the 2004 Handgun of the Year Award by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence. It is entirely made in the USA, from American parts.

Description: Chambered for the .45 ACP round, some GSR models have an accessory rail that can be used to mount a variety of different tactical lights, lasers, or just about anything that can accommodate a Picatinny rail. Standard models have a 5" barrel and 4.5-pound single-action trigger. The GSR is reported to have produced range results of a 1.5" group at 25 meters. The GSR comes in compact (3.5" barrel) and carry models (4" barrel) and has various sight options available. SIG offers choice of a stainless steel finish, a Nitron dark finish, or a two-tone Nitron and stainless look.

The TAC OPS and Scorpion versions feature a Picatinny rail, night sights, and a threaded barrel to allow the user to attach a sound suppressor.

Cartridge Pressure Limits
All Sig Sauer Handguns are made to accept cartridges loaded to SAAMI Plus P pressures (38,500psi)