Can a firearm be "too old" ??

[Scoop]

Looks like I'm going to have to pick up a Sig Sauer P226 here in the next month or so (dept standards are P226 or P228 only).

Obviously, I can drop $700-750 for a new P226R (tac rail) in Nitron, but I also wanted to investigate used ones.

Forgetting about the "Certified Pre-Owned" Sig program for a moment, if a guy were to consider buying a used P226, is there any reason that a 10 or 15 year old P226 should be avoided (other than mechanical problems)?

I've located one from a local guy. He said it's in near perfect condition, but it was manufactured (in Germany) back in 1987 or 1988 (orange box). He said it "looked new" when he bought it a year or so ago.

I've carried nothing but Glocks and have never purchased a used pistol.

Is there any particular reason to NOT consider buying this USED P226 (blue finish, includes 5 hi-cap (LEO) mags) for, say, $500, as opposed to spending another $200 or so for a new one?

I figured many of you have carried and used SigARMS products for years, so, why not ask ...

Thanks.

[retdetsgt]

It has much more to do with how many times it's been fired than the age. That one isn't all that old. The army uses weapons for decades that have been fired a lot. If it doubt, see if you can take it to a gunsmith and have them examine it, but from what you write, it sounds okay to me.

[Scoop]

Thanks. What about any particular features/differences between a circa 1988 P226 and a circa 2004 P226?

[P01IC3M4N]

i'd get a 228 if it was me. those are nifty little pea-shooters.

i've carried used guns before. just check it over and shoot a couple hundred rounds out of it to make sure it's reliable, but you should do that even if it's new. most guns will outlast their owners.

[sgtbear111]

Ask the person selling the SiG where they got it from. Knowing where it has been will give some assurance it isnt stolen, and some idea about how it was used. I have a SiG 220 in 45acp that was used by another agency before I bought it in 1989 and I carried it for 10+ years as a plainclothes officer. 500+ rounds per year and it still works. No cheap Wolf ammo will touch this one.

[Gooch]

Sigs are pretty rugged, they can take a lot and still keep ticking. I don't know why they didn't win the military bid and Beretta did. Cost maybe? It doesn't really matter how old it is if it was taken care of. Can't say the same about Glocks though.

[Group9]

Thanks. What about any particular features/differences between a circa 1988 P226 and a circa 2004 P226?

I have a 1988 Sig 226. One difference between it and the new ones is that mine has "Made in W. Germany" stamped on the side. I think the newer ones are made, or at least assembled, in the US. The only problem I have heard of with 226's of that era is slide cracking. If this model hasn't had that problem by now, I doubt it will ever have it.

One good thing about an old Sig, my 226 has the smoothest action you have ever seen, and it wasn't like that when new. It just keeps getting better and better with age.

[tpd_six]

I don't believe age matters nearly as much as condition and function. My duty gun is a Sig 229 that's well over 10 years old, has thousands of rounds through it, and is smoother than it was new. I chose it over a brand new Glock my department would have issued me to carry, and trust it completely. Do test fire it and have it looked over.

[MOCOP]

Maybe Norm can answer. I think he carrys a Colt Walker or it might be a Colt Patterson :eek: :D

[Ghost 1]

Maybe Norm can answer. I think he carrys a Colt Walker or it might be a Colt Patterson.

Norm doesn't like those newfangled contraptions. His off duty weapon is a flintlock Dragoon..............in an IWB holster. :D bwahahahahahaha

[MOCOP]

Norm doesn't like those newfangled contraptions. His off duty weapon is a flintlock Dragoon..............in an IWB holster. :D bwahahahahahaha

My mistake. So does he have a speed loading powder horn?

[MOCOP]

I heard that Norm had a little trouble with this pistol of his when he went to the last IDPA match.

Norm's pistol

Seems that every time he went to"low ready", the lead ball just rolled right out of the barrel and wound up on the ground.

The range officials argued for hours as to whether that counted as an accidental discharge or not.

.

So what was the verdict?

[Valor55]

If I were buying a gun that old I would make sure it has been factory reconditioned. That way you know that a Sig employed armorer took it apart, cleaned it, and replaced all the work parts. Other than the Serial # it would effectively be a brand new gun.

[Valor55]

BTW, if you got the $ for a new weapon go for it. The features like equipment rails makes for fun toy purchases in the future.

[txinvestigator1]

Can a firearm be too old?

Can rock and roll be too loud? :D