SIG-Sauer P225 (P6)
Specifications and Development History
The SIG-Sauer P225 (P6) is a testament to German engineering and Swiss precision, designed to meet the rigorous demands of law enforcement and military personnel. Developed in response to the German police’s requirements for a compact, reliable sidearm, the P225 has a storied history marked by innovation and adaptability.
The Development of the P225
Pistol P225, Model Weapon 1975
- Caliber: 9 mm Para (9x19mm)
- Mechanism: Recoil-operated with a tilting barrel
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
- Design Features: A modified P220 tailored to meet the German police duty manual’s specifications.
The P225 originated as a compact variant of the P220, designed to balance ease of carry with robust functionality, setting the stage for further refinements.
Pistol P225, 1st Prototype Series (1976)
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Mechanism: Recoil-operated with a tilting barrel
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
- Production: 14 prototypes manufactured at the SIG factory
Key Features:
- Frame constructed from Perunal, a lightweight aluminum alloy
- Double-action trigger with a decocking lever
- Automatic firing pin safety for enhanced reliability.
The first prototype series introduced the foundational elements of the P225, showcasing a lightweight yet durable design suitable for duty use.
Pistol P225, 2nd Prototype Series (1976/77)
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Mechanism: Recoil-operated with a tilting barrel
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
- Production: 13 prototypes manufactured at the SIG factory
- Significance: Successfully passed stringent testing for the German police.
This second series refined the design further, earning the approval of law enforcement agencies and solidifying the P225’s reputation as a reliable service pistol.
SIG-Sauer P6, Production Model (1980)
- Caliber: 9 mm x 19 (9 mm Para)
- Mechanism: Recoil-operated with a tilting barrel
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
- Designation: This production model, known as the P6, was delivered to the German police and the German Federal Border Guard.
SIG-Sauer P225, Swiss Production Model
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Mechanism: Recoil-operated with a tilting barrel
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
Special Features:
- Designated as “Montage Suisse” for the Swiss police
- Magazine release located at the bottom for a streamlined profile.
The Swiss production model demonstrates SIG’s adaptability to national preferences, with subtle changes tailored to operational requirements.
SIG-Sauer P225, PT Model (Plastic Training)
- Caliber: 9 mm x 19 (9 mm Para)
- Mechanism: Recoil-operated with booster and mass slide
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
Designed for training scenarios, the PT Model enabled users to safely practice handling and firing without the wear and tear associated with live-fire sessions.
Conversion Kit for the P225
- Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
- Mechanism: Recoil-operated with booster and mass slide
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
The .22 LR conversion kit made training cost-effective while maintaining familiarity with the P225’s form and function.
Conversion Kit for the P225
- For Switzerland: Features a magazine release at the bottom and a flat hammer.
- For Germany: It is equipped with a magazine-release button at the top and a retrofitted round hammer for improved ergonomics.
The SIG-Sauer P225 continues to be revered by enthusiasts and collectors for its historical significance, reliable design, and role in arming law enforcement agencies around the world. Whether as a service pistol or a collector’s piece, the P225 embodies the enduring legacy of SIG-Sauer craftsmanship.
The Specs and information on the different gun models listed below are based on Das Grosse Buch der SIG-Pistolen, “The Big Book of SIG Pistols,” by Lorenz Vetter.
SIG-Sauer P 225 (P 6)
1980
- Weapon Number: M 404645
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Slide: Sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Aluminum, black anodized, right side
- Grip Piece: M 40464
- Barrel Length and Type: 97.6 mm, tilting barrel with angled surface
- Number of Grooves: Si
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 m
- Magazine: Sandblasted, reddish blued, magazine release button on the upper left sid
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Rear Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Grip Panels: Black plastic, without lanyard loop
Special Features:
1st version of the P 225, slide marked on the right side with “M 404645,” large engraving “P 225,” barrel unfinished (bare metal).
SIG-Sauer P 225 (P 6)
Zurich Cantonal Police
- Weapon Number: M 418884
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Slide: Sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Lightweight metal, black anodized
- Barrel Length and Type: 97.6 mm, tilting barrel
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued, with magazine release button on the left
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Block-style, dovetailed, with white stripe
- Rear Sight: Block-style, dovetailed, with white stripe
- Grip Panels: Plastic with checkering
Special Features:
1st version of the P 225, for the Zurich Cantonal Police. The front left side of the slide is marked with the Zurich coat of arms and “SIG/SAUER.”
SIG-Sauer P 225 (P 6)
Zurich Cantonal Police 1994
- Weapon Number: M 419522
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Slide: Sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Lightweight metal, sandblasted, black anodized
- Barrel Length and Type: 97.6 mm, tilting barrel
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: New night sight with luminous dot
- Rear Sight: New night sight with two luminous dots (on the sight side and top)
- Grip Panels: Plastic with checkering
Special Features:
Weapon of the Zurich Cantonal Police, latest version from 1994.
The slide’s front left side is marked with the Zurich coat of arms and “SIG/SAUER.”
SIG-Sauer P 225 (P 6)
Basel Cantonal Police 1988
- Weapon Number: 435340
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Slide: Sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Aluminum, black anodized, right side bright with “M 435340” engraved
- Barrel Length and Type: 97.6 mm, tilting barrel with angled surfaces
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Blued
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Rear Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Grip Panels: Wooden grip panels, fine checkering, oiled
Special Features:
Version for the Basel police, with an older magazine release at the bottom, similar to the P 210.
Markings on the right side of the slide: “M 435340” engraved, followed by “Montage Suisse.” The front is stamped with “BP.”
SIG-Sauer P 225 (P 6)
Duplicate Number
- Weapon Number: M 491576
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Slide: Sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Aluminum, black anodized, right side bright with “M 404645” engraved, “D-Proof” mark behind the trigger
- Barrel Length and Type: 97.6 mm, tilting barrel with angled surfaces
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Blued, magazine release button on the upper left side
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Rear Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Grip Panels: Black plastic, without lanyard loop
Special Features:
1st version of the P 225.
- The right side of the slide is marked “M 491576, P 225.”
- The left side is engraved with “SIG-SAUER” in smaller font.
- Double-numbered with the police version “M1 491576.”
SIG-Sauer P 225 (P 6)
Duplicate Number
- Weapon Number: M1 491576
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm Para
- Slide: Steel sheet, sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Aluminum, black anodized
- Barrel Length and Type: 97.6 mm, tilting barrel with angled surfaces, right side stamped with “BP”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Rear Sight: Block-style, dovetailed
- Grip Panels: Black plastic grip panels
Special Features:
Police version, double-numbered with “M 491576.”
SIG-Sauer P 225
Small-Caliber System Prototype
- Weapon Number: N 001011
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 l.r.
- Slide: Straight, not recessed
- Barrel Length and Type: 102.4 mm
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 400 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued
- Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
- Front Sight: Original block-style, fixed
- Rear Sight: Original block-style
Special Features:
The experimental small-caliber system for the P 225 never went into production (only a small series was manufactured).
- Markings on the left side of the slide: “SIG/SAUER.”
- Markings on the right side of the slide: “P 225.”
- Surface finish: sandblasted, blued.
SIG-Sauer P 225
PT Prototype (Plastic Training)
- Weapon Numbers: R 001047 and M 528705
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm PT
- Slide: Steel sheet, sandblasted, blued, marked “R 001009”
- Frame: Aluminum, black anodized, marked “M 528705”
- Barrel Length and Type: 96.9 mm, tilting barrel with angled surfaces, PT marking
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Block-style (also available with luminous dot)
- Rear Sight: Contrast sight (also available with night sight)
- Grip Panels: Plastic with checkering
Special Features:
Training pistol designed for shooting plastic training ammunition in caliber 9×19 PT developed specifically for the German police.
The pistol features a plastic tip on the hammer, a plastic insert in the barrel (on the top), and markings on the left side of the slide and frame to distinguish it as a training weapon.
SIG-Sauer P 225 PT
Production Model
- Weapon Number: R 002852
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm PT
- Slide: Steel sheet, pressed, sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Aluminum, sandblasted, black anodized
- Barrel Length and Type: 96.9 mm, tilting barrel with angled surfaces
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Contrast block-style with white dot
- Rear Sight: Contrast sight with white stripe
- Grip Panels: Black plastic
Special Features:
The pistol features a plastic tip on the hammer, a plastic insert in the barrel (on the top), and markings on the left side of the slide and frame to distinguish it as a training weapon.
SIG-Sauer P 225
Cutaway Model
- Weapon Number: 151
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9 mm PT
- Slide: Steel sheet, pressed, sandblasted, blued
- Frame: Aluminum, sandblasted, black anodized
- Barrel Length and Type: 96.9 mm, tilting barrel with angled surfaces
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 250 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Contrast front sight
- Rear Sight: Contrast rear sight
- Grip Panels: Black plastic
