The SIG P210 22LR Conversion Systems
A Testament to Precision
The SIG P210 series, celebrated for its unparalleled accuracy and craftsmanship, extended its legacy into the realm of small-caliber firearms with the P210-7 and its associated conversion systems. These .22 Long Rifle (5.6mm) systems offered a versatile and cost-effective solution for training, recreational shooting, and military trials, showcasing SIG’s engineering ingenuity.
SIG P210-7: Small-Caliber Pistols and Conversion Systems
The P210-7 and its predecessors, including the SP 47/8 small-caliber conversion systems, are chambered in .22 LR. This caliber was chosen for its affordability and suitability for training applications, making these pistols a popular choice for the Danish Army and other military and police units.
- Caliber: .22 Long Rifle (5.6mm)
- Unlocking Mechanism: Fixed barrel system, unlike the locking barrel of its 9mm and 7.65mm counterparts, ensuring exceptional accuracy and reliability.
History and Development
Introduced in response to a 1951 request from the Danish Army, these systems were designed to mimic the performance and handling of the full-caliber P210 service pistols. Between 1951 and 1995, approximately 10,000 conversion systems were produced, catering to military, police, and civilian markets.
- Production Milestones:
- First Series (1949–1952): Trial and prototype models, including the first recorded .22 LR system (Weapon No. 7017).
- Danish Army Contract: 1,650 units, serially numbered 0001 to 1650.
- Special Editions: 443 systems for the German Federal Border Police (D0001–D0443).
Variants and Serial Numbers
Collectors and enthusiasts will find a diverse range of P210 .22 LR systems, differentiated by their design and finish. Earlier models feature polished, blued finishes, while later versions showcase sandblasted exteriors. Notable variants include:
- Straight Upper Side: Found on the earliest systems.
- Grooved Upper Side: A later enhancement for improved aesthetics and functionality.
- Perunal Experimental Models: Rare lightweight metal slides, with only about 10 known to exist.
Serial Number Ranges for Complete P210-7 Pistols
Though many .22 LR systems were sold as conversion kits, complete P210-7 pistols were manufactured in limited quantities. These pistols, often built on-demand, feature matching serial numbers between the frame and small-caliber system. Key serial ranges include:
- Early Production: 40391–40400 (1958)
- Mid-Production: 41211–41240 (1965), 42891–42970 (1969)
- Late Production: 46531–48530 (1984–1995)
Customization and Modern Availability
Even today, SIG offers the ability to order new P210-7 systems, allowing customers to specify features such as a sport or standard frame. This commitment to customization ensures the enduring appeal of the P210 series for modern shooters and collectors alike
Why Choose the SIG P210 .22 LR System?
Whether you’re a collector chasing serial-numbered rarities or a shooter seeking a cost-effective training option, the P210 .22 LR systems deliver the exceptional performance that SIG is renowned for. Their precision, craftsmanship, and historical significance make them a must-have for enthusiasts of classic firearms.
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 SP 47/8 P 210 Small-Caliber System
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle (5.6 mm)
Serial numbers HT 6925–HT 6940, and also number HT 6950 (a total of 17 complete small-caliber systems for the P210, remnants from the Federal Border Police stock, sold by the company Hofmann & Reinhart).
Additionally, some individual small-caliber systems for the SIG P210 that were not yet serialized have surfaced and can be found in various collections.
There are many variations of small-caliber systems for the SP 47/8 and P210, for example, with standard sights, micro-adjustable sights, sport front sights, etc.
Some special variants are depicted below.
SIG Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
Experimental Model 1948–49
- Weapon Number: None (one of the first small-caliber systems)
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Polished, blued, no serial number
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked, marked on the left side: “S.P. 47/8 Cal. 22 lg. rf. SIG Neuhausen a./Rhf.”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, SP 47/8
- Rear Sight: Integrated, SP 47/8
Special Features:
Straight design, rounded top, external extractor.
Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
Experimental Model 1948–49
- Weapon Number: None (one of the first small-caliber systems)’
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Polished, blued, no serial number
- Barrel Length and Type: 150 mm, unlocked, marked on the left side: “S.P. 47/8 SIG Cal. 22 lg. rf.”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Straight design, rounded top, external extractor, extended barrel to 150 mm, straight front, no milling.
SIG Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
Experimental Model 1948–49
- Weapon Number: None (one of the very first small-caliber systems)
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Unnumbered, blued, polished
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked, marked on the left side: “S.P. 47/8 SIG Cal. 22 lg. rf.”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, SP 47/8
- Rear Sight: Integrated, SP 47/8
Special Features:
Straight design, rounded top, external extractor, cover plate over enlarged ejection port.
Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
for the Danish Army, 1951
- Weapon Number: 0065
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Steel, polished, blued
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
The barrel has an additional “W” engraved below the number. The only difference from the German Federal Border Police version is the letter “D” in the weapon number. The second variant, milled in front of the sight, has serial numbers ranging from 3003 to 3040. The rear side looks like SP 47/8. The left side is marked “5.6 mm” and has the SIG emblem.
Small-Caliber System
Experimental Model
- Weapon Number: None
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Experimental, straight front, rear top straight, polished, reddish blued, right side with SIG emblem
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked, right side without number, stamped with Swedish crown, left side engraved “5.6 mm” and stamped with Swedish crown (group of three)
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Swedish military, integrated
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Not milled at the front, rare version. Barrel stamped multiple times on the right and left sides (partially reversed) with Swedish crown.
Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
- Weapon Number: 40005
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Polished, blued, straight design
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
From the first series (P 210), no SIG marking on the right side.
Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
- Weapon Number: 40372
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Polished, blued; left side marked “SP 47/8 Cal. 22 lg. rf. SIG Neuhausen a./Rhf.”; right side engraved with “40372”
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked; right side engraved with “40372,” left side engraved with “5.6 mm”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Straight design, rounded top, internal extractor.
Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
- Weapon Number: 40459
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Polished, blued; right side engraved with “40459,” left side engraved with “SP 47/8 Cal. 22 lg. rf. SIG Neuhausen a./Rhf.”
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked; right side engraved with “40459,” left side engraved with “5.6 mm”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, Swedish model
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Top straight, rounded.
Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
- Weapon Number: 40585
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Polished, blued; straight design, rounded top. Right side engraved with “40585,” left side engraved with “Cal. 22 lg. rf.” and SIG emblem.
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked; right side engraved with “40585,” left side engraved with “5.6 mm”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Variant 1, rear side like SP 47/8.
Small-Caliber System P 210
- Weapon Number: 41547
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Rear top milled, first version; right side engraved with “41547,” left side engraved with “Cal. 22 lg. rf.” and SIG emblem.
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked; right side engraved with “41547,” left side engraved with “Cal. 22 lg. rf.”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Small-Caliber System P 210
- Weapon Number: 45188
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Rear top milled, polished, blued; right side engraved with “45188,” left side engraved with “Cal. 22 lg. rf.” and SIG emblem.
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked; right side engraved with SIG emblem, “22 lg rf,” and “45188.”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Sport front sight, integrated
- Rear Sight: Micro sight No. 392, integrated
Special Features:
Variant 2, rear side with small bevel. Sport small-caliber system.
Small-Caliber System P 210
- Weapon Number: 46521
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Steel, polished, blued
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Variant 3, rear side with pronounced bevel. Finely polished, blued; left side marked “Cal. 22 lg. rf.” (smaller inscription), SIG emblem.
Small-Caliber System P 210
S-Version, 1981
- Weapon Number: 46525
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Lightweight
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Special version (January 1981), engraving on the left side of the slide: “cal. 22 lg. rf. SIG.” The surface is sandblasted and blued. The rear side has a pronounced bevel.
Small-Caliber System P 210
- Weapon Number: 46650
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Steel, polished, blued
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Finely polished, blued; left side marked “Cal. 22 lg. rf.” (large inscription) and SIG emblem. Rear side with pronounced bevel.
Small-Caliber System P 210
- Weapon Number: 47250
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Steel, sandblasted, blued
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Sandblasted, blued
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
The latest version is sandblasted and blued. Left side marked “Cal. 22 lg. rf.” and SIG emblem. A total of 2,000 units were produced in this series.
SIG Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
- Weapon Number: D 0031
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Straight top, polished, blued; right side at the front engraved with “D 0031,” rear with SIG emblem; left side engraved with “5.6 mm” and German proof mark.
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked; right side engraved with “0031,” left side mechanically engraved with “5.6 mm.”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
For the German Federal Border Guard. Serial number range D 0001 to D 0443. Type SP 47/8.
Small-Caliber System SP 47/8
- Weapon Number: D 0051
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Left side marked “SP 47/8, Cal. 22 lg. rf., SIG Neuhausen a./Rhf.”
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, SP 47/8 standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Small-Caliber System SP 57/8
Type H. T.
- Weapon Number: H. T. 6950
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Straight top, blued
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Small series for the company Hofmann & Reinhart, manufactured by Hämmerli in Tiengen, leftover stock from the German Federal Border Guard.
Small-Caliber System P 210-1
Perunal Trial, 1965
- Weapon Number: External none (Barrel with No. 1)
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 LR (5.6 mm)
- Slide Finish: Aluminum slide, top like the P 210; left side engraved “Cal. 22 lg. rf., SIG-Perunal-Trial”; aluminum, black anodized; front straight-running; equipped with a firing pin plate.
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked; right side top with SIG emblem; “22 lg.” engraved electronically; trial slide 1 “Perunal-Trial” mechanically engraved.
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right-hand, 450 mm
- Magazine: Bare, brushed finish
- Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Integrated, military standard
- Rear Sight: Integrated, military standard
Special Features:
Trial lightweight P 210 small-caliber system, finely polished, anodized. Left side marked “Cal. 22 lg. rf., SIG emblem.” A total of only 10 pieces were manufactured.
Small-Caliber System P 210
Perunal Trial, 1965
- Weapon Number: External none, (internal No. 2)
- Designer: SIG
- Manufacturer: SIG
- Caliber: .22 l.r. (5.6 mm)
- Slide: Like P 210, left side marked “Cal. 22 lg. rf., SIG emblem” engraved, aluminum blank, internal No. 2, with firing pin plate
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm, unlocked, right side engraved “SIG emblem, 22 lg. rf.” electrically engraved, trial No. 2, “Perunal-Trial” mechanically engraved, left side engraved “5.6 mm”
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right, 450 mm
- Material: Polished bare metal
- Capacity: 8 rounds
Special Features:
- Internal components refined with lightweight aluminum construction.
- Precision engraved markings highlighting the trial status.
Small-Caliber System P 210
Perunal Trial, 1965
- Weapon Number: 038
- Designer: Firma Furter, Olten, Switzerland
- Manufacturer: Firma Furter, Olten, Switzerland
- Caliber: .22 l.r. (5.6 mm)
- Slide: Aluminum with inserted barrel, fixed at the front on an axis
- Barrel Length: 120 mm
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right, 450 mm
- Magazine: None (wooden profile)
- Front Sight: Block sight
- Rear Sight: Laterally adjustable
Special Features:
The slide consists of two parts.
Small-Caliber System P 210 Sport
Experimental, 1976
- Weapon Number: None
- Designer: H. P. Sigg, Germany
- Manufacturer: H. P. Sigg, Germany
- Caliber: .22 l.r. (5.6 mm)
- Slide: Steel, sport design
- Barrel Length and Type: 120 mm to 180 mm, unlocked
- Number of Grooves: Six
- Twist: Right, 450 mm
- Material: Blank, polished
- Capacity: 8 rounds
- Front Sight: Block-style, attached
- Rear Sight: Contrast sight, attached
Special Features:
In the mid-1970s, SIG designer H. P. Sigg noticed an increasing trend in small-caliber pistols at Swiss shooting ranges. He designed and manufactured this version in response to that trend.
