1. Finally, while SIG-Sauer, like most of the European pistol manufacturers, have outsourced the production of magazines to the Italian Mec-Gar firm, the P230 came with German magazines. These differ in construction by using the more complex interlocking rectangle/three-spot welded rear spine, rather than the more common seam welded type used to day.
2. The SIG Sauer P230 is a small, semi-automatic handgun chambered in.32 ACP or.380 Auto. In 1996 it was replaced by SIG Sauer with the model P232. Laura Gerard ( January Jones ) stands up holding Cancer's P232.

Wolff Hammer Spring Pack Sig Sauer P232 and the P230 with Serial Number Below S165076 Blue, S053921 Stainless Steel 380 ACP. Do not confuse the two letter serial number prefix on your SIG with the two letter date code. They have nothing to do with eachother. The two letter date codes are located on the bottom of slide near the muzzle area, it'll be accompanied by a couple of other proofmarks.

The SIG SAUER P230 .380 Pistol

By David Tong

Photo by David Tong.

A previous article on Gunsand Shooting Online (see the Product Reviews index page) reviewed thecurrent SIG P232 variation of this handgun. This article is based on myexperiences with the pistol from the late 1980's onward.

The P230 owes major parts of its general design to theseminal Walther Model PP pistol. The blowback action, its pressed-in barrelsecured with a cross pin with the recoil spring wrapped around the barrel andits internal slide stop/ejector were all part of the 1929 pistol that changedthe nature of the medium size auto. However, the P230 differs from the PP inseveral respects and even from its newer P232 descendent.

The 230 does not use the hinged trigger guard that commencesthe field stripping procedure. Instead, the P230 and P232 both use adisassembly lever that operates by rotating it 90 degrees counter clockwisewith the slide forward. Then the slide is racked to the rear all the way andlifted upward, then guided forward for removal.

Both the 230 and 232 employ a wrap around plastic two-piecegrip, much like the 1931 Walther PPK. All three pistols have an abbreviatedgrip frame, saving an ounce or two in weight.

Serial Number Lookup For Iphone

The P230 and P232 dispense with the slide mountedsafety/decocking lever of the Walther product, in favor of a simple decockinglever mounted on the frame’s left side for the right handed shooter’s thumb toengage. I find this lever somewhat small and mounted farther forward than thecompany’s P220 series pistols and harder to use. I think that this lever couldhave been dispensed with in favor of a slide stop lever to allow closing theslide on a full magazine for faster reloading.

The P230 has an integrally machined front sight, like thePP, while the P232 uses the more modern and common dovetailed sight. This allowsthe P232 the alternative of tritium night sights, although in normal daylightthe P230's orangey-red dot over bar von Stavenhagen sights work just fine andare larger and easier to pick up than the Walther PP’s sights.

I don’t really care for the heel type German magazinerelease, though I admit that the necessity for a quick reload on a back-up gunmay be pretty slim.

P230 Basic Specifications

• Type: DA/SA autoloader
• Action: Blowback
• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Magazine capacity: 7
• Grips: One-piece black plastic
• Barrel length: 3.75'
• Overall length: 6.5'
• Weight: 16.25 oz. (aluminum frame); 20.8 oz. (stainless frame)
• 1993 MSRP: $510 (blued); $595 (stainless)

The P230 and P232 are about the size of the Walther PPpistol and larger than the PPK/S or PPK. This has its advantages in ergonomicsand handling. I find the P230 far more comfortable to shoot than the older Walthers,with its fatter rear strap and stocks spreading recoil forces in one’s handsover a larger surface area. Indeed, even the aluminum framed P230 that I shotseveral months ago felt surprisingly mild for a blowback .380.

Oddly enough, I find myself preferring the 230 to the 232though. One reason is that the smoothly finished stocks on the 230 allow onespalm to find its natural location easier than the fully stippled (and grippier)232 stock and this aids in instinctive pointing from a holster. The P230 stocksare also better looking, in my view, because their conventional checkering andflat, rather than curved, bottom edges echo the classic style of the PP.

Sig Sauer P230 Serial Number Lookup

The P230’s major fire control parts of hammer, trigger andsear appear to be either machined from stock or from forgings. This is inmarked contrast to the P232 that uses MIM produced parts. This is not to saythat a properly designed and manufactured MIM part cannot serve long and well,but we all know that a machined part is an old school touch that eloquentlyspeaks of “the way it used to be done.”

Finally, while SIG-Sauer, like most of the European pistolmanufacturers, have outsourced the production of magazines to the ItalianMec-Gar firm, the P230 came with German magazines. These differ in constructionby using the more complex interlocking rectangle/three-spot welded rear spine,rather than the more common seam welded type used to day. The P230's magazinesin the stainless pistols are also electroless nickel plated and their aluminum,not plastic, floor plates are retained by a short extension off the magazinespring, rather than the now prevalent retaining plate.

The pistol comes with two of these pretty magazines, a colorowner’s manual and a signed test target that confirms sight regulation, allcontained in a decent hard plastic box. Such things mean little to the modernpistol shooter, but again, these speak about a product that was built more to astandard than a price.

The ergonomic excellence of the P230 means that it is veryeasy to present the properly indexed pistol onto target, without muchadjustment. I am no great fan of the 9mm Kurz, believing it more a back upcartridge than a primary round for a legal concealed carry user, even though itwas relied upon by European police forces in great numbers. That said, modern.380 JHP ammo offerings, coupled with the superior ergonomics of the P230 and P232,can produce easy and effective hits, which is no small matter when fractions ofa second might count.

Sig Sauer Serial Number Search

Note: There is a full length review of the SIG P232 on the Product Reviews page.

SOLD FOR: $1691.66

LSB#: 210208BD06

Make: Sig Sauer

Model: P230

Serial Number: S 114 861

Year of Manufacture: 1983 (JD Date Code)

Caliber: 9mm Kurz, .380 ACP

Action Type: Single/Double Action Semi-Auto Pistol

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “SIGARMS INC. / Tyson Corner-VA”, “SIG SAUER”, and “9mm kurz”. The right side of the slide is marked “MADE IN GERMANY”, “P230”, three proof marks including date code, and “S114861”. The front strap is marked “S114861”.

Barrel Length: 3.6”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a small white dot blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch blade with white sighting reference which is dovetailed into the slide. The top of the slide is serrated to reduce glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece hard checkered wood with ambidextrous thumb rests. The grips show scattered light marks with the most notable imperfection being a small nick on the back strap. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in about Fine-Plus overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Matte

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. The balance of finish shows only some scattered marks that are barely perceptible and faint operational wear. There are no major imperfections. The markings are clear. The screw heads are sharp. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine-Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The left side of the frame is equipped with a de-cocker. We did not fire this pistol. As with all firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included with the pistol are a total of four 7-round magazines with markings consistent with standard operational wear. They have intact feed lips and strong springs. The mags rate in about Fine overall condition.