Combloc
Stop Negassing me!!!!!
I've been trying to get hold of an example of this pistol for over 25 years now since first seeing one in a 1977 edition of "Small Arms of the World" and today I finally brought one home; and it's even an early version with the Type 1 slide! The problem is, because P75's are still current issue, they aren't available as surplus. The only avenue I'm aware of is through a retired Swiss serviceman who bought his issue sidearm upon leaving the service. That's a little hard being that I'm on another continent! Now, I could just buy an old P220 in 9mm and, in fact, I already own a couple Browning marked ones from 1977. But if you want a Swiss issue P75, none of those will scratch that itch. The crazy part is, the P75 isn't even actually made in Switzerland even though it' marked as if it were. No, the reality is that, for all intents and purposes, each and every "SIG" marked P75 issued was actually produced at J.P. Sauer & Sohn in Eckernförde Germany. The Swiss may have stamped and or assembled them (these is some controversy as to just how much of what was done where and by whom) but the Germans pretty much did all the production that mattered. So, the only really unique thing about owning a P75 versus a late 1970's 9mm Browning BDA or P220 marked "Made in W. Germany" is the Swiss markings. But to a guy like me who loves all things Swiss military, that's a big unique thing! Let's take a look!
Here's the left side in all it's worn in glory:
Notice the intricate curves and contours at the rear of the ejection port and the fine slide serrations. Nobody is sure exactly how many P75's were made but somewhere around the 12,000 serial number mark, they started simplifying the slide and it changed aesthetically but not mechanically but I'll get into that later in a separate thread. For now, just check out that cool "SIG" logo at the front of the slide. I get absolutely giddy looking at that!!
In fact, here's a close-up of that:
And check out the nice wear above the SIG mark. Yeah......that's good stuff!! My funky fingerprint seen at the muzzle and the fleck of funk ahead of the logo....that's not good stuff though. Oh well.
Here's the right side:
The serial number on this contract started at 1,000,000 so this is number 10, 423. It is stamped on the frame, slide and barrel. The "A" prefix stands for "Armee" so we know this is military issue, not police or some other service. At the bottom rear of the trigger guard is a "P" stamp. This essentially means "Privat" or "Private" indicating that it has been sold to the man it was issued to and is now no longer government property. Also visible are proof marks at the muzzle and on the barrel. Let's take a closer look at those.
Here are the two proof marks at the muzzle:
The one closest to the muzzle is the firing proof denoting that the pistol has been tested with an overpowered charge and passed. The rear mark is the military/government acceptance mark saying "yep, looks good, we'll take it!!"
The barrel has another firing proof mark behind the serial number:
Atop the rear of the slide is the Swiss property mark:
Yummy yummy good!!! I love me some Swiss property marks.
At the front of the slide, we see the neato humps only seen on Type 1 and Type 2 slides (I call them humpbacks):
The P75 is on bottom. Stacked on top is a Browning marked BDA dated 1977 for comparison. These slides are formed from stamped steel, NOT machined from a block.
Here's what those humps look like on the inside:
As an added bonus, it came with the proper holster:
The holster is dated 1977. If I'm interpreting the markings on the inside of the grips properly, they were made in May of 1977 which would be about right given the serial number so I have every confidence this was the holster that was originally issued with this particular pistol. Unfortunately, the troop tag is not present on the back of the grip but that's ok. I'll eventually get one that does have the tag.
This P75 shows some evidence of holster wear which I find to be most excellent! I like patina. In addition to the imbued History already present wear means I can also take it to the range without worrying about new scratches as they just tend to blend in. But internally, there is very little wear present so I expect this to be a wonderful shooter.
Well hecks!! I just lost connection to my picture service. I'll finish this up once it decides to work again! I'll be back.
Here's the left side in all it's worn in glory:
Notice the intricate curves and contours at the rear of the ejection port and the fine slide serrations. Nobody is sure exactly how many P75's were made but somewhere around the 12,000 serial number mark, they started simplifying the slide and it changed aesthetically but not mechanically but I'll get into that later in a separate thread. For now, just check out that cool "SIG" logo at the front of the slide. I get absolutely giddy looking at that!!
In fact, here's a close-up of that:
And check out the nice wear above the SIG mark. Yeah......that's good stuff!! My funky fingerprint seen at the muzzle and the fleck of funk ahead of the logo....that's not good stuff though. Oh well.
Here's the right side:
The serial number on this contract started at 1,000,000 so this is number 10, 423. It is stamped on the frame, slide and barrel. The "A" prefix stands for "Armee" so we know this is military issue, not police or some other service. At the bottom rear of the trigger guard is a "P" stamp. This essentially means "Privat" or "Private" indicating that it has been sold to the man it was issued to and is now no longer government property. Also visible are proof marks at the muzzle and on the barrel. Let's take a closer look at those.
Here are the two proof marks at the muzzle:
The one closest to the muzzle is the firing proof denoting that the pistol has been tested with an overpowered charge and passed. The rear mark is the military/government acceptance mark saying "yep, looks good, we'll take it!!"
The barrel has another firing proof mark behind the serial number:
Atop the rear of the slide is the Swiss property mark:
Yummy yummy good!!! I love me some Swiss property marks.
At the front of the slide, we see the neato humps only seen on Type 1 and Type 2 slides (I call them humpbacks):
The P75 is on bottom. Stacked on top is a Browning marked BDA dated 1977 for comparison. These slides are formed from stamped steel, NOT machined from a block.
Here's what those humps look like on the inside:
As an added bonus, it came with the proper holster:
The holster is dated 1977. If I'm interpreting the markings on the inside of the grips properly, they were made in May of 1977 which would be about right given the serial number so I have every confidence this was the holster that was originally issued with this particular pistol. Unfortunately, the troop tag is not present on the back of the grip but that's ok. I'll eventually get one that does have the tag.
This P75 shows some evidence of holster wear which I find to be most excellent! I like patina. In addition to the imbued History already present wear means I can also take it to the range without worrying about new scratches as they just tend to blend in. But internally, there is very little wear present so I expect this to be a wonderful shooter.
Well hecks!! I just lost connection to my picture service. I'll finish this up once it decides to work again! I'll be back.