Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG More Info

About the Gun

The P225 is a compact single-stack 9mm model with a 3.9-inch barrel and shortened grip frame. It uses the same short-recoil locked-breech operating system and DA/SA trigger with decock lever as the full-size P220. Early production examples feature a heel-mounted magazine release, later versions use a thumb-operated side button release, and two-tone variants pair a stainless or nickel-plated slide with the black hard-coat anodized aluminum alloy frame. Fixed combat sights are common on early heel-release models, while SIGLITE night sights appear on most side-release and two-tone examples.

Production

Production ran from 1985 through 2006.

Market value

MSRP at production was around $750–$950. Current used market value for examples in good to very good condition ranges $700–$1,000.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	9 mm Luger
Alias:	9 mm Parabellum
More Info

Analysis

The P225 variants document the evolution of SIG Sauer’s compact P-series from the original European service configuration to versions better suited for the U.S. market. The heel-release models were primarily produced for police and military contracts in the late 1970s and 1980s, including the German P6 program, while the side-release (P225-1) configuration improved reload speed for American users. The two-tone finish offered a popular aesthetic option without changing the mechanical layout or compact dimensions. Throughout its production run the P225 maintained the platform’s reputation for accuracy and reliability in a concealable package, serving as the foundation for later compact models such as the P228 and P229.