The SIG Sauer P226: From XM9 Trials to Legion X5, a Complete History for 226 Day

Swiss Precision Meets American Ambition

The P226 exists because Swiss export law forced a partnership. In the early 1970s, Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) of Neuhausen am Rheinfall needed a manufacturing partner to sell firearms abroad. Swiss regulations restricted direct arms exports, so SIG acquired a controlling interest in J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Eckernforde, Germany. The SIG Sauer name was officially established in 1976.

Their first major collaboration was the SIG Sauer P220, released in 1975 as a replacement for the legendary SIG P210. The Swiss Army adopted it as the Pistole 75 (P75), and it was initially sold in the US through Browning as the "BDA" (Browning Double Action). The P220 introduced the DA/SA trigger with a decocking lever that would become a SIG signature, but it had one critical limitation for military consideration: a single-stack magazine holding just 9 rounds of 9mm.

When the US military announced the XM9 Service Pistol Trials to replace the M1911A1, SIG saw an opportunity. They re-engineered the P220 with a wider grip to accept a double-stack magazine, boosting capacity to 15 rounds of 9mm. The P226 was born, purpose-built for the biggest military pistol contract in decades.

The XM9 Trials: Better Gun, Wrong Price

The Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP) kicked off the XM9 trials in early 1984. NATO standardization on 9mm Parabellum meant the M1911A1's .45 ACP had to go. Eight manufacturers submitted pistols: Beretta, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Heckler & Koch (P7M8 and P7M13), Walther (P88), Steyr (GB), FN, and Colt.

The field narrowed fast. Steyr was eliminated in May for reliability issues. FN and Colt withdrew voluntarily. Walther, H&K, and Smith & Wesson were all terminated in September. By fall 1984, only two pistols remained: the Beretta 92SB-F and the SIG Sauer P226.

The P226 struggled in the dry mud test, scoring 79% while the Beretta passed near-perfectly. But in overall reliability testing, the numbers told a different story: the P226 recorded 12 total stoppages with only 1 requiring an armorer. The Beretta logged 20 stoppages, 9 of which required an armorer. On raw mechanical reliability, the SIG was the superior pistol.

Beretta won anyway. Per the GAO report, the M9 contract was awarded on lowest total package price. The individual P226 actually cost less than the Beretta 92F, but SIG's total bid (including magazines and spare parts) came in higher. The decision was purely financial, generating controversy that persists to this day.

When Beretta Broke: How the SEALs Found Their Sidearm

The story that cemented the P226's reputation happened three years after it lost the contract. In 1987, three Navy SEALs were injured when M9 slides cracked and broke during training, sending the rear portion of the slide into operators' faces. Injuries included lacerations requiring stitches, a broken tooth, and chest bruising. Eventually 14 slide failures were documented: 3 in the field, 11 in laboratory testing.

Investigation traced the failures to Italian-made slides with substandard metal toughness. Beretta modified the slide design, reinforced the frame, and moved production to their Maryland factory. No further breakages occurred. But the damage was done.

In 1989, the Navy SEALs dropped the Beretta and adopted the SIG Sauer P226. They never went back.

The SEAL P226 evolved through two military designations. The MK24 arrived in the late 1990s with a solid stainless steel slide, chrome-lined barrel, phosphate-coated internals for saltwater corrosion resistance, and SIG's proprietary rounded accessory rail. The anchor engraving on the slide became a symbol of Naval Special Warfare. The MK25 followed, swapping the SIG rail for a standard MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. SEALs carried the P226 through both Gulf Wars, the War on Terror, and countless classified operations before transitioning to the Glock 19 (MK27) around 2015-2016.

In 2004, SIG released the first civilian Navy variant (P226-9-NAVY) with NSW commemorative serial numbers, raising over $100,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The civilian MK25 followed in 2011 and remains in production today.

Worldwide Service

The P226's adoption spread far beyond Naval Special Warfare. The FBI selected it for field SWAT teams around 1988, while the US Secret Service, Federal Air Marshals, Texas Rangers, and Coast Guard all adopted variants. The Coast Guard began wide-scale deployment of the P226 DAK (double-action-only) in 2004.

The British military designated the P226 as the L105A1 (standard) and L105A2 (railed P226R). From 2007 onward, every infantry soldier deployed to Afghanistan received an L105A2 as a sidearm. The SAS adopted it as their standard issue pistol. The UK replaced the P226 with the Glock 17 (L131A1) for general military use in 2013, though Special Forces retained it longer.

The P226 is confirmed in service across more than 30 countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. German Kampfschwimmer (combat swimmers) tested the P226 in the 1980s, and their positive results directly influenced the US Navy SEAL adoption. For a deeper look at other service pistol histories, see our best 9mm pistols guide.

Four Decades of Evolution

The P226 has never been a static design. SIG continuously refined the platform across manufacturing, trigger systems, and purpose-built variants. Here is the major evolution timeline.

Manufacturing Shifts

The transition from stamped to machined slides was driven by the need to safely chamber .40 S&W and .357 SIG, both higher-pressure cartridges than the original 9mm.

Trigger Systems

Notable Variants

The Legion Era and Current Lineup

SIG Sauer launched the Legion series on October 6, 2015, with the P226 and P229 as the inaugural models. The Legion concept was straightforward: take the P226 platform, apply every premium upgrade SIG offers, finish it in a distinctive gray Cerakote Elite coating, and grant buyers membership in an exclusive community with custom shop access. The Legion Gray Cerakote finish became instantly recognizable.

The Legion P226 includes the Short Reset Trigger, custom G-10 grips with an embedded Legion medallion, X-RAY3 day/night sights, an enhanced beavertail, aggressive checkering, and front cocking serrations. The SAO variant adds a flat-faced trigger and manual thumb safety, targeting shooters who want 1911-like control with P226 capacity. For how SIG's modern competition pistols compare to rivals, see our coverage of the SIG P211 GT4 and GT5.

The competition tier pushed even further. SIG's Custom Works revived the XFIVE name in 2022 with an American-made 5-inch bull barrel model featuring a fully adjustable trigger. The XFIVE Legion (late 2023) added a slide-integrated expansion chamber for recoil reduction and the AX3 three-way adjustable trigger system. It ships with tungsten-infused TXG grips and an optic-ready slide.

At SIG NEXT 2025, two new models debuted: the P226-X Legion (4.4-inch match-grade bull barrel, 18-round flush-fit magazines) and the P226-XCarry Legion (compact 3.8-inch barrel for carry). Both feature enhanced ergonomics, optic-ready slides, and the Legion finish. SIG currently produces nine P226 configurations, from the heritage MK25 to the XFIVE Legion flagship.

Cultural Icon

The P226 has appeared in over 100 films. John Travolta carried a two-tone P226 as Castor Troy in Face/Off (1997), one of the most iconic prop guns in cinema history. Daniel Craig's James Bond used one across Quantum of Solace (2008), SPECTRE (2015), and No Time to Die (2021). Kiefer Sutherland carried a two-tone P226 as Jack Bauer in early seasons of 24.

In gaming, the P226 MK25 is the default sidearm for all SAS operators in Rainbow Six Siege (Sledge, Smoke, Thatcher, Mute), and appears across the Call of Duty, Battlefield, and Metal Gear Solid franchises.

But the P226's real cultural weight comes from one phrase: "the Navy SEAL gun." Despite the SEALs transitioning to the Glock 19 around 2015-2016, the MK25 with its anchor-engraved slide remains synonymous with Naval Special Warfare. SIG has leaned into this association with every marketing campaign, and the civilian MK25 remains one of their most recognizable products. For owners looking to set up a pistol optic on their railed P226, check our best pistol red dot guide.