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Can you say Instant Collectible?? P226 Blackwater Tactical

12K views 23 replies 10 participants last post by  Clyde 
#1 ·
WTF is it these days? First Springfield Armory discontinues the M1A M25 White Feather Carlos Hathcock tribute rifle, and now, my beloved SIG SAUER has discontinued the freakin' awesome shooting P226 Blackwater Tactical.

Blackwater bearpaw insignia grips and slide etching, flared magwell, 4 twenty-round 9mm magazines, Short Reset Trigger, SigLites tritium gas rear night sights, and Truglo Tritium fiber optic front sight.

Of course, 7Art will probably say this pistol is a POS too, because he can't reverse engineer the Short Reset Trigger, or else he lost the spring behind the gun safe after it ricocheted off his safety glasses and glanced off his pocket protector...ROTFLMFAO!!

Well, true shooting sports fans, that badass Blackwater pistol is soon to be history, never to be available again. So if you want one, better shake a leg.

I bought me another one today - had to drive four hours roundtrip to get it, too, but it was worth it. What an incredible precision pistol - a true icon.

SIG is making the P226 Tactical Operations pistol - but alas, it's no Blackwater. Same gun - but not the same soul, if you can relate....

I have already seen one at a dealer for $1500 - $400+ over what these were selling for previously. There was one at the dealer where I bought mine, but it was the last one. Scarcer than hen's teeth, as they say....

Now, how in the hoopney hoopney do I update my signature line...?

Oh yeah - in my "profile" -- isn't that some form of profiling? Where is Trey73 when we really need him?

Big smile, fellows - just joshin' wit' ya!

Ahh, time for a cognac - something about the "Brandy of Napoleon" is it?

But first, let me put this Blackwater away....
 
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#2 ·
Maybe because even Blackwater changed their name after bad press?

And...nothing says tacticool like naming a gun after a private militia for hire.
 
#3 ·
You know, it's kinda funny - a lot of people really want it just because it has a bad reputation...these are all sold out where I live - can't find one. I have seen numerous people walk up and ask for this one specific model.

Personally, I like the logo - that bear paw is cool. And I have to admit - I kinda like the fact that Blackwater has a bit of hardcore warrior mystique to it. Intimidation is a good thing, if you know how to use it in your favor.

Not that I condone firing on and killing unarmed persons, if that is in fact true [a lot of bad things happen in a war zone -- that why it's called war], nor do I condone hiring strippers, hookers, or escorts using taxpayer funded contracts, again, if that is in fact true...but let's face the reality - these military contractors aren't altar boys - they kill people for a living. They live fast, party hard, shoot to kill, and a lot of them die young....

That said, I bought the two Blackwater pistols for the same reasons I bought the two SCAR 16Ss -- these are period-correct pieces that reflect the history of U.S. involvement in the liberation of Kuwait and the wars on jihadist terrorists, and they are outstanding accurate state-of-the-art weapons based on battle-proven technology and warfighter platforms. Same reason I buy M1As and XD45s - improved civilian versions of Vietnam era weaponry that I grew up with, and these are great weapons.

And yeah, they are all "tacticool" - yet to me, that is their best quality! 8)

Regardless of how you feel about Blackwater and what they do or have done, these supercapacity short rest trigger tritium gas sighted highly acccurate multi-feature semi-autos are going to be very collectible now!
 
#4 ·
Clyde said:
I bought the two SCAR 16Ss -- these are period-correct pieces that reflect the history of U.S. involvement in the liberation of Kuwait
:lol: :lol: :lol:

The SCAR is about 20 years late for that Clyde

:lol: :lol: :lol:
 
#5 ·
I understand your point, PGT, but you're "fighting the hypothetical." I am not that literal when it comes to buying guns -- to me, when I see a SCAR, I think about desert warfare by Americans in the Middle East, and Kuwait was an example of when we went in (overtly) to engage in warfare in that region. I mean, technically speaking, I suppose we have been over there since 1946.... But I cannot relate to an Uzi, or a Galil. I have a similar issue relating to FALs -- people in England and Australia probably want them, but I just don't feel any connection to them historically. A SCAR, however, that just screams Americans at war...and yeah, I know other countries are fielding these now, but I still will always think of it as an American rifle.

It is why I have "a thing" for M14s - I recall seeing them on the evening news growing up, along with that newfangled plastic gun (M16) that kept jamming on our soldiers. I have never really connected with the M16/AR-15 as a result. I don't like Harley Davidsons for the same reason - when I was growing up, they were owned by AMF (the bowling ball and pool table company) and I remember watching people ride them and seeing parts literally vibrate off of them and bounce down the highway (of course the bikes were so loud the rider never heard the part hit the pavement). But let a Kawasaki Z-1 or similar inline four fire up, and my head tilts just like a dog perking up his ears at the sound. Nothing compares to that for me.

And hand me a Garand, or an M-14 or M1A, and synapses fire and a big old grin uncontrollably appears on my face...they just look and feel right. And something deep in my pysche is triggered - probably the way I was socialized has something to do with it - but it is also why I like Tiger Stripe camo better than any other pattern - it is from "my generation"!

The SCAR and the Blackwater, well, they just fit my hands like they were made for them, and they are completely, utterly, irrefutably, totally cool. And when I see them I think of Americans battling against "radical Islamic extremists"! What can I say? I just like cool gear, way too much, actually!!
 
#6 ·
Thing is....the SCAR doesn't have a long history with the U.S. involvement in the region (the M4 does). Your notion is an invented one to justify and rationalize your purchase.
 
#7 ·
I see your point. It is not an invented reason - Flat Dark Earth guns belong in the desert, and in my mind, when I see the SCAR in FDE, and the Blackwater 9mm pistol, I instantly think war in the Middle East. I submit for your consideration that more than a few elite unit soldiers taking aim at enemy combatants over in the sandbox might be able to relate to the concept of the SCAR being a Middle Eastern battle or assault rifle, even if there are, admittedly, more M4s issued to the majority of the troops. Better yet, ask a soldier which one he'd pick...! That is not a rationalization -- it is a fact known to exist as you read this. Just because the SCAR came on the scene later than the M4/M16 does not mean it is not period-correct and present on these battlefields....

The issue I have with the M4 is that I won't buy a direct gas impingement weapon, since I think the design is obsolete, and parts failures are well known (witness the M4 tested side by side with the SCARs during development that failed for, ahem, reliability issues) -- kinda the same reason I would never buy a Harley -- yeah, there are a lot of them, and a whole herd of people riding them, but to me, they can have them...just like people can have their M4s/M16s/AR-15s /AR-10s -- not saying they are not decent weapons, but the design causes reliability issues in actual usage -- just like Harleys may be a decent motorcycle engine, but design issues (such as overheated rear cylinders when traveling at slow speeds or in stop-and-go traffic, and vibration that causes the whole bike to shake) cause reliability issues in actual usage. There are legions of people who will swear by both as good guns or bikes, and good for them.

But for me, I wouldn't buy either one of these with my money, not when a SCAR/556/M14-M1A/HK with a superior gas piston/gas tappet system is available instead, or an inline double overhead cam watercooled four cylinder perimeter frame motorcycle is half the price and twice the bike....

After all, that is the main reason why these are called "weapons of choice"! :wink:
 
#8 ·
Clyde said:
I don't like Harley Davidsons for the same reason - when I was growing up, they were owned by AMF (the bowling ball and pool table company) and I remember watching people ride them and seeing parts literally vibrate off of them and bounce down the highway (of course the bikes were so loud the rider never heard the part hit the pavement). But let a Kawasaki Z-1 or similar inline four fire up, and my head tilts just like a dog perking up his ears at the sound. Nothing compares to that for me.
+1
 
#10 ·
hrgrisso:

The P226 Blackwater version, and I suspect the replacement model P226 Tactical Operations, is the one of the best shooting (and best looking, IMHO) 9mm pistol on the market right now [certainly the X5 and related variants have to be considered when talking best shooting]. I really like the TruGlo tritium gas front night sights - the bright green is very easy to pick up when bringing the gun onto target. 20 rounds of capacity is great. For me, the Short Reset Trigger is amazing in terms of rapid reset and breaking a shot. And it does have that one-of-a-kind Blackwater name and mystique...I could not be happier with them.

I also own the P226 SCT, which is essentially the same model but without the SRT and flared magwells, and Blackwater logos and inscription. It is a very nice pistol as well. If you buy any of these models, you won't regret it. These pistols are legendary for a lot of reasons, all of them good....

I bought one standard P226 with post and dot white sights, and 15 round mags -- I found it at an ACE Hardware store (!?!) that was going out of business. They sold it to me BNIB for $712, which they claimed was dealer cost. :shock: It was below LEO pricing even.... I plan to replace the sights on it eventually -- I know a dealer with a SIG sight pusher who said he would let me use his. For a barebones pistol it is also really well made.

I really like all of mine, but for me, the Blackwaters are the ruling kings.

Hope you find one, there are some still out there -- I actually have a line on another one for only $1000 - may have to consider a new safe king.
 
#12 ·
I've had mine since last July, and carry it now as my duty weapon, retired my old faithful P220 (1992). Shot another 50 rds this morning since we had a few stragglers qualifying, I continue to admire it each time I shoot it. A few months ago I made the mistake of trying to squeeze it into one of our gun lockers ( They pivot out like a V, not the rectangular box) and scratched the top of the frame! %@### was I a dumb @ss, I knew better or thought I did. Kept cleaning and conditioning it and noticed something about 6 weeks ago, the scratch was gone! Thank you CLP. Anyways, I thought I'd share that stupidity with you.
 
#13 ·
They just sold one on gunbroker for $850 that was the minimum. They only had one bid. How are the Meg gar (sp) mags in the SIGS?
 
#14 ·
Wow, someone got a great deal [even when you add in shipping, insurance, and transfer fees] - why it always pays to what the auctions and stay near that mouse!

I bought mine for $1000 - prefer face to face, and I got a free 100 round box of ammo (WWB, but rare these days!) and an hour of free range time, so I am probably pretty close to the Gunbroker deal, all things considered.

Mec-Gar mags are really great - easy fit into flared magwell, twenty rounds -- SIG Sauer actually buys their mags from Mec-Gar direct for certain pistols....

The TruGlo high-visibility neon green tritium gas front sight is the easiest sight to pick up I have ever seen on a handgun...and the pistol is superb.
 
#15 ·
Yeah I watched the auction figured it would take off but it never did. I started to bid but didnt. Did get my 226 on a great deal though so I am happy.
Does anyone sell the extended grips that are on there?
 
#16 ·
You may be able to order the new Tactical Operations grips directly from SIG Sauer - no bear paw logo, but you may not care about that....

Don't know of any others, but you could Google it -- seems like there would be someone in the aftermarket sector building these for raceguns/competitors....

Two ways this can/will go -- some dealers fear getting stuck with out-of-catalog models and unload them; some dealers think collectors will want them and proceed to price these accordingly.

I'm from down South, and here demand definitely exceeds supply....
 
#18 ·
Thats why I love this forum someone always has an answer. GLD1980 you are the man. Thanks.
 
#20 ·
Clyde said:
The TruGlo high-visibility neon green tritium gas front sight is the easiest sight to pick up I have ever seen on a handgun...and the pistol is superb.
Steyr actually has a great sight....wish more people would do the same.

 
#21 ·
Meh.............It's just a 226 with a couple different features. I'll take the P228 every time. Most folks do once they fire them back to back. That slide is awfully heavy for a 9mm.
 
#22 ·
Ever shoot one, Trey? Or do you just rely on what "most folks" tell you...? :lol:

"Just a 226"...sort of like saying a Corvette is just a sports car...until you drive one...and then drive one the way they are meant to be driven.... :wink:
 
#24 ·
Well, I found another one and decided to buy it. These things are just too cool. Paid well below what they are selling for at most places...schweet! :)
 
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