Pistol - .45 ACP - Switzerland - Semi-Automatic - Designed in the early 1970s as a replacement for the very expensive P210, the P229 maintained SIG's high standards for accuracy and reliability.  The heavy use of stampings and castings allowed the new design to be affordable.  In its 9mm NATO format, the pistol was adopted by the Swiss Army and Japanese Self-Defense Forces.  The .45 version is popular among US Department of Energy security forces and the highway patrol/state police units of Arizona and Texas. D.E. Watters