{ "apiVersion": 1, "kind": "work-order", "purpose": "Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification.", "firearm": { "slug": "sig-p938", "name": "SIG Sauer P938", "manufacturer": { "id": "sig-sauer", "name": "SIG Sauer" }, "category": "pistol", "action": "hammer-fired-short-recoil", "calibers": [ "9x19mm Parabellum", ".380 ACP" ], "alsoKnownAs": [ "P238 (.380 version)", "P938 Legion" ], "coversAlso": [ "SIG P238 in .380 ACP", "P938 Legion and SAS variants" ], "page": "firearms/sig-p938.html", "bundle": "api/v1/firearms/sig-p938.json", "lastUpdated": "2026-10-29" }, "notices": [ "This work order is written for the SIG Sauer P938. It is reported to cover SIG P238 in .380 ACP; P938 Legion and SAS variants — if the firearm on the bench is one of those, check the torque notes: values do not always carry over.", "No manufacturer torque values are recorded. The values listed are reported by other sources, not the manufacturer — confirm them before use." ], "disclaimer": { "headline": "Read this before you use anything here.", "points": [ "This is a guide, not an authority. Entries are compiled from manufacturer manuals, technical manuals, published references, and community knowledge. Some of it comes from sources that are not authoritative, and some of it may simply be wrong.", "Always consult the manufacturer's manual for your specific firearm and serial-number range. Manufacturers change designs mid-production without renaming the model. The manual that shipped with your firearm outranks anything on this site.", "Consult a licensed gunsmith for anything beyond routine field stripping and cleaning, for any firearm you are unsure about, and for any procedure marked as gunsmith-recommended here.", "Treat every firearm as loaded. Verify it is unloaded, with the magazine removed and the chamber physically and visually checked, before any procedure in this database. Point it in a safe direction the entire time.", "Disassembly can damage a firearm or injure you. Springs are under tension, parts can launch, and reassembling a firearm incorrectly can make it unsafe to fire in a way that is not obvious from the outside. If a reassembled firearm does not pass a function check, stop and see a gunsmith.", "Torque values are shown in two groups. Values from the manufacturer or the issuing military are shown as such, with the document they came from. Values reported by anyone else — parts makers, gunsmithing publishers, articles, forums — are shown separately with who said them, how reliable that source is, and their exact words. Those are not specifications. Confirm any torque value with the manufacturer or a licensed gunsmith before relying on it.", "Nothing here is legal advice. Firearms law varies by country, state, and city, and some modifications or configurations are regulated or prohibited. You are responsible for knowing and following the law where you are.", "No warranty of any kind. Contributors and maintainers accept no liability for damage, injury, or loss arising from use of this material." ], "page": "disclaimer.html", "legal": { "summary": "Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.", "page": "legal.html", "notice": "https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown/blob/main/LEGAL.md" } }, "sourcing": { "confidence": "medium", "verification": "community-reviewed" }, "manufacturerDisassembly": { "status": "published", "limit": null, "statement": "SIG's P238/P938 manual gives a field strip (slide stop, slide, recoil spring and guide, barrel) and magazine disassembly, noting that this level is sufficient for cleaning; it does not tell owners to stop there.", "source": { "title": "P238 / P938 Operator's Manual (1202508-01 Rev03)", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/17SIG2387-P238-P938OperatorManual_1202508-01_Rev03_proof2.pdf", "page": "38", "pdfPage": 20, "pageUrl": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/17SIG2387-P238-P938OperatorManual_1202508-01_Rev03_proof2.pdf#page=20", "quote": "This level of disassembly is sufficient to allow a thorough cleaning after shooting." } }, "recalls": [], "shopTier": { "tier": 2, "group": "pistol", "rating": "Pew-Takedown editorial rating (1 easy – 3 hardest), not the manufacturer's", "reason": "A small 1911-pattern gun: 46 parts with a mainspring housing and pin lock, sear spring, firing-pin block, and an ambidextrous safety whose detent plunger and spring launch when the safety is pushed out. More hand work than a striker gun, less than a full-size 1911.", "confidence": "medium", "partCount": { "value": 46, "kind": "line-items", "covers": "13.3 Parts List with 13.2 Parts Diagram in the combined P238/P938 manual (the manual's only pistol list; .22 conversion lists omitted), complete pistol incl. magazine.", "basis": "manufacturer-parts-list", "source": { "title": "P238 / P938 Operator's Manual (1202508-01 Rev03)", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/17SIG2387-P238-P938OperatorManual_1202508-01_Rev03_proof2.pdf", "page": "62–63", "pdfPage": 32, "pageUrl": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/17SIG2387-P238-P938OperatorManual_1202508-01_Rev03_proof2.pdf#page=32", "quote": "41 Mainspring Housing Pin" } }, "painPoints": [ { "issue": "Pushing the safety out frees the safety detent plunger and spring, which pop out; owners do it in a bag and hold the plunger down with a card to refit the safety.", "during": "both", "source": { "title": "Converting the P938 to a single side safety? - Topic", "publisher": "SIGforum", "reliability": "anecdotal", "url": "https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/7530030744?f=430601935&a=tpc&m=7530030744&s=674608412&cdra=Y", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "Do this in a ziplock bag, the safety detent plunger and spring will pop out." } }, { "issue": "The recoil spring and guide are under tension and loose in the slide.", "during": "disassembly", "source": { "title": "P238 / P938 Operator's Manual (1202508-01 Rev03)", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/17SIG2387-P238-P938OperatorManual_1202508-01_Rev03_proof2.pdf", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "The recoil spring and guide are under spring tension and not firmly attached to the slide." } }, { "issue": "Worn mainspring housing detents let the mainspring migrate, so the hammer follows the slide; parts generation (housing, sear spring, hammer) has to match.", "during": "reassembly", "source": { "title": "Mainspring housing and sear question, P938 - Topic", "publisher": "SIGforum", "reliability": "anecdotal", "url": "https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/150601935/m/3740050124?csra=Y&f=150601935&a=tpc&m=3740050124&s=674608412", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "After my tear down inspection I have found the detent on my mainspring housing wearing and allowing my mainspring to migrate up." } } ], "minutes": { "strip": 25, "rebuild": 40, "basis": "estimated", "note": "Slide (firing pin stop, firing pin and block, external extractor, sights, bushing) and frame (mainspring housing and pin lock, sear spring, sear, hammer, trigger, ambi safety and detent, slide stop, mag catch); rebuild longer for the safety detent and sear spring.", "source": null }, "stripScope": [ { "assembly": "Slide", "removes": [ "barrel bushing", "recoil spring and guide", "firing pin stop", "firing pin, spring, block and spring", "external extractor, pin and spring", "rear sight", "front sight" ], "tools": [ "sight pusher" ] }, { "assembly": "Frame", "removes": [ "mainspring housing, pin and pin lock", "mainspring", "sear spring", "sear and pin", "hammer and pin", "ambidextrous safety, detent plunger and spring", "trigger, trigger bar and pins", "magazine catch/trigger bar spring", "slide stop and pin", "grips" ], "tools": [ "punch", "ziplock bag", "business card / thin plastic" ] } ], "hardware": { "pins": 13, "springs": 5, "detents": 2, "basis": "counted from the manufacturer's parts list (one per key number unless a quantity is given)" }, "specialTools": [ { "tool": "thin plastic card", "usedFor": "Holding the safety detent plunger down while the safety is turned in" }, { "tool": "dovetail sight pusher (or brass drift and padded vise)", "usedFor": "Removing and refitting dovetailed sights for coating" } ], "fitOnRebuild": [ { "check": "Safety detent plunger captured", "why": "If the plunger escapes the safety will not index", "source": { "title": "Converting the P938 to a single side safety? - Topic", "publisher": "SIGforum", "reliability": "anecdotal", "url": "https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/7530030744?f=430601935&a=tpc&m=7530030744&s=674608412&cdra=Y", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "using a thin piece of plastic or business card hold the detent plunger in place and turn the safety down into the safe position." } }, { "check": "Hammer does not follow the slide", "why": "Worn MSH detent or mismatched sear spring/hammer generation lets the hammer follow", "source": null }, { "check": "Function check: trigger reset, sear/striker engagement, safeties", "why": "Standard post-reassembly check on any pistol whose fire-control parts were removed; a mis-seated spring shows up here, not on the bench", "source": null } ], "assessed": "2026-10-29" }, "videos": [], "configurations": [], "tools": [], "phases": [ { "id": "clear", "title": "Clear and make safe", "steps": [ { "n": 1, "instruction": "Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger." }, { "n": 2, "instruction": "Press the magazine release and remove the magazine.", "partsFreed": [ "Magazine" ] }, { "n": 3, "instruction": "Retract the slide fully to eject any chambered round and lock it open." }, { "n": 4, "instruction": "Visually inspect the chamber and magazine well, then physically feel the chamber to confirm it is empty.", "warning": "Look and feel. Both, every time." }, { "n": 5, "instruction": "Remove all live ammunition from the work area." } ], "videos": [] }, { "id": "disassemble", "title": "Disassemble", "videos": [], "procedures": [ { "procedure": "field-strip", "title": "Field Strip", "level": "field-strip", "configuration": false, "steps": [ { "n": 1, "instruction": "Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure, leaving the hammer cocked and the safety off." }, { "n": 2, "instruction": "Retract the slide until the takedown notch aligns with the slide stop." }, { "n": 3, "instruction": "Push the slide stop out and withdraw it from the frame.", "warning": "If it resists, the notch is not aligned. Do not force it.", "partsFreed": [ "Slide stop" ] }, { "n": 4, "instruction": "Ease the slide forward and off the frame.", "warning": "The recoil spring is strongly compressed — keep control.", "partsFreed": [ "Slide assembly" ] }, { "n": 5, "instruction": "Lift the recoil spring assembly out of the slide.", "partsFreed": [ "Recoil spring assembly" ] }, { "n": 6, "instruction": "Lift the barrel out of the slide.", "partsFreed": [ "Barrel" ] } ] } ] }, { "id": "refinish", "title": "Refinish", "components": [ { "name": "Slide stop", "procedure": "field-strip", "level": "field-strip", "step": 3 }, { "name": "Slide assembly", "procedure": "field-strip", "level": "field-strip", "step": 4 }, { "name": "Recoil spring assembly", "procedure": "field-strip", "level": "field-strip", "step": 5 }, { "name": "Barrel", "procedure": "field-strip", "level": "field-strip", "step": 6 } ], "manufacturerPartsList": { "parts": 46, "scope": "'13.3 Parts List' with '13.2 Parts Diagram' in the combined P238/P938 manual; it is the manual's only pistol parts list (not model-labelled), used for the P938. The .22LR conversion-kit lists (13.4, 13.5, p.64-65) were left out." }, "partsDiagrams": [], "materials": [ { "component": "Whole firearm", "material": null, "finish": "NITRON", "appliesTo": "P938, item 938-9-BRG-AMBI", "note": "The maker states this for the firearm as a whole, not for a named part.", "source": { "title": "SIG SAUER 2021 Guide Price List (item descriptions) — P938", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/2021-Guide-Price-List-11-8.pdf", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "P938, 9MM, 3IN, NITRON, BLK, SAO, SIGLITE, BLK RUBBER GRIP, (1) 7RD STEEL MAG, AMBI SAFETY" } }, { "component": "Grips", "material": "RUBBER", "finish": null, "appliesTo": "P938, item 938-9-BRG-AMBI", "note": null, "source": { "title": "SIG SAUER 2021 Guide Price List (item descriptions) — P938", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/2021-Guide-Price-List-11-8.pdf", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "P938, 9MM, 3IN, NITRON, BLK, SAO, SIGLITE, BLK RUBBER GRIP, (1) 7RD STEEL MAG, AMBI SAFETY" } }, { "component": "Magazine", "material": "STEEL", "finish": null, "appliesTo": "P938, item 938-9-BRG-AMBI", "note": null, "source": { "title": "SIG SAUER 2021 Guide Price List (item descriptions) — P938", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/2021-Guide-Price-List-11-8.pdf", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "P938, 9MM, 3IN, NITRON, BLK, SAO, SIGLITE, BLK RUBBER GRIP, (1) 7RD STEEL MAG, AMBI SAFETY" } }, { "component": "Grips", "material": "G10", "finish": null, "appliesTo": "P938 Legion, item 938-9-LEGION", "note": null, "source": { "title": "SIG SAUER 2021 Guide Price List (item descriptions) — P938", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/2021-Guide-Price-List-11-8.pdf", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "P938, 9MM, 3IN, LEGION, GRAY , SAO, X-RAY 3, BLACK G10 GRIP, (3) 7RD STEEL MAG, MAGWELL , AMBI SAFETY" } } ], "note": "The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks \"factory fit\" should not be swapped or reworked." }, { "id": "reassemble", "title": "Reassemble", "videos": [], "procedures": [ { "procedure": "reassembly", "title": "Reassembly", "configuration": false, "steps": [ { "n": 1, "instruction": "Set the barrel into the inverted slide and seat it fully forward." }, { "n": 2, "instruction": "Seat the recoil spring assembly into the cut in the barrel lug and press it down into the slide channel.", "tip": "It seats in the lug cut, not on the barrel itself." }, { "n": 3, "instruction": "Set the slide onto the frame rails and push it rearward until it seats." }, { "n": 4, "instruction": "Return the slide stop to its locked position.", "warning": "Confirm the slide stop is fully returned before the pistol goes back into service." }, { "n": 5, "instruction": "Rack the slide several times and perform the function check." } ], "instruction": null } ] }, { "id": "torque", "title": "Torque", "coverage": "reported-only", "manufacturer": [], "reported": [ { "fastener": "Red-dot optic mounting screws (6-32 flat head, supplied) into EGW rear-dovetail sight mount", "appliesTo": "SIG Sauer P938 with the EGW 'Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Mount for Sig Sauer P220, P226, P229, P320' (replaces the rear sight; for Trijicon RMR/SRO, Holosun 407C/507C footprint)", "qualifier": "exact", "value": 15, "valueMax": null, "unit": "in-lb", "converted": { "value": { "N-m": 1.7, "in-lb": 15, "ft-lb": 1.2 }, "valueMax": null }, "sequence": "Remove the rear sight, install the EGW mount in the dovetail, tighten the set screw if applicable, place the optic on the mount, then apply blue Loctite and torque the optic screws.", "threadlocker": "Blue Loctite on the provided mounting screws (EGW instructions)", "source": { "title": "Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Mount for Sig Sauer P220, P226, P229, P320 (EGW product page, installation instructions section)", "publisher": "Evolution Gun Works (EGW)", "reliability": "secondary", "url": "https://egwguns.com/trijicon-rmr-sro-holosun-407c-507c-mount-for-sig-sauer-p220-p226-p229-p320", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "Torque mounting screws to 15in/lbs" } }, { "fastener": "Red-dot optic mounting screws (supplied) into EGW rear-dovetail sight mount (Docter/Venom/Viper/FastFire footprint)", "appliesTo": "SIG Sauer P938 with the EGW 'SIG Sauer P220 P226 P229 P320 Red Dot Mount | Fits Vortex Venom, Viper & Burris FastFire | EGW' (replaces the rear sight)", "qualifier": "exact", "value": 15, "valueMax": null, "unit": "in-lb", "converted": { "value": { "N-m": 1.7, "in-lb": 15, "ft-lb": 1.2 }, "valueMax": null }, "sequence": "Remove the rear sight, install the EGW mount in the dovetail, tighten the set screw if applicable, place the optic on the mount, then apply blue Loctite and torque the optic screws.", "threadlocker": "Blue Loctite on the provided mounting screws (EGW instructions)", "source": { "title": "SIG Sauer P220 P226 P229 P320 Red Dot Mount | Fits Vortex Venom, Viper & Burris FastFire | EGW (EGW product page, installation instructions section)", "publisher": "Evolution Gun Works (EGW)", "reliability": "secondary", "url": "https://egwguns.com/vortex-viper-venom-sig-sauer-p220-p226-p229-p320-sight-mount-fits-burris-fastfire-and-docter", "page": null, "pdfPage": null, "pageUrl": null, "quote": "Torque mounting screws to 15 in/lbs" } } ], "notes": "The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: \"Next, tighten each mounting screw until secure (60inch-ounces maximum). Do not over-tighten as this\" (P238/P938 Laser Sight LIMA38 Owners Manual (7400927-01 R01), PDF p. 1 (installation step 5))" }, { "id": "function-check", "title": "Function check", "checks": [ "Verify the pistol is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each check.", "Cock the hammer, engage the thumb safety, and press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.", "Disengage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.", "Hold the trigger back, rack the slide, release slowly and confirm the reset.", "Confirm the slide locks open on an empty magazine.", "Cycle dummy rounds by hand before carrying the pistol." ], "videos": [] } ], "troubleshooting": [], "sources": [ { "n": 1, "id": null, "title": "SIG Sauer P938 Operator’s Manual", "publisher": "SIG Sauer, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": null, "accessed": null }, { "n": 2, "id": "sig-sauer-electro-optics-4bdfc0", "title": "P238/P938 Laser Sight LIMA38 Owners Manual (7400927-01 R01)", "publisher": "SIG SAUER Electro-Optics", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/pub/media/sigsauer/resources/7400927-01_R01.pdf", "accessed": "2026-09-27" }, { "n": 3, "id": "sig-p938-parts-manual", "title": "P238 / P938 Operator's Manual (1202508-01 Rev03)", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/17SIG2387-P238-P938OperatorManual_1202508-01_Rev03_proof2.pdf", "accessed": "2026-09-27" }, { "n": 4, "id": "sigsauer-specs-8d5b28", "title": "SIG SAUER 2021 Guide Price List (item descriptions) — P938", "publisher": "SIG SAUER, Inc.", "reliability": "primary", "url": "https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/2021-Guide-Price-List-11-8.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-03" }, { "n": 5, "id": "evolution-gun-works-egw-8862de", "title": "Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Mount for Sig Sauer P220, P226, P229, P320 (EGW product page, installation instructions section)", "publisher": "Evolution Gun Works (EGW)", "reliability": "secondary", "url": "https://egwguns.com/trijicon-rmr-sro-holosun-407c-507c-mount-for-sig-sauer-p220-p226-p229-p320", "accessed": "2026-10-11" }, { "n": 6, "id": "evolution-gun-works-egw-7ce4c3", "title": "SIG Sauer P220 P226 P229 P320 Red Dot Mount | Fits Vortex Venom, Viper & Burris FastFire | EGW (EGW product page, installation instructions section)", "publisher": "Evolution Gun Works (EGW)", "reliability": "secondary", "url": "https://egwguns.com/vortex-viper-venom-sig-sauer-p220-p226-p229-p320-sight-mount-fits-burris-fastfire-and-docter", "accessed": "2026-10-11" }, { "n": 7, "id": "tier-ff81df3f", "title": "Converting the P938 to a single side safety? - Topic", "publisher": "SIGforum", "reliability": "anecdotal", "url": "https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/7530030744?f=430601935&a=tpc&m=7530030744&s=674608412&cdra=Y", "accessed": "2026-10-29" }, { "n": 8, "id": "tier-8b241d99", "title": "Mainspring housing and sear question, P938 - Topic", "publisher": "SIGforum", "reliability": "anecdotal", "url": "https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/150601935/m/3740050124?csra=Y&f=150601935&a=tpc&m=3740050124&s=674608412", "accessed": "2026-10-29" } ] }