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Work order — SIG Sauer P938

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: medium.

Shop difficulty: Tier 2 of 3

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. 46 parts (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.). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~25 min, rebuild ~40 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• thin plastic card — Holding the safety detent plunger down while the safety is turned in
• dovetail sight pusher (or brass drift and padded vise) — Removing and refitting dovetailed sights for coating

Watch for:

• 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. (both; SIGforum)
• The recoil spring and guide are under tension and loose in the slide. (disassembly; SIG SAUER, Inc.)
• Worn mainspring housing detents let the mainspring migrate, so the hammer follows the slide; parts generation (housing, sear spring, hammer) has to match. (reassembly; SIGforum)

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Press the magazine release and remove the magazine.
3. Retract the slide fully to eject any chambered round and lock it open.
4. Visually inspect the chamber and magazine well, then physically feel the chamber to confirm it is empty.
   Warning: Look and feel. Both, every time.
5. Remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure, leaving the hammer cocked and the safety off.
2. Retract the slide until the takedown notch aligns with the slide stop.
3. Push the slide stop out and withdraw it from the frame.
   Warning: If it resists, the notch is not aligned. Do not force it.
4. Ease the slide forward and off the frame.
   Warning: The recoil spring is strongly compressed — keep control.
5. Lift the recoil spring assembly out of the slide.
6. Lift the barrel out of the slide.

3. Refinish

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.

The manufacturer's full parts list (46 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Reassembly

1. Set the barrel into the inverted slide and seat it fully forward.
2. 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.
3. Set the slide onto the frame rails and push it rearward until it seats.
4. Return the slide stop to its locked position.
   Warning: Confirm the slide stop is fully returned before the pistol goes back into service.
5. Rack the slide several times and perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Reported by other sources — not the manufacturer

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))

Fit or check on rebuild

• Safety detent plunger captured — If the plunger escapes the safety will not index
• Hammer does not follow the slide — Worn MSH detent or mismatched sear spring/hammer generation lets the hammer follow
• Function check: trigger reset, sear/striker engagement, safeties — Standard post-reassembly check on any pistol whose fire-control parts were removed; a mis-seated spring shows up here, not on the bench

6. Function check

• 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.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. SIG Sauer P938 Operator’s Manual — SIG Sauer, Inc. primary
2. P238/P938 Laser Sight LIMA38 Owners Manual (7400927-01 R01) — SIG SAUER Electro-Optics primary
   https://www.sigsauer.com/pub/media/sigsauer/resources/7400927-01_R01.pdf
3. P238 / P938 Operator's Manual (1202508-01 Rev03) — SIG SAUER, Inc. primary
   https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/17SIG2387-P238-P938OperatorManual_1202508-01_Rev03_proof2.pdf
4. SIG SAUER 2021 Guide Price List (item descriptions) — P938 — SIG SAUER, Inc. primary
   https://www.sigsauer.com/media/sigsauer/resources/2021-Guide-Price-List-11-8.pdf
5. Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Mount for Sig Sauer P220, P226, P229, P320 (EGW product page, installation instructions section) — Evolution Gun Works (EGW) secondary
   https://egwguns.com/trijicon-rmr-sro-holosun-407c-507c-mount-for-sig-sauer-p220-p226-p229-p320
6. SIG Sauer P220 P226 P229 P320 Red Dot Mount | Fits Vortex Venom, Viper & Burris FastFire | EGW (EGW product page, installation instructions section) — Evolution Gun Works (EGW) secondary
   https://egwguns.com/vortex-viper-venom-sig-sauer-p220-p226-p229-p320-sight-mount-fits-burris-fastfire-and-docter
7. Converting the P938 to a single side safety? - Topic — SIGforum anecdotal
   https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/7530030744?f=430601935&a=tpc&m=7530030744&s=674608412&cdra=Y
8. Mainspring housing and sear question, P938 - Topic — SIGforum anecdotal
   https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/150601935/m/3740050124?csra=Y&f=150601935&a=tpc&m=3740050124&s=674608412

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

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.