In celebration of Special Operations Foundation Week (SOF Week), SIG SAUER has announced its first-ever public offering of a pair of M17 and M18 military surplus handguns with matching serial numbers through an online auction to benefit the Sterling Promise Foundation. The auction is hosted by Guns America, and all proceeds will go towards supporting the mission of the Sterling Promise Foundation, which aims to provide financial support for early cancer detection and to cover the financial gaps that occur between treatment needed and benefits provided of special operations veterans.
The pair of surplus Modular Handgun System (MHS) pistols includes an M17 (serial # TF000041) and M18 (serial # TC000041) with matching serial numbers, which are 1 of 9 sets of MHS surplus pistols originally manufactured under contract with the U.S. Army according to the original specifications. Both pistols were originally issued by the U.S. Army and fielded during the initial domestic and in-theater deployment of the Modular Handgun System. The pistols’ unique features include coyote controls, original government-issue markings and serial numbers, and orange rear and green front SIGLITE Night Sights.
Jason St. John, Senior Director of Government Products at SIG SAUER, stated that the company is honored to join forces with Sterling’s Promise to celebrate the life and service of Staff Sergeant Scott Sterling through this rare opportunity to own a piece of U.S. military history. He added that the rarity of these pistols will entice collectors to bid for a worthy cause. With only 75 of the M18 surplus pistols in existence, SIG SAUER has no plans to offer them commercially, only through charitable auctions such as this or for historical display.
The Sterling Promise Foundation was established in memory of U.S. Army SOF Veteran Scott Sterling, who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and 1st SFOD-D and passed away in April 2021 from cancer caused by exposure during his military service. The Sterling Promise Foundation was set up in his memory to help special operations veterans and their families by covering the gaps that exist between expenses and benefits and to provide financial assistance for ongoing early detection medical screenings for improved health and survivability.
Bidding for the online auction is now open through Thursday, May 11, 2023, and the winner will be announced on Friday, May 12, 2023. The complete details of the auction, along with detailed product photos and a product video featuring Jason St. John, can be found at GunsAmerica.com. SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, remote-controlled weapons stations, and training.