On my travel list in the United States is a visit to Arlington National cemetery. Like many, I want to pay respects to the men and women who came before me and offered their lives in service of this country. Of course, I would very much like to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Changing of the Guard. These men and women who guard the Tomb are equipped with actual weapons, including a rather new pistol. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pistols is unique models of the M17.
In 2017 SIG Sauer won the modular handgun contest and became the standard issue sidearm for the United States Army, with the other branches adopting the pistols soon after. At this time, the Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier carried special variants of the Beretta M9. SIG Sauer realized this would not do.
The SIG Sauer Custom Shop produced a new series of M17s to serve as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pistols. They produced four and only four to give to the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Company E of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, aka the Old Guard, serves as the Sentinels who guard the Tomb. Today we are going to break down this unique pistol that sits in the holsters of these soldiers.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Pistols, Rifles, and Bayonets
Most soldiers assigned as Sentinels carry the M-14 rifle. It’s the standard arm of the guards alongside a belt-worn bayonet. The Relief Commander, typically a Staff Sergeant, carries a pistol. This is why they only produced four pistols. That’s all that’s needed by the Relief Commanders.
While the M-14 rifles are functioning, they are ceremonial and remain unloaded. The Relief Commanders do carry a loaded handgun, and although it is largely ceremonial, these men and women are still guards. It’s tradition for them to carry the pistol on a pistol belt with a high gloss leather holster.
The new M17 pistols for the Relief Commanders are really something special. Previously M1911s and Berettas had been adorned for ceremonial use, but SIG went above and beyond with these new handguns.
What Sets These M17s Apart
It’s tough to even call these guns M17s since they sit so outside the military specification for an M17 pistol. Gone is the polymer frame, and in its place sits an aluminum frame with wooden grips. Additionally, the manual safety is not included with these pistols. These pistols are all black and not tan like the standard pistols. The standard M1913 rail has been removed, and in its place sits a smooth dust cover. The four pistols each have a name, and that name is inscribed on the dust cover.
Pistol Names and Duties
The pistols are known as Silence, Respect, Dignity, and Perseverance. Silence and Respect are used for daylight hours and feature a high gloss finish and brown wooden grips. Dignity and Perseverance are matte black with dark wood grips and serve as the pistol for night duty.
The Grips
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pistols use distinct wood grips. The grips are made from wood from the USS Olympia, which transported the chosen Unknown, selected by Sgt. Younger in 1921. This would become the first unknown soldier interred at the Tomb. The crest of the 3rd Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier badge is fit into the grips as well.
Slide Serrations
SIG Removed the slide serrations from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Pistols and replaced them with an engraving of XXI. XXI is the Roman numeral for 21, and this signifies the 21-gun salute and the 21 steps the Sentinels walk.
Sights
The sight plate, which is normally removable for a red dot, is inscribed with an impression of the Greek figures on the east panels of the Tomb. These figures stand for Peace, Victory, and Valor. The sights would traditionally contain tritium vials, but those are removed and inserted is glass vials containing dust from the marble of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Magazines
The magazines hold 21 rounds of 9mm, which is another reference to a 21-gun salute and is also the magazine capacity of the extended M17 magazines. The magazines feature a custom metal base plate engraved with the names of the Greek figures Peace, victor, and Valor with a nameplate on the bottom engraved with the Tomb Sentinel badge number.
Serial Numbers
Each of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pistols features a similar but unique serial number. The serial number of these guns is LS standing for Line Six of the Sentinel’s creed, which reads, “My standard will remain perfection.”
After LS, the serial number reads 02JUL37, standings for July 2nd, 1937, the day the first 24-hour guard was posted at the Tomb. A prefix of A (Silence), B (Respect), C (Dignity), and D (Perseverance) comes after 02JUL37
After that prefix is the number 21, signifying the 21 steps taken by the Sentinels and the 21-gun salute.
Silence, Respect, Dignity, and Perseverance
These M17s are unlike any other M17. They are unique unto themselves and will likely be the only four ever produced. While they walked the hallowed ground of Arlington at this time, they will likely one day occupy a museum. SIG Sauer and their custom shop have made a set of truly beautiful pistols.
That’s incredible, every detail is considered, I’m surprised they didn’t engrave the barrel in some way