United States Army version of the SIG Sauer M17 Pistol to replace the Beretta M9 as the standard U.S. Military sidearm into the future. In January 2017 it was announced that SIG had won the highly competitive U.S. Military contract and by November of that year the first M17's were being delivered, with the first units issued them being the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions. This pistol is one of the first pistols issued to these units for field testing and combat use. Includes a certificate from SIG stating that this pistol was fielded by the U.S. Army for the initial in-theatre and domestic use. Also included with the pistol is a DoD Freedom of information act request stating this pistol was delivered from SIG Sauer to Defense Logistics Agency Distribution in Anniston, Alabama who in turn delivered it to the 320th Field Artillery, 1st Battalion, Bravo Battery at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where it was used for two years before being shipped back to SIG Sauer. It is reported that SIG Sauer released approximately 3,500 of these pistols to authorized dealers which were immediately absorbed into the collector market. The 320th Field Artillery Regiment served with the 82nd Airborne Division during both world wars and from the Cold War to the present elements of the regiment such as the 1st Battalion have served with the 101st Airborne Division. Over the last 20 years the 1st Battalion assigned to the 101st Airborne Division was actively involved in American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 101st remains one of the U.S. Army’s leading land combat forces. The introduction of the M17 marked the beginning of the end to the M9’s service with the U.S. armed forces that originated in the late 1980s when it replaced the Colt M1911A1. If the service life of the M1911A1 and M9 are any indication to the longevity of the standard U.S. military handgun, it will be decades before we see a round of rigorous testing to replace the M17, making this early U.S. Army example a historic piece of military hardware of the modern era that will only gain more collector interest in the future. This M17 remains as-issued by the U.S. Military with original government-issue serial number and markings, integrated ambidextrous thumb safety to the modular fire control unit, SIGLITE night sights, optics mounting point on the slide, "+P" weight recoil spring, and coyote tan controls, metal and polymer finish. The pistol is packed exactly as it was delivered to the U.S. Military in the original shipping box numbered to the pistol complete with one 17 round and two 21 round magazines.