Several
brother companies that design and manufacture firearms use the
brand name
A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...
SIG Sauer . The original company, ''Schweizerische Waggon-Fabrik'' (SWF), later ''Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft'' (SIG), went through several selloffs, leaving the SIG Sauer brand spread over several companies. The original SIG is now known as
SIG Combibloc Group
SIG Combibloc Group AG, originally founded as ''Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft'' (German for Swiss Industrial Company; in French, as ''Société Industrielle Suisse''; and, in Italian, as ''Societa Industriale Svizzera''), and later know ...
and no longer has any firearms business.
* The German company was SIG Sauer GmbH & Co. KG. It was formed in 1976 as a partnership between
Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft
SIG Combibloc Group AG, originally founded as ''Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft'' (German for Swiss Industrial Company; in French, as ''Société Industrielle Suisse''; and, in Italian, as ''Societa Industriale Svizzera''), and later know ...
(SIG) of
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
and
J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Germany.
* The Swiss company is SIG Sauer AG. Its predecessor SIG Arms AG was sold to L&O Holding in
western Germany
The old states of Germany (german: die alten Länder) is a jargon referring to the ten of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) that were part of West Germany and that unified with the eastern German Democratic Republic' ...
and was first renamed SAN Swiss Arms AG, commonly known as
Swiss Arms
SIG SAUER AG is a Swiss manufacturer of armaments. The company was previously registered as SAN Swiss Arms AG and changed its name to SIG SAUER AG in December 2019. It was known as SIG Arms AG before 2000 when it was acquired by the German investo ...
, and in late 2019 was further renamed SIG Sauer AG.
* The American company is SIG Sauer, Inc. Its predecessor SIGARMS was founded in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
in 1985 to import and distribute SIG Sauer firearms into the United States: Its headquarters were moved to
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
in 1990. This company was renamed SIG Sauer, Inc. in 2007, and since 2000 is organizationally separate from SIG Sauer GmbH.
L&O Holding L&O may refer to:
* ''Law & Order'' (franchise), a number of related television programs created by Dick Wolf
** ''Law & Order'' (1990–2010), an American police procedural and legal drama television series set in New York City
*** '' Law & O ...
is the parent company of the German SIG Sauer GmbH & Co. KG, the Swiss SIG Sauer AG, and the American SIG Sauer, Inc.
History
1853: Schweizerische Waggon-Fabrik (SWF) is created
The origins of the SIG Sauer company lie in the company named Schweizerische Waggon-Fabrik ("Swiss
Wagon
A wagon or waggon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people.
Wagons are immediately distinguished from ...
Factory"), which was founded in 1853 by
Friedrich Peyer im Hof
Johann Friedrich Peyer im Hof (18 June 1817, in Schaffhausen – 18 May 1900) was a Swiss politician member of the Swiss National Council during 1857–1875 (President 1859/1860).
Alongside Alfred Escher, he is one of the main pioneers of rail ...
(1817–1900),
Heinrich Moser (1805–1874) and Johann Conrad Neher (1818–1877).
The group pooled their engineering talents and created the Prelaz-Burnand rifle, known as the "Prélaz-Burnand 1859"
or "Prelaz-Burnand 1860"
rifle. The invention of this rifle is credited to
gunsmith
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds guns. The occupation differs from an armorer, who usually replaces only worn parts in standard firearms. Gunsmiths do modifications and changes to a firearm that may require a very h ...
Jean-Louis Joseph Prélaz
and army officer Edouard Burnand.
The rifle was submitted to an 1860 competition by Switzerland's
Federal Ministry of Defence
The Federal Ministry of Defence (german: Bundesministerium der Verteidigung, ), abbreviated BMVg, is a top-level federal agency, headed by the Federal Minister of Defence as a member of the Cabinet of Germany. The ministry is headquartered at ...
. It won and in 1864
the company was awarded a contract to produce 30,000
Prelaz-Burnand rifles, adopted as the M1863.
1864: SWF changes to Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG)
Upon receiving the 1864
government contract to produce rifles, the company name was changed to
Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG, German for "Swiss Industrial Company"), known as Société Industrielle Suisse in
French-speaking regions of Switzerland,
reflecting the new emphasis on their production.
The
SIG P210
The SIG P210 (Swiss Army designation Pistole 49, the civilian model was known as SP47/8 prior to 1957) is a locked breech self loading, semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured in Neuhausen am Rheinfall (Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerla ...
pistol was developed in 1947 based on the French
Modèle 1935 pistol (the Petter-Browning design was licensed). It was adopted by the Swiss military in 1949 as the "Pistole 49". This single-action semi-automatic P210 brought SIG much acclaim, due to the precision manufacturing processes employed in its manufacture and its resultant accuracy and reliability. The P210 frame design incorporates external rails that fit closely with the slide, thus eliminating play in the mechanism during firing. The P210 was noted for its extreme accuracy. The Petter-Browning patent was a refinement of the Browning Hi-Power (P35), which was
John Moses Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms many of which are still in use around the world. He m ...
's last design which was created for the French 1935 pistol, but not adopted.
Swiss law limits the ability of Swiss companies to export firearms. Swiss companies which wish to do this have to do so by using a foreign partner. So in the 1970s SIG purchased both
Hämmerli and
J. P. Sauer and Sohn, which resulted in the formation of SIG Sauer.
1976: SIG creates SIG Sauer GmbH
SIG Sauer's line of handguns began in 1975 with the SIG Sauer
SIG P220
The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic pistol. Designed in 1975 by the SIG Arms AG division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (now SIG Holding AG), and produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, in Eckernförde; it is currently manufactured by bot ...
.
It was initially developed by SIG and produced and distributed by J.P. Sauer & Sohn, but in 1976 SIG bought J.P. Sauer & Sohn and the resultant company was called SIG Sauer GmbH, based in Germany.
Prior to World War II, Sauer had been primarily a maker of
shotgun
A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which usually discharges numerous small p ...
s and hunting
rifle
A rifle is a long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting, with a barrel that has a helical pattern of grooves ( rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus on accuracy, rifles are typically designed to be held with ...
s. During the war, they produced a handgun, the
Sauer 38H
The Sauer 38H or often just H was a small semi-automatic pistol made in Nazi Germany from 1938 until just after the end of World War II by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, then based in Suhl, Germany. The "H" in the model number is short for "hahn", referrin ...
, but afterward had withdrawn from this market. With SIG as their partner/owner, Sauer returned to the business of manufacturing handguns. Their
Sauer 38H
The Sauer 38H or often just H was a small semi-automatic pistol made in Nazi Germany from 1938 until just after the end of World War II by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, then based in Suhl, Germany. The "H" in the model number is short for "hahn", referrin ...
had been produced in competition with other German makers such as Mauser and Walther at a time when new designs began to feature a double/single-action trigger. This double-action trigger mechanism, combined with advanced safety features including the hammer-lowering decocking lever, was incorporated by Sauer into the new P220 design. This new P220 design was derived from the Petter-Browning design and was created in response to a Swiss military and police requirement for a handgun to replace the P210. This new P220 design should properly be called the SIG Sauer System, which was, in fact, the labeling on one of the first SIG Sauer handguns, a modified
SIG Sauer P220
The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic pistol. Designed in 1975 by the SIG Arms AG division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (now SIG Holding AG), and produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, in Eckernförde; it is currently manufactured by both ...
design produced for the Browning Arms company in 1977. On the right side of the slide are the words "SIG Sauer System". This was the first SIG Sauer P220 type sold in the US.
At this point there were three entities:
* SIG, a company based in Switzerland.
** The firearms division of SIG, based in Switzerland.
** A subsidiary of SIG called SIG Sauer GmbH, a firearms company based in Germany.
1985: SIG creates SIGARMS Inc
![SIG-1911-45](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/SIG-1911-45.jpg)
In January 1985, SIG established a subsidiary, SIGARMS, Inc, in
Tyson's Corner, Virginia
Tysons, also known as Tysons Corner, is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, developed from the corner of Chain Bridge Road ( SR 123) and the Leesburg Pike ( SR 7). Located in Northern Virginia between the c ...
, to import the P220 and P230 models into the United States. Two years later the firm moved to a larger facility in
Herndon, Virginia
Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the United States. The population was 23,292 at the 2010 census. In 2020, the population was estimated to be 24,532, which makes it the largest of three i ...
, and introduced models
P225
The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic pistol. Designed in 1975 by the SIG Arms AG division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (now SIG Holding AG), and produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, in Eckernförde; it is currently manufactured by both ...
,
P226 and
P228.
SIGARMS moved to
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 16,049 at the 2020 census, up from 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood. ...
, in 1990 where production facilities had been established and production began on the
P229 in 1992.
At this point there were four entities:
* SIG, a company based in Switzerland.
** The firearms division of SIG, based in Switzerland.
** A subsidiary of SIG called SIG Sauer GmbH, a firearms company based in Germany.
** A subsidiary of SIG called SIGARMS Inc, a firearms company based in the United States.
2000: SIG sells all its firearms interests to L&O
SIG's firearms subsidiaries in Germany and the United States and its firearms subdivision in Switzerland were all sold to Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier's L&O Holding in October 2000.
Its firearms subdivision in Switzerland became a subsidiary in its own right, SAN Swiss Arms AG, more commonly known as
Swiss Arms
SIG SAUER AG is a Swiss manufacturer of armaments. The company was previously registered as SAN Swiss Arms AG and changed its name to SIG SAUER AG in December 2019. It was known as SIG Arms AG before 2000 when it was acquired by the German investo ...
, although its products still used the SIG Sauer brand.
At this point there were five entities:
* SIG, now a holding company based in Switzerland now with no firearms business
* L&O Holding, a holding company based in Germany
** SIG Sauer GmbH, a firearms company based in Germany
** SIGARMS Inc, a firearms company based in the United States
** SAN Swiss Arms AG, a firearms company based in Switzerland
2004: SIGARMS expands to AR-15s
In 2004, according to CEO Ron Cohen, the company was near failure with just 130 employees. Cohen decided to add
AR-15 style rifle
An AR-15-style rifle is any lightweight semi-automatic rifle based on the Colt AR-15 design. The original ArmaLite AR-15 is a scaled-down derivative of Eugene Stoner's ArmaLite AR-10 design. The then Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation d ...
s to the company's product catalog, which he credits with saving the company.
2007: SIGARMS changes its name to SIG Sauer Inc.
In 2007, SIGARMS changed its name to SIG Sauer, Inc.,
sometimes called SIG Sauer USA. All new SIG Sauer Inc offerings were designed in the United States. By 2016, it had over 1,000 employees and was selling more than 43,000 firearms a year.
At this point there were five entities:
* SIG, a holding company based in Switzerland with no firearms business.
* L&O Holding, a holding company based in Germany.
** SIG Sauer GmbH, a firearms company based in
Eckernförde
Eckernförde ( da, Egernførde, sometimes also , nds, Eckernför, sometimes also ) () is a German town in Schleswig-Holstein, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, on the coast of the Baltic Sea approximately 30 km north-west of Kiel. The population is ...
,
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sch ...
in Germany.
** SIG Sauer Inc, a firearms company based in
Newington, New Hampshire
Newington is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 811 at the 2020 census. It is bounded to the west by Great Bay, northwest by Little Bay and northeast by the Piscataqua River. It is home to Portsmouth Int ...
in the United States.
** SAN Swiss Arms AG, a firearms company based in Switzerland.
2015: SIG Sauer Inc expands to airguns
In 2015, SIG Sauer expanded to include
suppressor
A silencer, also known as a sound suppressor, suppressor, or sound moderator, is a muzzle device that reduces the acoustic intensity
Sound intensity, also known as acoustic intensity, is defined as the power carried by sound waves per unit ...
s,
optics
Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, ultraviole ...
,
ammo
Ammunition (informally ammo) is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. Ammunition is both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines) and the component parts of other wea ...
and
airgun
An air gun or airgun is a gun that fires projectiles pneumatically with compressed air or other gases that are mechanically pressurized ''without'' involving any chemical reactions, in contrast to a firearm, which pressurizes gases ''chemica ...
s, aiming to provide a greater range of firearm and firearm safety equipment and accessories. On January 12, 2016, SIG Sauer introduced its ASP (Advanced Sport Pellet) line of airguns, which included
CO2 Powerlet
Crosman Corporation is an American designer, manufacturer and supplier of shooting sport products, with a long-standing presence in airgun design and a tradition of producing pellet and BB guns. Crosman is also a producer of many varieties of ai ...
-powered pistols and rifles featuring the proprietary RPM™ (Rapid Pellet Magazine)
pellet drive system consisting of a
belt
Belt may refer to:
Apparel
* Belt (clothing), a leather or fabric band worn around the waist
* Championship belt, a type of trophy used primarily in combat sports
* Colored belts, such as a black belt or red belt, worn by martial arts practit ...
inside a
box magazine
A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm, either integral within the gun (internal/fixed magazine) or externally attached (detachable magazine). The magazine functions by holding several cartridges withi ...
-shaped
housing
Housing, or more generally, living spaces, refers to the construction and assigned usage of houses or buildings individually or collectively, for the purpose of shelter. Housing ensures that members of society have a place to live, whether it ...
, reportedly capable of feeding 30 rounds in 3.5 seconds. These ASP airguns are engineered to have the same appearance, dimension and weight, as well as similar trigger pull, as the company's
centerfire
Two rounds of .357 Magnum, a centerfire cartridge; notice the circular primer in the center
A centerfire cartridge is a firearm metallic cartridge whose primer is located at the center of the base of its casing (i.e. "case head"). Unlike rim ...
firearm models, for the purpose of
sporting and training with the added benefit of reduced cost, minimal noise, the ability to practice outside dedicated
shooting range
A shooting range, firing range, gun range or shooting ground is a specialized facility, sports venue, venue or playing field, field designed specifically for firearm usage qualifications, training, practice or shooting sport, competitions. So ...
s and
less restrictive laws. In addition to airguns, SIG SAUER also offered a wide variety of ASP targets and pellet ammunition.
2016: SIG Sauer Inc bids US Modular Handgun System
The US military has produced a requirement for a new handgun to replace the current
M9 model (
Beretta 92FS
The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The Beretta 92 was designed in 1975, and production began in 1976. Many variants in several different calibers co ...
). In February 2016, bids were submitted by 12 companies to compete for this contract which was expected to result in purchases of more than 500,000 pieces. On 1 July 2016, SIG Sauer was reported to be one of three remaining competitors who were in consideration for this contract.
2017: SIG Sauer Inc wins the bid
![SIG Sauer P320 9mm Pistol](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/SIG_Sauer_P320_9mm_Pistol.jpg)
On 19 January 2017, SIG Sauer was awarded the contract for the
P320.
2017: SIG Sauer Inc popularity in LE
At this point, according to SIG Sauer one-third of
law enforcement in the United States
Law enforcement in the United States is one of three major components of the criminal justice system of the United States, along with courts and corrections. Although each component operates semi-independently, the three collectively form a cha ...
used SIG firearms. SIG Sauer operated a firearms training school – SIG Sauer Academy in
Epping, New Hampshire
Epping is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,125 at the 2020 census, up from 6,411 at the 2010 census.United States Census BureauU.S. Census website 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
The ...
– with courses taught by experienced instructors, many with military and/or police backgrounds.
SIG Sauer produces a wide range of accessories for the firearms and sporting goods industry.
On 12 July 2018 SIG SAUER announced that the
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, commonly known as the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), is a department of the state government of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and driver license adminis ...
(TXDPS) has integrated the SIG Sauer P320 as its official service firearm throughout its divisions.
2018: SIG Sauer airgun division becomes SIG Air
In a press event on 25 July 2018, SIG Sauer announced that its airgun division was renamed to SIG Air, and introduced its Precision Line
air rifle
An air gun or airgun is a gun that fires projectiles pneumatically with compressed air or other gases that are mechanically pressurized ''without'' involving any chemical reactions, in contrast to a firearm, which pressurizes gases ''chem ...
s, starting with the ASP20
break-barrel gas piston air rifle. On 24 April 2019, SIG Air expanded the Precision Line by introducing the MCX Virtus PCP, a semi-automatic
pre-charged pneumatic
An air gun or airgun is a gun that fires projectiles pneumatically with compressed air or other gases that are mechanically pressurized ''without'' involving any chemical reactions, in contrast to a firearm, which pressurizes gases ''chem ...
(PCP) air rifle based on the MCX Virtus Patrol centerfire rifle and the first PCP to feature SIG's proprietary Rapid Pellet Magazine (RPM™), which uses a 30-round
pellet belt
Belt may refer to:
Apparel
* Belt (clothing), a leather or fabric band worn around the waist
* Championship belt, a type of trophy used primarily in combat sports
* Colored belts, such as a black belt or red belt, worn by martial arts practit ...
contained inside a
STANAG magazine-shaped
enclosure
Enclosure or Inclosure is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of "waste" or " common land" enclosing it and by doing so depriving commoners of their rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land ...
. The Rapid Pellet Magazine was later also adapted for SIG Air's
CO2-powered training pistols.
On 5 November 2018, the
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...
, which has long used the
.40 caliber
The .40 S&W is a Rim (firearms), rimless pistol Cartridge (firearms), cartridge developed jointly by American firearms manufacturers Smith & Wesson and U.S. Repeating Arms Company, Winchester in 1990. The .40 S&W was developed as a law enforceme ...
SIG P229
Sig used as a name may refer to:
* Sig (given name)
*Sig, Algeria, a city on the banks of the Sig River
*Sig Alert, an alert for traffic congestion in California, named after Loyd Sigmon
*Sig River, a river of Algeria also known as Mekerra
sig (l ...
as its duty sidearm, announced that it will acquire the SIG Air ProForce P229
airsoft pistol (which was then produced under
brand licensing
Licensing means renting or leasing of an intangible asset. It is a process of creating and managing contracts between the owner of a brand and a company or individual who wants to use the brand in association with a product, for an agreed period ...
by French
airsoft
Airsoft is a team game in which participants eliminate opposing players by tag (game), tagging them out of play with airsoft pellets, spherical plastic projectiles shot with mock air gun, air weapons(usually powered by an electronic motor) call ...
manufacturer CyberGun) as its new training pistol to give cadets and guardsmen the ability to practice gun handling, conduct target practice in various environments, and train in realistic force-on-force scenarios. In response, SIG Air announced on 17 January 2019 the introduction of its own in-house ProForce high-end airsoft line for professional training, with the initial offerings include the
M17 and P229 airsoft pistol. SIG Air also announced that "we are rapidly expanding the SIG AIR business, and it is important to us to assume full control to ensure all SIG Air products are of the highest quality", and they will no longer be licensing the "SIG" brand or trademarks for sale by commercial airsoft manufacturers.
At this point there were six entities:
* SIG, a holding company based in Switzerland with no firearms business.
* L&O Holding, a holding company based in Germany.
** SIG Sauer GmbH, a firearms company based in Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.
** SIG Sauer Inc, a firearms company based in Newington, New Hampshire in the United States.
*** Sig Air, the airgun division of SIG Sauer Inc.
** SAN Swiss Arms AG, a firearms company based in Switzerland.
2019: Swiss Arms changes its name to SIG Sauer AG
In late 2019, Swiss Arms was renamed SIG Sauer AG.
At this point there were six entities:
* SIG, a holding company based in Switzerland with no firearms business.
* L&O Holding, a holding company based in Germany.
** SIG Sauer GmbH, a firearms company based in Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.
** SIG Sauer Inc, a firearms company based in Newington, New Hampshire in the United States.
*** Sig Air, the airgun division of SIG Sauer Inc.
** SIG Sauer AG, a firearms company based in Switzerland.
2020: Closure of SIG Sauer GmbH's factory
On 4 June 2020, SIG Sauer GmbH announced it intended to close its factory at
Eckernförde
Eckernförde ( da, Egernførde, sometimes also , nds, Eckernför, sometimes also ) () is a German town in Schleswig-Holstein, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, on the coast of the Baltic Sea approximately 30 km north-west of Kiel. The population is ...
by year's end, resulting in losses of about 125 jobs as well as plans to fulfill purchase orders. It blamed "locational handicaps" hindering its sales, claiming "a few other local producers" were preferred in government purchases for the
German police forces and the
Bundeswehr
The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
. According to SIG Sauer GmbH CEO Tim Castagne, "due to its international orientation, SIG Sauer is systematically excluded from tenders
n Germany
N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''.
History
...
" This was compounded by reports in April that
Kiel
Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021).
Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the J ...
prosecutors were investigating claims of SIG Sauer USA, SIG Sauer's North American branch, being implicated in exporting weapons to
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
and
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
without a legal export permit from the German government, drawing attacks from critics such as
Sevim Dağdelen from the
Left Party after Germany published its 2019 arms export data in May.
2022: Next Generation Squad Weapon contract
On 19 April 2022, the
US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
, following a 27-month evaluation process, announced it had awarded SIG Sauer a contract for two
Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) variations, the
XM5
The XM5 is the U.S. Army variant of the SIG MCX Spear, a .277 Fury, 6.8×51mm (.277 in), gas-operated reloading, gas-operated, magazine (firearms), magazine-fed, assault rifle designed by SIG Sauer for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program in ...
and
XM250
The XM250 is the US military designation for the SIG-LMG a 6.8×51mm, gas-operated, belt-fed, light machine gun designed by SIG Sauer for the U.S. Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon Program in 2022 to replace the M249 light machine gun. The X ...
automatic rifle, as well as for the 6.8 common cartridge ammunition used by both rifles. The initial value of the award was $20.4 million for the delivery of the weapons, ammunition, and accessories. The XM5 and XM250 are planned to replace the
M4 carbine
The M4 carbine (officially Carbine, Caliber 5.56 mm, M4) is a 5.56×45mm NATO, gas-operated, magazine-fed carbine developed in the United States during the 1980s. It is a shortened version of the M16A2 assault rifle.
The M4 is extensively ...
and
M249
The M249 light machine gun (LMG), also known as the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), which continues to be the manufacturer's designation, and formally written as Light Machine Gun, 5.56 mm, M249, is the American adaptation of the Belgian F ...
light machine gun, respectively.
2022: SIG Experience Center
In July 2022, the company opened the SIG Experience Center in Epping, co-located with the SIG Sauer Academy. The Experience Center includes a retail store, indoor shooting range, company museum, conference center, and corporate offices.
Products
SIG Sauer brand
Semi-automatic pistols
;Full size
*
P210
*
P220
The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic pistol. Designed in 1975 by the SIG Arms AG division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (now SIG Holding AG), and produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, in Eckernförde; it is currently manufactured by both ...
*
P226
*
P227
*
P230/P232
*
SIG Pro series (2009, 2022, 2340)
*
GSR
*
Mosquito
Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning " gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "li ...
*
1911 Series
*
SIG Sauer M17
The SIG Sauer M17 and M18 are service pistols derived from the SIG Sauer P320 in use with the United States Armed Forces. On January 19, 2017, the United States Army announced that a customized version of SIG Sauer's P320 had won the Army's XM17 ...
;Compact size
*
P224
*
P225
The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic pistol. Designed in 1975 by the SIG Arms AG division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (now SIG Holding AG), and produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, in Eckernförde; it is currently manufactured by both ...
*
P228 (M11)
*
P229
*
P230
The SIG Sauer P230 is a small, semi-automatic handgun chambered in .32 ACP or .380 Auto. It was designed by SIG Sauer of Eckernförde, Germany. It was imported into the United States by SIGARMS in 1985. In 1996 it was replaced by the model P232.
...
*
P239
*
P245
*
SIG Sauer M18
The SIG Sauer M17 and M18 are service pistols derived from the SIG Sauer P320 in use with the United States Armed Forces. On January 19, 2017, the United States Army announced that a customized version of SIG Sauer's P320 had won the Army's XM17 ...
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P322
;Sub Compact
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1911 Army Compact
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1911 C3 Compact
;Ultra Compact
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1911 Two Tone Ultra Compact
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1911 Ultra Compact
;Micro Compact
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P238
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P290
*
P290RS
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P365
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P938
;Modular
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P250 Series
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P320 Series
Rifles/Submachine guns
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MPX
Rifles
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SSG 2000
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SSG 3000
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SIGM400/TREAD
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SIG516
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SIG556xi
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SIG716i/SIG716G2
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MCX VIRTUS
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NGSW-R MCX SPEAR
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SIG SHR 970
Sig used as a name may refer to:
* Sig (given name)
*Sig, Algeria, a city on the banks of the Sig River
*Sig Alert, an alert for traffic congestion in California, named after Loyd Sigmon
*Sig River, a river of Algeria also known as Mekerra
sig (l ...
*
CROSS
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...
(
AR-style
bolt-action
Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed).
Most bolt-action ...
hybrid "precision hunting" rifle)
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SG550
The SG 550 is an assault rifle manufactured by Swiss Arms, Swiss Arms AG (formerly a division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft, now known as SIG Holding AG) in Switzerland. "SG" is an abbreviation for ''Sturmgewehr'' ("assault rifle"). ...
Light machine guns
* MG-6.8 NGSW-AR
*
XM250
The XM250 is the US military designation for the SIG-LMG a 6.8×51mm, gas-operated, belt-fed, light machine gun designed by SIG Sauer for the U.S. Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon Program in 2022 to replace the M249 light machine gun. The X ...
Suppressors
* Rifle
* Pistol
* Rimfire
Electro-optics
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Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope informally, is an optical sighting device based on a refracting telescope. It is equipped with some form of a referencing pattern – known as a ''reticle'' – mounted in a focally appropriate po ...
s
*
Red dot sight
A red dot sight is a common classification for a type of non- magnifying reflector (or reflex) sight for firearms, and other devices that require aiming, that gives the user a point of aim in the form of an illuminated red dot. A standard desig ...
s
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Iron sights
Iron sights are a system of physical alignment markers (usually made of metallic material) used as a sighting device to assist the accurate aiming of ranged weapons (such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow or even compound bow), or less commonly ...
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Red dot magnifier
A red dot magnifier is an optical telescope that can be paired with a non-magnifying optical sight on a weapon to create a telescopic sight.
They work with the parallel collimated reticle image produced by certain non-magnifying sights so, con ...
s
*
Tactical light
A tactical light is a flashlight used in conjunction with a firearm to aid low-light target identification, allowing the marksman, law enforcement officer or soldier to simultaneously aim a weapon and illuminate the target. Tactical lights can ...
*
Laser sight
A laser sight is a device attached or integral to a firearm to aid target acquisition. Unlike optical and iron sights where the user looks through the device to aim at the target, laser sights project a beam onto the target, providing a visual re ...
s
*
Spotting scope
A spotting scope is a compact high-power telescope optimized for detailed observation of distant objects. They are used as portable optical enhancement devices for various outdoor activities such as birdwatching, skygazing and other naturalis ...
s
*
Laser rangefinder
A laser rangefinder, also known as a laser telemeter, is a rangefinder that uses a laser beam to determine the distance to an object. The most common form of laser rangefinder operates on the time of flight principle by sending a laser pulse in ...
s
*
Binocular
Binocular may refer to:
Science and technology
* Binocular vision, seeing with two eyes
* Binoculars, a telescopic tool
* Binocular microscope, binocular viewing of objects through a single objective lens
Other uses
* Binocular (horse), a thoroug ...
s
*
Mount
Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest.
Mount or Mounts may also refer to:
Places
* Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England
* Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
s
Ammunition
*
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a firearm cartridge primarily designed and intended for use in a rifle/carbine, or machine gun.
Types Full-powered
A full-powered cartridge is a rifle cartridge used interchangeably between service rifles, sniper rifles ...
s
*
Handgun cartridges
*
Airgun pellets
*
CO2 cylinder
A cylinder (from ) has traditionally been a three-dimensional solid, one of the most basic of curvilinear geometric shapes. In elementary geometry, it is considered a prism with a circle as its base.
A cylinder may also be defined as an infin ...
Gear & accessories
*
Training targets and
pellet traps
* Pistol brace
*
Sling
*
Gun case
*
Earmuffs
Earmuffs are clothing accessories or personal protective equipment designed to cover a person's ears for hearing protection or warmth. They consist of a thermoplastic or metal head-band that fits over the top or back of the head, and a cushion o ...
*
Holster
A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use. Holsters are often attached to a belt or waistband, but they may be att ...
s and
pouches
*
Kershaw Knives
Kershaw Knives designs, sources and manufactures a wide range of knives, including pocketknives, sporting knives, and kitchen cutlery. Kershaw is a brand of Kai USA Ltd., a member of the KAI Group, headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, United Stat ...
*
Apparel
Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural ...
SIG Air brand
Air pistol
* SIG Air P226 ASP
* SIG Air P320 ASP
* SIG Air P320-M17
* SIG Air X-Five ASP
* SIG Air P365
* SIG Air 1911
* SIG Air Precision Super Target Air Pistol (
single-stroke pneumatic pistol)
Air rifle
* SIG Air MPX ASP
* SIG Air MCX ASP
* SIG Air MCX Virtus
PCP
* SIG Air ASP20 (
break barrel
Break action is a type of firearm action in which the barrel or barrels are hinged much like a door and rotate perpendicularly to the bore axis to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of cartridges. A separate operation may be require ...
gas piston spring air rifle)
Airsoft
* SIG Air ProForce M17
* SIG Air ProForce M18
* SIG Air ProForce P229
* SIG Air ProForce MCX Virtus
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft AG (AEG; ) was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in Berlin as the ''Deutsche Edison-Gesellschaft für angewandte Elektricität'' in 1883 by Emil Rathenau. During the Second World War, AEG ...
See also
*
List of firearm brands
This is a list of firearm brands.
See also
* List of firearms
* List of modern armament manufacturers
The following list of modern armament manufacturers presents major companies producing modern weapons and munitions for military, paramilit ...
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sig Sauer
Companies based in Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Firearm manufacturers of Germany
Firearm manufacturers of Switzerland
Firearm manufacturers of the United States
Firearm importation companies of the United States
Lüke & Ortmeier Gruppe
Companies based in New Hampshire