By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2024
THE HISTORY OF SIG SAUER
The Sig Sauer Corporation’s origins began in 1853, when Friedrich Peyer im Hof, Heinrich Moser, and Conrad Neher founded the Schweizerische Waggonfabrik (“Swiss Wagon Factory”), a factory in Switzerland that constructed wagons and railway cars. Little did they know that their company would become one of the most renowned manufacturers of small arms seven years later.
As part of a challenge from Switzerland’s Defense Ministry, the trio entered a competition to develop a state-of-the-art rifle, hoping the Swiss Army would adopt it. The men pooled their engineering talents and, along with gunsmith Jean-Louis Joseph Prélaz and army officer Edouard Burnand, created the Prelaz-Burnand rifle. The rifle was submitted to the competition in 1860, and it won!
In 1864, the company was awarded the contract to produce 30,000 rifles, now known as the M1863.
The company name was changed to Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG, German for “Swiss Industrial Company”).
In 1947, the SIG P210 pistol was developed based on the design of Charles Petter’s Modèle 1935A pistol. In 1937, Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) acquired the license for the Petter-Browning system. The patent was a refinement of the Browning Hi-Power (P35). The Swiss military adopted it in 1949 as the “Pistole 49” due to the precision manufacturing processes employed in its manufacture and its resultant accuracy and reliability. This single-action semi-automatic brought SIG much acclaim. SIG also debuted the P230 for the Swiss Police.
Since Swiss law limits Swiss companies’ ability to export firearms, they require the use of a foreign partner. So, in the 1970s, SIG purchased Hämmerli Target of Lenzburg, Switzerland, and J. P. Sauer and Sohn of Eckernförde, West Germany, forming SIG Sauer.
SIG then targeted the USA and its expanding firearms market. In June 1985, SIG created SIGARMS and moved into their new headquarters in Tyson’s Corner, VA, while importing the P220 and P230, then quickly expanded to another facility in Herndon, Virginia, while importing the P226 and P228. SIGARMS then moved to its present location in Exeter, New Hampshire.
In 1992, SIG began production of the P229, and in 1998, their first shotgun line was followed by the Blaser R93 rifle. SIG expanded product lines with the Sauer rifle & Hämmerli Target Pistols.
In October 2007, SIGARMS changed its name again to SIG SAUER.
In 2014, they opened their new corporate headquarters and production facility in Newington, New Hampshire.
Today, SIG SAUER employs over 1,200 people and produces pistols, rifles, airguns, ammunition, optics, and suppressors.
P320-FLUX LEGION
Designed with input from the Special Operation Community, the P320-Flux Legion combines the features of the P320 9mm with a Pistol-Caliber Carbine platform, giving the shooter the maneuverability and concealability of a pistol with the stability of a carbine. The combination is fed via an extended 30-round P320 magazine, with a spare stored in the chassis.
THE FRAME/CHASSIS
SIG teamed up with Utah-based Flux Defense to combine their gray Raider X chassis and quick single-finger rapid deploying stabilizing brace with a SIG P320 Legion. The P320 fire control unit features a Legion series flat-faced skeletonized trigger. The chassis features a non-reciprocating Picatinny optics mount that extends over the slide, integrated flared magwell, ambidextrous safety, dual mag release system, and a front Picatinny mount for accessories like lights or lasers.
THE SLIDE & BARREL
The stainless steel Legion Gray slide features an integrated compensator/expansion chamber that reduces recoil by 25% over the stock P320. It is finished in Legion Gray Cerakote and fitted with XRAY3 Day/Night Sights.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Semi-Automatic Pistol
Caliber: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 30 Rounds
Sights: XRAY3 Day/Night Sights
Sight Radius: 5.9 Inches
Barrel Length: 3.9 Inches
Overall Length: 10.9 Inches
Height: 6.1 Inches
Width: 1.6 Inches
Weight: 49.2 Ounces With One Magazine
MSRP: $1,649
URL: www.sigsauer.com
THE VERDICT
SIG has created an impressive firearm with the Flux Legion. It’s lightweight and fast-deploying, and using the brace creates a more stable, accurate platform. This PCC, or better yet, PDW, would make an excellent truck gun for personal defense or carried in a backpack out in the wild. It ships with two 30-round magazines, a 5.11 bag, and a P320 coin.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].