By: Friedrich Seiltgen

Copyright © 2023

ABOUT SIG SAUER

The origins of the Sig Sauer Corporation began in 1853, when Friedrich Peyer im Hof, Heinrich Moser, and Conrad Neher founded a factory to construct wagons and railway cars in Switzerland, The Schweizerische Waggonfabrik (“Swiss Wagon Factory”). 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).

It was adopted by the Swiss military 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, Swiss companies require the use of a foreign partner. So, in the 1970s, SIG purchased both 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 1200 employees, producing pistols, rifles, airguns, ammunition, optics, and suppressors.

THE FRAME

The full-size tungsten-infused XGRIP module is laser-engraved with a stainless steel fire control unit (FCU) and XSeries Flat TiN (Titanium Nitride) gold finish skeleton trigger. An M1913 Picatinny rail is on the dust cover for lights or lasers.

THE SLIDE & BARREL

The redesigned slide features falling serrations for positive slide manipulation and an optic plate cover.

The 4.6-inch barrel is carbon steel w/ TiN gold finish, threaded, with a custom works designed single port compensator installed for a noticeable difference in recoil and a reduction in muzzle flip by one-third. The compensator is attached with two tapered screws for easy installation and removal.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Full Size, Striker Fired

Caliber: 9mm

Magazine capacity: 21 Rounds

Sights: X-RAY3 Day/Night Sights & Custom Works Spectre Optics Ready Slide

Sight Radius: 6.5 Inches

Barrel Length: 4.6 Inches

Overall Length: 8.5 Inches

Height: 5.8 Inches

Width: 1.6 Inches

Weight: 41.8 Ounces

MSRP: $1,349

URL: www.sigsauer.com

SIG SAUER states the Custom Works P320 Spectre is the most versatile and best shooting 9mm polymer pistol they’ve ever designed. The Spectre Comp ships with two 21-round magazines in free states, ten rounds in the others, a SIG Custom Works challenge coin, and a certified custom certificate.

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. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. 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].