J. P. Sauer und Sohn
History The first Sauer company was founded in 1751 by
Lorenz Sauer in
Suhl in the duchy of
Saxe-Hildburghausen, this locality being known as
Waffenstadt Suhl in the past because of its many gunmakers. J.P. Sauer & Sohn is the oldest recorded gun maker in Germany. In 1815 Johann-Gottlob Sauer started managing the firm; in 1835
Johann Paul Sauer became manager. In 1840 that
Johann Paul and his son,
Lorenz Sauer created the new name and trademark of
J.P. Sauer & Sohn.
World War II In 1937 the Sauer 'Karabinerbau' is erected in Suhl. By 1938 about 1,450 employees are working for the company. With beginning of World War 2 Sauer & Sohn is manufacturing more military firearms again, after 1941 production serves the war effort almost exclusively. Next to
Mauser the company 'Sauer & Sohn' became one of the most important manufacturers of the German standard rifle, the
Karabiner 98k. Among the better known is the
M30 Luftwaffe drilling, a survival gun for air crews. Meanwhile, the 'Maschinenkarabiner 42' (MKb 42) is developed by
C. G. Haenel in the Suhl, and a competing model by
Walther. It will become the 'Maschinenpistole 43' (MP 43) and later the
Sturmgewehr 44 This weapon is manufactured in numbers by Sauer and other companies. Production will continue after the war for newly formed armed forces, e.g. the
Volkspolizei of
East Germany (DDR or GDR).
Sauer Modell 38H Pistol Of particular note is the company's
Sauer 38H, the first mass-produced semi-automatic pistol to feature a cocking/de-cocking lever. It was a very advanced
pocket pistol design made in .25 ACP, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP. It was adopted as German alternate standard as 'Modell 38' and was widely used by air and tank forces. Full length is 158.75mm, barrel length is 84 2/3mm, mass is 737.088g with a magazine capacity of eight. The action has a cocker/de-cocker lever that can control the concealed hammer. The handgun has a re-strike capability should the round in the chamber fail to fire on the first trigger pull.
After World War II At the end of World War II, the original Sauer company is located in what will become
East Germany (GDR). In April 1945 the U.S. Army arrives in Suhl, in early July the area is ceded to the Soviet Red Army. The company assets were seized without compensation end of October. This was confirmed by the German Communists in 1948, Rolf-Dietrich Sauer moving to
West Germany (later FRG). In Suhl the original
J. P. Sauer und Sohn company (now renamed to
VEB Fortuna), along with other former weapons manufacturers like
Greifelt & Compagnie and
Gebrüder Merkel, were merged into a group called
VVB MEWA Suhl (MEWA short for 'Metallwaren' - metalwares, metal products), at first producing small machinery (e.g. typewriters and sewing machines) for the civilian market. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and other Communist regimes in the
Revolutions of 1989 former East German companies like
Simson & Co. continued to manufacture products separately again, with changing ownerships, sometimes well into the 2000s.
Sauer & Sohn in West Germany In 1951, Rolf-Dietrich Sauer sold the rights of the name and trademark and formed a new enterprise with a partner in the FGR. First in
Düsseldorf, and in 1952 the company was reestablished in
Eckernförde,
Schleswig-Holstein as
J. P. Sauer & Sohn. and in 1976 the 'J. P. Sauer & Sohn Maschinenbau' sold their hunting arms business in Eckernförde to the
Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG), a company which had developed firearms from the 1860s onwards.
Sauer as Part of SIG Swiss law of neutrality limits the ability of firearms manufacturers to export. • 1975/76 — 'SIG' forms partnership with hunting arms manufacturer 'J. P. Sauer & Sohn' (Eckernförde) to expand their arms division. • 1997 — German
Blaser Jagdwaffen (
Isny) and 'SIGARMS' merge. Blaser, now part of 'SIG', continues autonomously developing and producing. • 1999 — The
Rheinmetall AG sells civilian market part of 'Mauser' to Blaser/'SIG', it becomes
Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH. The part owned by 'Rheinmetall' is named 'Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH'.
The first SIG Sauer handgun To satisfy the needs of Swiss military and police, a new handgun model was created by the
SIG Sauer GmbH, which incorporated some features from the 'SIG P210' and 'Sauer Modell 38H', simplified for more efficient cost of construction on the new 'SIG' developed machinery. Result was a new type of action for a locked-breech semi-automatic pistol, with a new high quality smooth operating double/single-action trigger, a safe hammer lowering device, automatic firing pin block, and easy disassembly for cleaning. This new concept handgun was named
SIG Sauer P220. Prior to World War II, Sauer had been primarily a maker of
shotguns and hunting
rifles. During the war they produced a new handgun, the
Sauer 38H, but afterwards withdraw from this market. The 'Sauer 38H' 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. With 'SIG' as their partner/owner, 'Sauer' returned to the business of manufacturing handguns. In 1975 the
SIG Sauer line of handguns began with the
SIG P220.
Some Arms by SAN SIG Arms and SIG Sauer • 1957 — The
SIG SG 510 Swiss
battle rifle or
Stgw 57, produced to 1983. With ventilated barrel jacket, and roller-delayed blowback, as used on Spanish
CETME Model 58 and German
H&K G3 rifles. • 1950s-60s — The
SIG 710, general purpose machine gun design based on German
MG 42, offered in different calibres. • 1977 — The
SIG P220 handgun for Swiss military and police, to replace the 'P210'. Design based on a simplified Petter-Browning system, actually the very first 'SIG Sauer System'. • 1977 — The
Browning BDA, modified 'SIG P220' design produced for 'Browning Arms' company. On right side of the slide are the words "SIG Sauer System". The first 'SIG Sauer P220' type sold in US. • 1980 — When 'BDA' sales ceased the 'P220' was sold in its own form, and spawned a huge line of models. • 1984 — The
SIG Sauer P226 lost in the US military 'XM9' handgun procurement program, due to being underbid by Beretta by $6. Beretta was awarded a contract for the
M9 pistol with the '92FS'. • 1986 — The
SIG SG 550, created for Swiss Army as
Stgw 90. Over 600,000 were delivered, military production has now ceased. • 1992 — Production of the
SIG Sauer P229 begins with 'SIG Sauer' and 'SIGARMS' both in Europe and America. • 1999 — The
SIG Pro pistol series by 'SIGARMS', also offered in Europe (adopted e.g. by French police).
Developments in the US • 1985 — SIGARMS imports
SIG Sauer line of pistols, notably P220 and P230, in 1987 the P225, P226, P228. • 1990 — SIGARMS moves to Exeter, New Hampshire, where production facilities had been established. • 1992 — SIGARMS offers SIG P229, and program of
Sauer rifles,
Hämmerli target pistols and rifles. • 1998 — SIGARMS brings in the first shotguns designed for them by
B. Rizzini of Italy. • 1999 — SIGARMS offers
SIG Pro, begins 'Blaser' product distribution, e.g.
Blaser R93 rifle line.
Sauer in the new millennium The "SIG" group originally operated diverse divisions, from packaging (first 1906) to railway cars, streetcars and bogies (from 1853), automobiles (first 1921, last 1953) to arms development and manufacturing (from 1860). Their railway tech division was sold in 1995 to
Fiat Ferroviaria, and the automation solutions and arms branches in 2000. Packaging technology is SIG's main business activity today. In the late 1990s the Swiss arms industry as a whole faced a period of thorough restructuring. In the autumn of 2000 the firearms divisions of "SIG", including their arms brand
SIG Sauer, were sold to the
Lüke & Ortmeier Gruppe. For some time renowned names like "Hämmerli", "J. P. Sauer & Sohn", "Blaser", "Mauser Jagdwaffen", and "
Kettner International GmbH" (hunting, shooting, outdoors accessories) were consolidated under one roof by the "Lüke & Ortmeier" holding. The parts "Lüke & Ortmeier" took over in 2000 from "SIG" included: • "SAN SIG Arms" (Neuhausen), renamed
Swiss Arms AG, and the
SIG Sauer brand. • "SIG Sauer" and
Sauer & Sohn (Eckernförde), "Hämmerli" (Lenzburg), and "SIGARMS, Inc.". • "Mauser Jagdwaffen" brand and "Blaser Jagdwaffen", both remained in operation. In 2000, SIGARMS separated from "SIG Sauer GmbH" in Germany, both produced pistols. In 2001, SIGARMS expanded with contracts in law-enforcement market and new products for the civilian market. In 2007, former "SIGARMS, Inc.", renamed
SIG Sauer, Inc., invests in manufacturing facilities and equipment. In 2006, "Hämmerli" becomes part of "Carl Walther" (Ulm), also brand of
Umarex (Arnsberg) (acquired "Walther" in 1993). Rest of "Kettner" trading company with rich tradition is sold. In 2000–2008, production of "J. P. Sauer & Sohn", "Mauser Jagdwaffen" is relocated to "Blaser", Isny im Allgäu. == J. P. Sauer & Sohn firearms ==