SIG Sauer grew from a Swiss wagon factory and a German gunmaker into one of the biggest names in pistols. Today it is run from New Hampshire, and its P320 is the U.S. Army’s service pistol.
Company at a glance
| Founded | SIG: 1853, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland. SIG Sauer: 1976 partnership with J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Germany. U.S. arm: 1985, Virginia. |
|---|---|
| Founders | SIG: Friedrich Peyer im Hof, Heinrich Moser and Conrad Neher |
| Headquarters | Newington, New Hampshire (SIG Sauer, Inc.) |
| Ownership | Private, owned by L&O Holding since 2000 |
| Status | In operation |
Locations and moves
The U.S. company began in 1985 as SIGARMS in Tysons Corner, Virginia, moved to Herndon, Virginia, then to Exeter, New Hampshire in 1990 and to Newington, New Hampshire in 2014. The German factory in Eckernförde closed in 2020.
- Newington, Exeter, Dover and Portsmouth, New Hampshire: U.S. headquarters and production
- Epping, New Hampshire: SIG Sauer Academy
- Jacksonville, Arkansas: ammunition plant
- Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland: SIG Sauer AG
Timeline
- 1853 The Swiss Wagon Factory is founded.
- 1864 Renamed SIG after a Swiss Army rifle order.
- 1949 The P210 is adopted by the Swiss Army.
- 1976 SIG partners with J.P. Sauer & Sohn to form SIG Sauer.
- 1985 SIGARMS opens in Virginia.
- 2000 L&O Holding buys the arms businesses.
- 2007 SIGARMS is renamed SIG Sauer, Inc.
- 2014 P320 introduced. Headquarters moves to Newington, New Hampshire.
- 2017 The P320 wins the U.S. Army Modular Handgun System contest and becomes the M17 and M18.
- 2018 P365 micro-compact introduced.
- 2020 German factory in Eckernförde closes.
- 2022 Wins the Army Next Generation Squad Weapon contract.
- 2026 A fire damages a SIG building in Epping, New Hampshire in September.
Major pistols
| Model | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| P320 / M17, M18 | Striker-fired | Modular pistol, U.S. Army service pistol |
| P365 family | Striker-fired 9mm | Micro-compact that started a new class |
| P226 | DA/SA 9mm | Classic service pistol |
| P229 | DA/SA | Compact service pistol |
| P220 | DA/SA .45 ACP | The original SIG Sauer pistol |
| P210 | Single action 9mm | Swiss Army classic |
| 1911 | Single action | Steel 1911s |
Also makes: rifles (MCX, M7), suppressors, optics and ammunition.
Important people
- Friedrich Peyer im Hof, Heinrich Moser and Conrad Neher: founders of SIG
- Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier: owners through L&O Holding
- Ron Cohen: CEO since 2004
Notable events
- The P320 was picked by the U.S. Army in 2017 and adopted as the M17 and M18.
- SIG won the Army Next Generation Squad Weapon contract in 2022.
- In 2017 SIG offered a voluntary upgrade for the P320 after drop-safety concerns. The pistol has since been the subject of several lawsuits over unintended discharges, with verdicts going both ways.
- The P365 launched in 2018 and helped create today’s micro-compact carry pistol category.
Videos
SIG Sauer gallery
SIG Sauer pistols from the Gun Websites collection.
More makers: Pistol Brands · New to pistols? Start with Where to Start.
Company details change. Information current as of October 2026.