German firearms manufacturer
J. P. Sauer und Sohn GmbH (Sauer &amp; Sohn) is a manufacturer of firearms and machinery and is the oldest firearms manufacturer still active in Germany. The products of this company are frequently referred to as Sauer.
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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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 &amp; Sohn is manufacturing more military firearms again, after 1941 production serves the war effort almost exclusively. Next to Mauser the company 'Sauer &amp; 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). Hans Sauer is deported by the Soviet occupational government and never heard from again, he probably died in 1946. The machinery, as happened with most of the industrial companies that had been located in the Soviet Occupation Zone, was mostly dismantled and moved east. From 1946 to 1948, formerly independent companies in East Germany, or what was left of them, were restructured and finally merged into industrial conglomerates.
In Suhl the original "J. P. Sauer und Sohn" company (now renamed to "VEB Fortuna"), along with other former weapons manufacturers like "Greifelt &amp; 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.
Nationalisation in East Germany.
The former company "C. G. Haenel" (which had been renamed to "VEB Ernst-Thälmann-Werk Suhl") is starting production again in 1948, by 1954 the "Fortuna" (ex Sauer &amp; Sohn) and 'Merkel' plant parts were attached to the 'Thälmann Works' as 'Produktionsbereiche' (PB, production areas). Now hunting weapons, later also small calibre and sporting firearms and airguns are being manufactured again. The firm "Simson &amp; Co." (renamed "VEB Fahrzeug und Gerätewerk Simson Suhl"), first producing bicycles, then mopeds, motorbikes and also firearms, is included in the group. The weapons manufacturing is taken over by the 'Thälmann Works', until all companies mentioned are finally merged into the "VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenwerk" "Ernst Thälmann" in 1968.
The well-known trademarks were also still being used by the GDR to sell products abroad until 1970. With all the companies being united, use of the trade names 'Sauer und Sohn (Suhl)', 'Fortuna (Suhl)', 'C. G. Haenel (Suhl)', 'Gebr. Merkel (Suhl)', and 'Simson (Suhl)' (the latter only for weapons, not vehicles) were dropped.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and other Communist regimes in the Revolutions of 1989 former East German companies like Simson &amp; Co. continued to manufacture products separately again, with changing ownerships, sometimes well into the 2000s.
Sauer &amp; 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 &amp; Sohn". Experienced workers from Suhl had joined, and the production of hunting firearms, and later pistols, was begun the same year. Export markets were a.o. Scandinavia and the US, Brasil and Pakistan. The company grew bigger soon, and employed over 400 people by the mid-1960s. In 1966 the "Kompressorenfabrik Wilhelm Poppe" in Kiel took over 'J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn'. In 1968 'Wilhelm Poppe' merged with other companies into "J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn Maschinenbau GmbH", mechanical engineering becoming a main branch of business. An independent company "Sauer Getriebe KG" is established in 1969 in Neumünster.
In 1972 Rolf-Dietrich Sauer died. In 1975 'Sauer Getriebe' took over plants in Aachen and Kiel from 'Sauer Maschinenbau', and in 1976 the 'J. P. Sauer &amp; 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. Companies which wish to do so may by using a foreign partner. These restrictions prevented 'SIG' from exploiting a new design concept they had developed. The design resulted from the creation at that time of a new form of industrial production equipment, known as the "Automatic Screw Machine", which was introduced by the company. While 'SIG' had produced a very high quality handgun in their "P210" model, it was also expensive to manufacture, required machining operations at high levels of precision. This produced a firearm that was known for its accuracy, but too expensive to be sold to a wider market.
Spurred by the necessity to partner with a foreign company in order to profit from their production machinery and the items it could produce 'SIG' chose the German firm of 'J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn'. In joining they also combined their expertise in firearms design. As a result, the SIG Sauer GmbH (Eckernförde) as small arms business was founded, the SAN SIG Arms AG (Neuhausen) as manufacturer being kept (later renamed to "Swiss Arms AG"), and the SIG Sauer branch and brand name created. The declared goal was to expand market share and to be of international relevance in the small arms industry.
In 1985 the company SIGARMS, Inc. was established (in Virginia), to import and distribute firearms into the US market (later renamed to "SIG Sauer, Inc.").
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". The double-action trigger mechanism combined with advanced safety features, including the hammer lowering decocking lever, were contributed by 'Sauer' to the new "P220" design.
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, 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 &amp; Ortmeier Gruppe. For some time renown names like "Hämmerli", "J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn", "Blaser", "Mauser" Jagdwaffen, and "Kettner International GmbH" (hunting, shooting, outdoors accessories) were consolidated under one roof by the "Lüke &amp; Ortmeier" holding.
The parts "Lüke &amp; Ortmeier" took over in 2000 from "SIG" included: 
In 2000, SIGARMS separated from "SIG Sauer GmbH" in Germany, both produce 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 &amp; Sohn", "Mauser Jagdwaffen" is relocated to "Blaser", Isny im Allgäu.
J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn firearms.
Sauer &amp; Sohn manufactured both handguns and long arms, including revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, rifles, and shotguns.
The "J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn GmbH" manufactured a series of "Weatherby Mark V" rifles (1958 – early 1970s).
Double rifles:
Firearms lately and currently produced by J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn German, as listed on their website:
Bolt-action rifles, entry level:
Bolt-action rifles, mid-range:
Bolt-action rifles, upper-range:
Semi-automatic rifles:
Shotguns, over/under:
Shotguns, side-by-side:
Semi-automatic shotguns:
Other products.
The "J. P. Sauer &amp; Sohn Maschinenbau GmbH" (independent after 1975) produces high-pressure air and gas compressors.
The following bolt-action rifle is marketed by "SIG Sauer GmbH", as listed on their German website:
Chamberings offered are .22 Long Rifle (calibre-changing system), 6mm Norma BR, 6.5×55mm Swedish, .308 Winchester, as single shot or with 5-round magazines.
References.
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External links.
 Media related to at Wikimedia Commons