SIG AG P210-5
SIG is a world-renowned brand; however, few people know that there are technically two different SIG companies. Domestically, the United States is familiar with SIG Sauer, a former German company that is now headquartered in New Hampshire making firearms like the P320, the MCX, and the SIG Cross. In Switzerland, SIG has a sister company owned by the same holding group, generally recognized as SIG AG.
Related: SIG Sauer Factory Tour – Birthplace of the P365, P320, MCX & More
Without getting too deep into the origins of the company and the current structure of the companies, let’s talk about the OG of SIG products. Here we have a Swiss-made SIG AG P210-5, a competition variant of the P210 line.
Swiss Design
The SIG P210 concept dates to before World War II as the Swiss were looking to replace the aging Luger design that was in military service. In 1949, the Swiss settled on their own design and began production of the Model 49 (the military designation for the P210). The P210 is a locked-breech short-recoil-operated handgun, breaking the mold of the traditional Browning action.
Over the years, the SIG P210 has become the pinnacle of Swiss firearm manufacturing. The P210 is known for its precision, not only in manufacturing but also in accuracy. This led to the development of the SIG P210-5, a competition-style handgun.
The P210-5 was well known for its performance on the range and is distinguishable by the extended barrel design to accommodate counterweights. Ultimately, not many P210-5s were made, and they did not remain in production for long. While the P210 has recently been re-introduced by the American SIG Sauer, it is tough to beat old-school Swiss handguns.
H&K Sub Guns
The H&K MP5 is one of the most recognizable sub guns on the market. In fact, it’s probably one of the most recognizable firearms in general. While it is extremely popular, the design met a lot of early issues with importation to the United States.
Related: Two Guys One Gun, Episode 8 – Is the MP5 Still Relevant?
The SP89 fits in a very short and specific period for American firearm laws. Heckler & Koch began importing a domestic version of the full-sized MP5 in the 1980s, referred to as the HK94. While the HK94 scratched the itch of many MP5 fans, there were many who wanted the K version (K stands for “Kurz,” which is German for “short”).
The SP89
So, in the late 1980s, H&K started importing the SP89, a domestic MP5K-style handgun that complied with post-1989 U.S. import laws. This handgun features a short 4-inch barrel, a sling swivel where the stock would normally reside, and a protective forend to shield the support hand from the short threadless barrel. Much like the HK94, the SP89 does not include a flapper magazine release and only incorporates the button release.
Life was short for the SP89, as the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban made the sale of handguns over 50 ounces illegal. Therefore, only a limited number of H&K-made SP89s were imported in the four-year period in the early ’90s. It was not until recently that H&K decided to revive the SP line and began importing H&K-built domestic MP5 designs for the U.S. market.
With a retro optics mount housing a pressure switch laser, this handgun rocks some strong 1980s action movie vibes. Arnold should be dual wielding these babies.
Built Under a Ban
Keeping with the German H&K ban era theme, the SR9 is also a short-lived anomaly in the gun market. The SR9 is a ban-era HK91, designed off the venerable G3. At one point, the H&K G3 competed against the FN FAL as the standard-issue rifle for the West. An excellent battle rifle chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO, the G3 was a popular design throughout the 20th century.
With constantly changing and more restrictive import laws, H&K maneuvered around to the HK91, a domestic import version of the G3 made for the U.S. market. Unfortunately, 1989 brought another import ban with stricter restrictions, while the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban further tightened an unconstitutional stranglehold on the U.S. firearms market.
H&K SR9
To address the changes and still offer one of H&K’s most popular designs, the company designed a further modified import version of the HK91: the SR9. This rifle incorporated features from both the H&K G3 and the precision rifle version of the G3, the PSG-1.
The SR9 used a polygonal rifled 20-inch barrel that was not threaded and a handguard with an integrated bipod like the PSG-1. To further ensure that the rifle remain “featureless,” the design is also void of a pistol grip, bayonet lug, flapper magazine release, and included five-round magazines.
This rifle is another example of a design that existed only because of unique bans and restrictions imposed on the import of firearms into the United States. In 1998, the Clinton administration named the SR9 by model in a ban due to its ability to accept standard G3 magazines, even though they were imported with five-round magazines.
Summary
All these firearms are unique and represent times past in the world of firearms. From domination in competitions to short-lived production due to weird import laws, each gun tells a story. These are just some of the gems that come through our We Buy Guns program, and there is nothing more exciting to me than getting to see history get stocked on the shelves.
