Mag War: SIG SAUER Sues Springfield
Last updated: June 23, 2026 · Originally published: May 12, 2021
Did Springfield Armory infringe on SIG SAUER’s patent? Here’s their official statement:
Today, SIG SAUER, Inc., filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Rock Island Division, alleging that Springfield, Inc. (Springfield Armory) infringes two SIG patents relating to SIG’s P365 magazine.
The P365 has seen tremendous commercial success, due to the innovative design of the high-capacity magazine. In its complaint, SIG alleges that Springfield Armory’s making and selling of certain “Hellcat” branded magazines infringes upon two SIG patents. SIG SAUER is seeking injunctive relief, as well as monetary damages for Springfield Armory’s past and ongoing infringement.
Ron Cohen, President and Chief Executive Officer, made the following statement:
“When the SIG SAUER P365 was introduced it took the market by storm as the most innovative high-capacity, micro-compact pistol to be introduced due to its magazine capacity, and quickly became one of the top selling handguns in the market due to this unprecedented innovation. SIG is not a litigious company, but given the extent of infringement by Springfield, SIG has a responsibility to protect both our intellectual property and the significant investment we make to develop our innovative products. As a company we are proud to yield more than 100 patents worldwide, with more than 40 patent applications currently pending, and we will protect the extensive research and design that goes into developing these patents rigorously.”
Here’s what Springfield has to say…
“Springfield Armory’s highly successful and awarded micro-compact handgun, the Hellcat®, has attracted legal claims from a competitor.
Sig Sauer, Inc. has alleged in a federal court complaint that Springfield Armory’s Hellcat® magazines infringe two patents Sig owns. However, Springfield Armory is steadfast in its conviction that those claims are without merit. The innovative design of the Hellcat® magazine is our own and works only with the Hellcat®. The superior design of the Hellcat® magazine is able to hold more rounds in an overall smaller magazine. Springfield Armory’s Hellcat® magazine was independently awarded several patents of its own and has received numerous industry recognitions.
“We feel that these claims are frivolously litigious in nature and designed to thin out the competition in an increasingly crowded firearms market,” explains Springfield Armory President Steve McKelvain. “Springfield Armory will vigorously defend its right to produce the class-leading patented Hellcat® handgun and magazines for our loyal customers––past, present and future.”
Springfield Armory is proud of its 46-year long commitment to innovative engineering, craftsmanship, and design. The work completed on behalf of our customers and the public is a privilege that we honor with originality and the release of groundbreaking products including the Hellcat®.”
What do you think? We’re keeping a weather eye on this suit, and we’ll keep you informed!
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Lots of conjecture (and some insulting replies) from and for many of the respondents to this article, but no matter what everyone thinks the only answers and results will be in the courts. .
As far as who is right or where the manufacturing of a certain weapon or in this case ‘magazine’, the weapon should be the best one for the shooter. As for me, I own a Springfield semi-auto as a primary concealed carry – which fits me but probably not others. I purchased this weapon many years ago and was not concerned about price or where it was manufactured. Personal preference!
I didn’t check to see who has a supposed patent infringement on the other companies.
It comes down to the fact that ‘we’ don’t know how or what is in the suit? This taking is like : if a water supplier bottles his water in a plastic container that hold 500 ml and has a certain bottle design – probably patented. And another manufacture makes a qt plastic water bottle with their own design. Is this cause for a lawsuit???? Both hold water.
Well the Hell Cat was not plagued with the problems of the P365 I had to return my p365 3 times for the same problem and sold it and got myself a Springfield Armory Hell Cat a real Micro compact that has not had one problem in over 1,000 rounds fired no jams of malfunctions like the p365 had time and time again Sig is a failure and has filed bankruptcy ! Take that NAZI Pistol and Jam it !
C’mon It’s a magazine how innovative and different can they be? As for capacity more bullets equal longer mag so wtf here…….
Well being a glock man I have to say that all the manufactures seemed to copy the trigger safety that lots of gunners hated glocks for!
I apologize in advance if I copied any other posts, I quit reading after 5 from the top heh-heh
Springfield has been manufacturing firearms for Patriots for over a century, including the M1-Garand, M1-A1,
M-14 etc. Sig’s greed has gotten them to the suit, nothing else. If Sig doesn’t like American competition, They can GET OUT. Put their whiny tails between their legs & relocate to Mexico or some other shit hole. & good riddance. The only reason they located to the USA was to compete for military & Government contracts. Again-
GREED. I’d like to see any of their CEO’S, Managers, designers etc. that ever served in America’s Military STEP
Forward and say so!.
Gunny,
How do I say this nicely? You’re talking out your ass, not to mention making one out of yourself from your comments. Sig manufactures a lot of firearms and ammo right here in America. Why would you want a company that provides hundreds of jobs for Americans and supports the Second Amendment to get out? Springfield prefers manufacturing firearms in Croatia. But I’m sure the Croatians appreciate it. Next, I have yet to meet a company who participates in capitalism who didn’t go into business to make a profit. That’s not greed. That’s common sense. Lastly, how do you know Springfield didn’t do something wrong.?
The Hellcat is made in Croatia by a company called HS Produkt. The Hellcat is about as American as a Daihatsu.
Ok, let’s see….the parts and aspects in play are….case dimensions, follower dimensions, floor plate design and insert design. I doubt that the spring comes into play here. And my ‘guess’ would be the ‘follower’ design combined with case dimensions are the main points of contention. My questions is….how close can a competitor come in the design to the patent holder’s design before it’s considered legally an infringement? What is the threshold…how many thousands of an inch, and degrees of angler of pitch are we talking?
Sig manufactures in USA, Springfield Hellcat in Croatia? I will stick with USA made.
Sig has become an increasingly Litigious company. If they lose a contract bid they sue the winning contractor. They have simply “priced” themselves into a higher market category vs their quality establishing them in that refined category. Sig’s own lack of quality and extremely sub par customer service has led them to litigation after litigation. They are like the former High School Super Star that is now washed up, telling stories of their past glory days at the local watering hole to anyone and everyone who will listen while trying to capitalize on every opportunity simply to keep their memory alive.
If Springfield was awarded patents, it will be hard to beat them.
Interesting. One wonders if Sig suits against Ruger and S&W will also be forthcoming.
All thoughtful comments, but truly in the end, the only winners are the lawyers!
Lack of detail makes it hard to understand exactly what Sig is upset about. I looked at both the Hellcat and the Sig. The Sig was more expensive, but had less capacity. Both shot well, and I loved the sights on the Hellcat. I bought the Hellcat, and extra mags. Quality and price won.
Sadly you overlooked the American worker. We all lose when you buy foreign.
I don’t care much for Sig. I would go with Springfield any day. With all the uproar with our Governnent trying to strip us of our weapons, both companies need to come to agreement and keep this federal court out of the picture. They would probably love to Strip Springfield into bankruptcy along with all firearm manufactures. Just a thought.
This reminds me of the patented and revolutionary Glock Safe-Action trigger, which dominated the market, then S&W came up with the Sigma with its revolutionary Glock Safe-Action trigger. Like someone else said, it would have been interesting to see the specific design allegations being contested, but it’s pretty clear Sig came up with a new and innovative patented magazine design, that fit 10 rounds in a smaller space, and SA came up with an almost identical design afterwards. The courts will figure it out, but I think Springfield has the tougher side of the argument.
I’m sure the details will come out in court. Any subjecture by the author would be only that. My experience is that Springfield customer service is great. The rep personally arranged for me to receive a promotional item even though I bought the pistol a day after the promotion ended.
Sig customer service was good but I found a local smith to repair my problem for $20. Careful how you reassemble the op spring. It will go in either way and lock it up solid.
Ford built a V8 and then Chevy built a V8. It’s called competition and free enterprise; all of which made America great.
This one has nothing to do with firearms but has an interesting history. Who invented the overhead valve V8 and where did it live for almost 1/4 century?
SIG was first and all the other companies are trying to catch up. LOL
Sig still the better performing gun
Instead of trying to litigate they’re competitors out of existence perhaps SIG would be better represented by beating them in the market place. Make a better product at a better price, huh?
Don’t become an inventor, a writer or musician. As I understand, SIG is supposed to suck up all the cost to invent things and then give them away free to Springfield and the rest of the world.
Uh, they did. It’s called the Sig P365. Hence the lawsuit.
If Sig’s claims are true…they spent big bucks on R&D to create something new/innovative and Springfield copied their patented designs.
Sure saves a lot of money letting your competitor spend on innovation and then copying their hard work by reverse engineering their product.
Sig wants to protect their intellectual property and if Springfield truly did infringe on the Sig patents they deserve to be called out and pay.
If they reverse-engineered Sig’s design then they have a case.
That’s what the Chinese do, they reverse-engineer US made products and sell knock-offs.
SIG does make the better product. I had a shoot-off with my SIG 365 against my friend’s Hellcat. He shot better with my SIG and I found the higher bore axis, the lacking iron sights (compared to the SIG) and the higher trigger-pull hurt the Hellcat. Winner: SIG!
I feel as if the article does not go into enough detail in describing the functionality and design concepts that have spurred this lawsuit.
What are the similarities and differences between these Magazines that might constitute or negate such claims?
Very well said. I was asking myself those same questions.
..agreed. Anyone can bring a ‘suit’ against another for a variety of FRIVIlOUS means. I’m not saying this is one of those times. I WILL say Sig’s been known to ‘cut corners’…a LOT. Heck, Sig’s bragging on the “365’s” magazine BUT at the same time HAD ZERO PROBLEM using the American market as its PROVING ground. And it doesn’t stop at the P365 either. Oh, and yes I DO own a Sig..the P938. I had, in the earliest version of the ‘365’, jumped on that wagon..but I got right back off when I found people were sending those 365’s back as fast as they got them. I figured “I” wouldn’t do Sig’s testing for them..just because they wanted to rush a striker-fired pistol to market. Is this “apples to apples”, maybe not. Just shows a company will, when THEY THINK it’s in their best interest, do some questionable, some might say unethical scheming to MOVE BEYOND the competition!
I’m holding my comments, and will maintained a wait and see position, until more insight is revealed,
I do not have much love for Sig Sauer. I remember when I had a product failure with a certain pistol, they basically told me it was my fault. Now they are crying because the Hellcat is so successful. I personally own two service XD pistols and they are indestructible. Springfield also has top notch service in which they answer the phone by a human. There is plenty of room for competition in the market. The consumer will decide which is the best firearm for them. I really think Sig Sauer should reconsider these allegations.
What does your purchase and warranty problems have to do with potential theft of intellectual property? Anyone who has ever created something would understand. I own a P365 and shot the Hellcat, I even wondered how Springfield got away with making their clone.
The purchase and the warranty have everything to do with it. It is called a satisfied customer. I disagree that the hellcat is a clone to the Sig. So the original design comes from Croatia. Springfield adds additional engineering and features that create a great pistol. Basically, Sig is greedy and jealous.
Sorry, what if Springfield actually infringed on their patent and stole their design features? Wouldn’t Sig have a right to sue? I don’t think that if some stole from me I would necessarily say, “oh, well, there’s plenty of room in the market!” This is what the lawsuit will determine.
Let the courts decide but remember you’re seeking justice in Illinois courts.
Gary, you are so correct!
Wish the article would have given specifics as to the infringement……. Hard to imagine what the patentable features are, that were infringed upon. Then again Springfield Armory has never had an original idea or design, and has built a business on old military and competitors designs.
How much is there that’s patent-worthy in a steel tube containing a spring and follower? Springfield is beating Sig on price-point, maybe more of a market threat…what about the new Ruger? Why no suite there? Only winners will be the lawers…