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The story of Sauer & Sohn company began way back in the year 1751. The company was founded by Lorenz Sauer in the German city Suhl and until today it still lives up to its reputation as the oldest firearms manufacturing company in Germany. At its very beginnings, the company predominantly focused on producing firearms based on military contracts. The ‘Seven Years War’ in 1753 resulted in the company's first larger orders for the Prussian army.
Almost ninety years later, the eponymous grandson of Johann Paul Sauer started his business unit and around the same time, in 1839, the company changed its name to Spangenberg & Sauer. After the death of co-owner Ferdinand Spangenberg in 1873, Johann Paul Sauer, together with his sons Rudolf and Franz, took over the majority ownership of the company and re-named it to ‘J.P. Sauer & Sohn’. Soon after, the company reached its highest order to that point - approximately 150.000 rifles were produced for the German army. However, the number of military orders decreased severely in the following years, thus forcing the company to find new ways of expanding its market.
As the middle class grew, the demand for civilian arms production increased. The company knew how to exploit this economic situation and consequently presented its first SBS rifle in 1881, followed by the first catalogue which was released one year later. The innovativeness did not stop there – the company's success was at its very beginning, to say the least. As it grew, it began to gradually focus on hunting rifles. Thereupon, the first Sauer self-cocking drilling with a separate cocking lever for the ball lock was presented and launched in 1895. Twenty years later, the company presented the Sauer Meisterwerk XVIII shotgun that boasted sear, single trigger, ejector and engraving by Franz Schilling.
During the First World War, they mostly re-focused on military production and expanded its establishment along with the number of staff. However, the social and economic penury after the war, made the company struggle in the following years. To ensure its survival, the company started producing various products such as typewriters under the name Fortuna; for a short period, they also manufactured bikes. Due to the prohibition of military production, the construction of light hunting rifles was launched in 1930 with the triplet Mod. 30 and Mod. 30 L being introduced the same year and Mod. 32, Mod 32 L, Mod. 33 shortly after.
The shift in production happened again at the beginning of the Second World War when orders for military purposes firearms were increased. After the War, being deleted from the commercial register and under total soviet occupation, the company continued its production under different names - 'VEB FORTUNA Werk Suhl' and later 'VEB MEWA Ernst-Thälmann-Werke Suhl'. At that point, Rolf Sauer sold all company's rights to a group of industrialists in FRG. Nonetheless, the company still used its original name J.P. Sauer & Sohn for the production of hunting rifles years later. In 1951 J.P Sauer & Sohn GmbH was founded as the first hunting rifles manufacturer in FRG.
Soon after some of the most recognizable models were presented, such as Drilling Model 3000, which replaced the famous S53 Drilling, Model 80 bolt action rifle, Sauer 200 (the first modular action rifle in 14 calibres), the S 200 and Sauer 202.
After the year 2000, the ownership changed again when passionate hunters Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier took over. At that turning point, the company shifted to focusing exclusively on the production of hunting rifles, presenting several popular models such as SAUER 303 self-loading rifle, SAUER 101, SAUER 202, SAUER 404, SAUER 404 Synchro XTC, SAUER 100, Sauer S 100, SAUER SL5 and SAUER101 Highland XTC. Nowadays, the brand's vivacious history and tradition of over 270 years result in quality and experience, thus offering an infallible choice for every hunting enthusiast.
The receiver of Sauer 101 is placed in the aluminium bedding block and accompanied by a turn-bolt design, 60-degree bolt lift and contrary to S 100, it has six locking lugs instead of three which offers extra protection. The lugs lock directly into the rifle’s barrel. The safety catch is positioned on the rear of the bolt, and it houses a spring-loaded button for extra safety. This direct firing pin safety is an upgrade from S 100 which uses a three-position safety switch.
The rifle comes with a detachable polymer-made magazine for 5 standard or 4 Magnum cartridges, which is released by a button at the frontmost side of the magazine. The single-stage trigger is extra wide and is weighted down with 950g (2lb) trigger weight which makes the quality of the pull even smoother. Some variants even come with the height-adjustable comb to fine-tune the eye level behind the scope and provide the shooter with a comfortable ergonomic experience. S 101 uses a pinned barrel, whereas on S 100 it is attached via threading.
Although it can be chambered for both short and long action calibres, Sauer 101 comes in one action length (the distance between the second and the third hole on the receiver is 13.9 cm)
Additionally, there are some key surface differences between S 101 and S 100.
Sauer 101 uses a phosphate conversion coating on their barrels and the wooden stock is made of walnut (Juglans wood). XT variants, that come with rugged polymer stock are also covered in Soft Touch Coating which adds to the silent handling of the rifle.
Sauer 100 variants use Cerakote coating technology on their barrels, the wooden stock is made of DURA beech. XT variants come with rugged polymer stock that is not coated.
Depending on the calibre and variants, barrel lengths are 510 mm (20-inch), 560 mm (22-inch), 620 mm (24-inch).
Figure 1: Sauer 101, chambered for .308 Win (Source: https://www.sajovec.de/shop/details/009895.php?switch=b&category=REPETIERB%C3%9CCHSE)
Sauer 101 can be chambered for the following calibres*:
.243 Win.
6.5x55 SE
.270 Win.
7mm Rem. Mag.
7x64
.308 Win.
.30-06 Spr.
.300 Win. Mag.
8x57 JS
9.3x62
Calibre choice depends on the variant.
The rifle is available in the following variants:
S 101 GTI
S 101 Artemis
S 101 Classic
S 101 Select
S 101 Classic XT
S 101 Classic XTA
S 101 Highland XTC
XT variants come with a polymer stock.
All Sauer 101 receivers come with four holes for mounting purposes, two on the front and two on the rear mounting surface.
Figure 2: The receiver of Sauer 101
A: 21.9 mm
B: 113.9 mm
C: 15.3 mm
BHU: 2.5 mm
Ø: 6-48
R1: R51
R2: R17
All the rifles listed in the category below have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Sauer 101. To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Rifles that meet such criteria are:
All the rifles listed in the category below have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Sauer 101. For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that share the same dimensions and mounting surface with Sauer 101 are:
If you are planning to predominantly use one scope, this two-piece fixed mount solution made by the German company MAK is the appropriate choice for Sauer 101. It is made from steel, thus offering impeccable recoil resistance and durability.
This German-produced one-piece pivot mount manufactured by Recknagel is made of light aluminium alloy and easy to install. Being repeatable and detachable makes it easy to switch between the scopes swiftly and effectively.
Manufactured by the German company EAW, this Picatinny rail will provide you with numerous mounting possibilities for your Sauer 100. It is made from high-quality steel which makes it durable and recoil resistant.
If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.
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