Snejdarek said:
The fact is that the reviews that I read comparing the guns did come to conclusion, basically, that the Sphinx is nicer - full stop. And that is what I wanted to point out as an answer to the question why is Sphinx failing as a manufacturer. The market is simply to niche for them to gain major success.
That WAS the case, but it may not be in the future. Kriss just has to get the word out.
FNH is having the same problem with their handguns. Their FNS and FNX lines are a good as anything out there, and priced very competitively -- but they're virtually unknown. The long guns are better known, and more widely used -- by civilians and militaries around the world. The ones sold here in the US. (to the government and public) are now made in the U.S. (in SC.)
In general terms, Sphinx models are priced right with many SIG models, and there's no question that I'd go with a Sphinx first.-- if only because of its lower bore axis and subtly better ergonomics. (And, yes, I've owned a number of very nice SIGs, ranging from P220 Match and Super Match [SA] models, to a P226 X-Five in .40.) I've also owned a P-210-6, but that's clearly a different category of weapon.
Sphinx had a long run in Switzerland. It's earliest predecessor was the AT-84 made by ITM in Solothurm (a true CZ clone, under license), through a number of models, all based on the Tanfoglio version of the CZ pattern; all of those companies had financial problems. Sphinx started to make their own changes so that while still basically CZ pattern guns, they are far from clones.
Producing the earlier guns required a lot of hand work to get to the level of refinement those companies wanted to offer. Why'd they fail? I don't think these firms were willing to cut the corners that would have kept them profitable. The Sphinx line was more popular in Europe than in the U.S. -- where it has remained almost unknown.
Since I had my first Sphinx 2000 (a compact police model, similar in size and function to the 75B Compact) the company had changed hands at least once, maybe twice. I've owned several of the older 2000 series Sphinx models, and now have a Sphinx SDP.
In terms of
performance and in-hand feel, I don't really see much difference between the old and new Sphinx pistols. The older Sphinx models were beautiful guns; the ones I had all came with high-gloss stainless frames, that showed every bump and scratch. The marks were all superficial and you could polish them out, but they were almost as much trouble as a high-gloss blued gun to keep pristine. I don't miss the high-gloss stainless frame.
It was only with the latest versions that the manufacturer made the decision to modify the design so as not to require as much hand work in production I don't know if Kriss, the importer had a hand in that change, but as I understand it -- after the last financial failure of the firm -- Kriss is now handling production here in the U.S. It may take a while to get these guns known and into the pipeline.
I much prefer the Sphinx SDP to the older 2000 series guns -- as it is a much more practical gun as far as I'm concerned.
I was offered a chance to buy a 3000 series before Sphinx/Kriss put them on hold (or decided not to build them), but just didn't want to spend the money. Had I done it, I might now have a very valuable collectible -- or an expensive gun I could never sell if I had to. That said, I'm sure I would have a gun comparable to (or better than) the gorgeous X-Five SA I once owned.
