Sphinx Systems

Sphinx Systems Limited was a Swiss-based manufacturer of high quality pistols used mainly by special forces, elite police units and sports shooters. Sphinx was founded in 1876, specializing in tooling and machining, and then diversified into the firearms industry during the 1980s. Sphinx is best known for its ongoing development of the original Czech designed CZ 75 pistol, which has been evolved into the Sphinx 2000, Sphinx 3000 custom competition pistol, and Sphinx SDP Compact. Sphinx went out of business in July 2016.
History.
Sphinx started its work with pistols based on the CZ 75 design when they redesigned the ITM AT-84 licensed copy of the Czech CZ 75 and ITM AT-88, a first evolution of the CZ 75 that had been developed in Switzerland by ITM.
In the past, Sphinx manufactured all pistols in Switzerland, slides are made from solid billet steel, frames from casts, forgings or also from billet, and fits each pistol with high quality barrels. Past Sphinx pistols were not mass-produced and were hand fitted to tight tolerances, so Sphinx pistols were more expensive than mass-produced products. All custom-made Sphinx pistols except the AT380 are shipped with an actual test target, which confirms the accuracy of each.
In 2010 Sphinx joined KRISS Group and began production of the SDP Compact in 2012. The US-built SPD Compact, based largely on the 3000 Series, was Sphinx's first mass-produced firearm. Initial reviews were positive.
Sphinx products were historically imported to the United States by SILE corporation, and until 2008 by SABRE Defense Industries. Since 2010, Sphinx products are being imported into the US by KRISS USA in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Sphinx Systems AG was declared bankrupt on 30 November 2015. The parent company, KRISS Group SA, has been in financial trouble as well. KRISS USA, an independently operated subsidirary of KRISS Group SA, has since taken over the production and other business activities.
In July 2016 Sphinx went out of business. The downfall of the traditional weapon manufacturer is primarily the result of a Federal Council ban on the supply of weapon parts to the Arab region.