align=middle
Categories: News

LWRC and Sig Sauer Sued By Leitner-Wise

The news that LWRC and Sig Sauer sued by Leitner-Wise kind of comes as a shock if I am honest. Earlier today (The publish date on this post is 6 months after it was initially run.) Paul Leitner-Wise of Leitner-Wise Manufacturing filed a lawsuit for patent infringement against LWRC and Sig Sauer.
If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Leitner-Wise you may be familiar with the company he founded, LWRC or Leitner-Wise Rifle Company. Mr. Leitner-Wise is the patent holder for the self-cleaning gas operating system that LWRC currently uses on their piston driven rifles.

Mr. Leitner-Wise sold LWRC in 2005 and remained an employee of the company, in 2006 Leitner-Wise left the employ of LWRC. Part of the employment contract as outlined in the relevant facts section of the suit is Mr. Leitner-Wise was to be paid a 0.5% royalty from the net sale of every rifle that used his piston system. The suit goes on to state that the contract was removed from his possession at some time around when Leitner-Wise’s employment ceased.

The lawsuit also goes on to name Sig Sauer as a defendant, claiming they are using Leitner-Wise’s design in the Sig 516 rifle without paying proper royalties. The suit then goes on to request that Sig pay according to the same royalty agreement that LWRC agreed to when Leitner-Wise signed on as an employee. Over a dozen other rifle designs were named in the suit as using the patent, some of the more notable ones being the Sig MCX, the Sig 516 and the Sig 716.

You can read the entire lawsuit by clicking here.

As always expect us to update you as we learn more about the status of the lawsuit.

Patrick Roberts

Since founding Firearm Rack in 2014 which evolved into Primer Peak in 2020, Patrick has been published by RECOIL, Ammoland, Gun Digest, The Firearm Blog, The Truth About Guns, Breach Bang Clear, Brownells, The Shooter's Log, and All Outdoor. When he isn't writing you can find him instructing handgun and AR-15 courses, training his dog Bear, or spending time with his son Liam. See what he is up to on his YouTube Channel, on Facebook, or on Instagram at @thepatrickroberts.

Share
Published by
Patrick Roberts

Recent Posts

Federal FliteControl Vs. Hornady Critical Defense in the Beretta A300UP [2025]

Here at PrimerPeak, we're fans of the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol. Dan reviewed his back…

6 days ago

Purse Carry: Last Resort or Valid Option?

It’s often touted that purse carry is a dangerous option that should never be considered.…

2 weeks ago

I Walked Out of Class, Here’s Why

I attended my first formal shooting lesson as an adult in 2012. Since then I've…

3 weeks ago

SIG Sauer P320 Banned from use in IDPA [2025]

The saga surrounding the SIG Sauer P320 continues to evolve. This morning we woke up…

3 weeks ago

Living Legends | Interview with Simon Golob

We spoke with martial arts champion and instructor Cecil Burch during our last Living Legends…

4 weeks ago

Top 5 SIG Sauer P320 Alternatives [2025]

If you've been anywhere in the gun space over the past few weeks then you're…

4 weeks ago