Description
Some firearms are built to be sold. Others are built to be seen, to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore what’s possible when engineering is given creative freedom. This Prototype SIG P226 X-Five “Hexagon” belongs firmly in the latter category.
Created by the SIG Sauer Mastershop as a design study for the IWA Show 2018, this pistol was never intended for standard production. It was conceived as a visual and technical experiment, showcasing new approaches to surface geometry, texturing, and a modern interpretation of the X-Five platform. Only a small handful of such studies were produced and displayed, making examples like this exceptionally uncommon.
The defining feature is the Hexagon-pattern serration work, applied across the slide in a precise, repeating geometry that subtly shifts with light and angle. It is both functional and sculptural, less about aggression, more about rhythm and structure. The pattern is echoed throughout the pistol, creating a cohesive design language rather than a collection of standalone details.
The frame and slide are finished in a muted, satin gray tone that emphasizes machining quality over contrast, allowing the textures to speak for themselves. The laminated grips introduce organic movement against the disciplined geometry of the metalwork, grounding the design while adding visual depth. Together, the materials and finishes feel deliberate, restrained, and unmistakably Mastershop.
Chambered in 9mm, the pistol retains the balance and handling characteristics expected of the X-Five lineage, but this example’s true value lies beyond performance. It represents a moment in SIG Sauer’s design evolution, a snapshot of experimentation, craftsmanship, and forward thinking.
This example is accompanied by its original SIG Sauer Mastershop documentation, confirming its role as a unique design study and underscoring its significance within the brand’s internal development history. All numbered components are factory-matched, reflecting the care and intent behind its creation.
A prototype in the truest sense, rare, intentional, and never meant to be repeated, this P226 X-Five “Hexagon” stands as a collector-grade artifact from one of SIG Sauer’s most creative eras.
