Hiram Percy Maxim, son of the inventor of the first portable automatic machine gun, created the first commercially successful firearm suppressor in 1902 and patented it as the Maxim Silencer in 1909. He developed the device using principles similar to those used in automobile mufflers, designing a tube with internal baffles to trap, expand, and cool propellant gases, thereby reducing noise and muzzle flash.
Early Adoption and Regulation Theodore Roosevelt was a prominent early supporter, using a Maxim Silencer on his Winchester 1894 carbine to hunt varmints without disturbing neighbors. The industry’s growth was significantly halted by the National Firearms Act of 1934, which imposed a $200 tax (equivalent to roughly $3,500 today) and required registration, effectively restricting civilian ownership for decades.
Military and Covert Operations During World War II, special forces utilized various suppressed weapons, including the British Welrod pistol, the De Lisle Commando Carbine, and the American High Standard HDM .22 pistol. OSS Director William J. “Wild Bill” Donovan famously demonstrated the effectiveness of the suppressed HDM to President Franklin D. Roosevelt by firing ten rounds into a sandbag without the President hearing the shots.
Modern Context and Trivia
Terminology: The term “silencer” is a misnomer; devices typically reduce sound to 117–145 dB, which is still louder than a heavy metal concert, but they change the sound signature and protect hearing.
Military Issuance: In 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps began issuing suppressors to combat units, aiming to have 30,000 by the end of 2023 to improve squad communication.
Pre-Maxim Patents: Earlier patents included a 1892 design by Swiss inventor Jakob Stahel for cattle slaughter, and a 1901 patent by British inventor Charles Hinton.
Cold War Use: The suppressed Mk 22 “Hush Puppy” pistol was used by Navy SEALs and underwater demolition teams, while Francis Gary Powers carried a suppressed .22 pistol during his U-2 mission.