Hi Max,

For France, the first reference about a suppressor is from the work of Colonel Gustave Humbert, around 1900, and his patent n°323574 delivered the 18th june 1902.

The Maxim suppressor seems very similar to the Humbert suppressor, the only change being that the obstacles are forming a spiral.

Colonel Humbert patented a second (and simpler) suppressor in 1915 (n°475519), which looks like a "pepper pot" muzzle brake with a can around the muzzle brake, and metal wool or non-combustible rags filling the space between the muzzle brake and the external tube.

Hi Emeric,

that's a start, thank you.

was there any specific work on suppressors and their use in the Interbellum and during the Cold War?

I know French designers tried a captive-piston internally suppressed design shortly after the WW2 in a modified MAS-36 rifle, but apparently this went to nowhere.

mpopenker said:

was there any specific work on suppressors and their use in the Interbellum and during the Cold War?

Nothing I'm familiar with, but I will check!

that will be much appreciated, thanks