Hi all

I'm looking for sources (online and books) on the early history of suppressed firearms, especially up to and including WW2 and Cold war. I know more or less decent sources on American and Russian developments, but almost nothing on such in other countries like France, Germany etc.

Any help and pointers are greatly apreciated.

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