Suppressor Manufacturers

From Hiram Maxim’s first silencer company to today’s titanium and 3D-printed cans, here are the makers who shaped the suppressor. For the bigger picture, see the Suppressor Timeline.

The Pioneers (1909–1970s)

1909 — Maxim Silent Firearms Company: Hiram Percy Maxim puts the first commercially successful American silencers into production. The Model 1909 was soon followed by the improved Model 1910.

1960s — SIONICS: Mitchell WerBell builds suppressors for military and intelligence work. His designs paved the way for the suppressed MAC submachine guns.

Early 1970s — Military Armament Corporation (MAC): MAC develops suppressors for the MAC-10 and MAC-11, building on the SIONICS work.

Late 1970s — Automatic Weapons Company: Dr. Philip Dater starts licensed commercial suppressor production. Dater later founded Gemtech and is often called a father of the modern suppressor industry.

Military and Pro Era (1980s–1990s)

Mid-1980s — AWC Systems Technology: AWC builds a large family of rifle, pistol, submachine gun and integrally suppressed designs.

1980s — Knight’s Armament Company: KAC becomes a major supplier of military suppressors and complete suppressed weapon systems.

1988 — OPS Inc: OPS Inc focuses on precision rifle cans. Its 12th Model suppressor became closely tied to the Mk12 Special Purpose Rifle.

1993 — Gemtech: Founded in Boise, Idaho, by Dr. Phil Dater, Gemtech becomes one of the first broad-line suppressor brands, from rimfire to rifle. Smith & Wesson bought it in 2017.

1994 — SWR Manufacturing: This South Carolina maker builds well-known cans like the Warlock, Spectre, Octane and Specwar. SilencerCo acquired SWR in 2011.

1994 — Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC): Founded by Kevin Brittingham, AAC defines the 2000s with cans like the M4-2000 and helps create the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge. Remington’s parent company bought AAC in 2009.

Late 1990s — Bowers: Tom Bowers starts with high-volume submachine gun cans and expands into pistol, rimfire and big-bore models like the Vers 458 and Vers 50.

The Boom (2000s)

Early 2000s — SureFire: The flashlight maker builds hard-use rifle suppressors focused on durability, flash reduction and quick attachment.

2005 — Yankee Hill Machine: A machine shop since the 1960s, YHM starts making affordable suppressors like the Phantom and Resonator, then expands into pistol and rimfire.

2005 — Griffin Armament: Founded by combat-veteran sniper brothers Austin and Evan Green in Watertown, Wisconsin. Griffin is known for modular and low-backpressure designs.

2005 — Silencer Central: Starting as South Dakota Silencer, it grows into one of the largest suppressor dealers and later launches its own Banish line, built by Mack Brothers.

2007 — Innovative Arms: Builds traditional suppressors plus integrally suppressed rimfire, pistol and rifle guns.

2007–2008 — Thunder Beast Arms: Founded by precision rifle competitors, TBAC focuses on long-range cans like the Ultra, Dominus and Magnus lines.

2008 — SilencerCo: Founded in Utah by Josh Waldron and Jonathon Shults, SilencerCo starts with the Sparrow .22 can. It grows into one of the biggest brands, with the Osprey, Omega, Salvo 12 shotgun can and integrally suppressed Maxim 9.

The New Wave (2010s–2020s)

Early 2010s — OSS / HUXWRX: OSS uses flow-through designs that cut backpressure instead of traditional baffles. The company later rebranded as HUXWRX.

2014 — Dead Air: Founded by Mike Pappas and Todd Magee, both formerly of SilencerCo. Dead Air launches with the Sandman and expands into pistol, rimfire and modular cans.

2014 — Rugged Suppressors: Rugged builds its name on modular cans like the Surge and Obsidian.

2014 — CGS Group: CGS makes rifle, pistol and rimfire cans and is an early adopter of 3D-printed internals.

2016 — Q: AAC founder Kevin Brittingham starts Q, known for quirky names and solid designs like the Trash Panda and Thunder Chicken.

2017 — Energetic Armament: Lightweight, advanced-material cans for rifle, pistol and rimfire. Summit Sound Technologies acquired the brand in 2022.

2010s–2020s — SIG SAUER: The big gun maker builds a full suppressor line. A SIG suppressor is part of the U.S. Army’s new XM7 rifle system.

2020s — Otter Creek Labs: A fast-growing newer maker known for the OCM5, PR30 and Polonium rifle cans.

Who owns whom

• SWR → SilencerCo (2011)
• AAC → Remington’s parent company (2009)
• Gemtech → Smith & Wesson (2017)
• Energetic Armament → Summit Sound Technologies (2022)

Brand names are trademarks of their owners. Founding dates are the best available and may vary by source.