A rendering of the capsule-based suppressor. (Photo: SIG/USPTO)
Rumor and the patent office have it that SIG Sauer is working on a new type of ultra-portable suppressor for duty pistols. SIG calls it the Integral Eccentric Firearm Silencer on the patent application, designed for use with the P320 series of pistols.
Unlike conventional suppressors, SIG’s suppressor is only good for a few shots before it wears out. The trade-off is extreme portability. This suppressor is only slightly larger than a pistol compensator and it can be holstered and carried all day, every day.
The idea is to give people like police officers and law enforcement a little extra ear protection should they ever get in a gunfight. This is not a suppressor for a day at the range.
Like early suppressors, the SIG design uses ablative capsules to mitigate noise. During use, the capsules break up and will then need replacing. The drawings appear to show a couple of conventional baffles and an expansion chamber as well, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the suppressor still helps cut noise even with worn-out capsules.
What doesn’t appear in the drawings is some kind of recoil device or booster. With a device this small it’s possible that it just doesn’t need one. Conventional suppressors often weigh so much that they prevent tilting barrel-action recoil guns from cycling.
A cut-away drawing shows some interesting details. (Photo: SIG/USPTO)
This unit may be light enough to not hamper cycling. That may also make it a little more efficient for its size.
“It is great for police officers,” said Q engineer and patentee Ethan Lessard, formerly of SIG. “Like, you get two, three shots at hearing safe pressure levels, and it affects nothing else.”
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Lessard explained that the capsules don’t degrade over time. “You assemble this, put it in your holster, and it lasts as long as the outside of the gel capsule lasts,” he said.
It will be interesting to see how SIG decides to go forward with this concept, if it turns out to be viable. Cost will definitely be a deciding factor if departments and agencies are going to adopt something like this for regular sworn officers.
We know SIG can make the P320 affordable, but the suppressor and its maintenance will have to be inexpensive as well.
Also, from the looks of the drawings, there doesn’t appear to be any need for this to be a SIG exclusive. While there could be a mechanical reason to pair it with a suppressor-specific P320, if there isn’t, then a lot of departments — and everyday gun owners — would be interested in something like this.
Would you be interested in a limited-use suppressor for everyday carry and home defense? Let us know what you think in the comments!