Both out on the range and on the 2018 SHOT Show floor, I was lucky enough to get some time to catch up with my friends at Gemtech Suppressors. After a dynamic 2017 – being bought by Springfield, Massachusetts based Smith & Wesson and losing their former CEO, the team seems to be on solid ground and virtually free of acquisition growing pains.

Above, you are looking at a historical moment for silencers. That particular Aurora II suppressor is one of the first Gemtech Silencers to be manufactured at S&W headquarters in Springfield. It is unclear at the moment how many models will be built at the mothership facility.

Although they didn’t have anything brand new to show off this year at SHOT, there are several models in development that could work their way in to dealers hands later this year. Stay tuned to TFB for updates in the months to come.

From Gemtech’s blog – Gemtech Suppressors Aurora II:

The Aurora was originally designed as a silencer who’s primary function thrives in a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) environment for downed aircrew behind enemy lines. In this capacity, it truly shines. Its small size and weight lends itself well to stowage in the survival equipment vest, which allows aircrew to conduct SERE operations as needed.

Downed aircrew will typically have a service pistol with a threaded barrel, and upon ditching an aircraft should affix the Aurora II directly to the sidearm. This allows downed aircrew to dispatch of small patrols if absolutely necessary. Equipment seized from a small patrol is a significant force multiplier for a downed aircrew.

The aurora is extremely small and lightweight, and is packed with wipes and petroleum jelly. With 124 NATO ball ammunition, it will typically be hearing safe at the shooter for more than 2 full magazines. The updated Aurora II has 8 wipes separated by 3 baffles. The baffles and the wipes are symmetric. As long as the assembly stack goes 2 wipes, baffle, 2 wipes, baffle, there’s no way to put it together incorrectly. The premier update of the Aurora II is the ability to thread on either a ½-28 barrel or an M13-X1LH barrel. This allows the silencer to be used without adapters to any factory threaded 9mm pistol. When the wipes are shot out, the user can send the silencer to the GEMTECH facility for factory rebuild.

The Aurora II functions without a Nielson device (LID) because it is incredibly short and lightweight; making it ideal for aircrew survival equipment. In aviation (and military operations in general), less parts is ALWAYS better.

The rich history of the Aurora II, coupled with its novel application, make the Aurora II an innovative modernization of a timeless classic of function and form.

Author: Travis Bundy