SIG Sauer Patent Integrally Suppressed Pistol

Matthew Moss
by Matthew Moss
SIG’s newly patented suppressed pistol (US Patent Office)

SIG Sauer have been granted a patent for what they have called an ‘Integral eccentric firearm silencer’. The firearm appears to be based on the popular P320, with an elongated frame and an added silencer/suppressor module. The patent was filed in March 2016, and granted on July 24th.

The suppressor itself has a “removable, disposable and replaceable” wet section, which can be filled with water, oil, gel or grease to help reduce noise. The patent explains that this may take the form of a ‘user-replaceable item’ such as a capsule. This along with the suppressor’s integral expansion chamber would reduce the report of the pistol for the first few rounds. How easily and quickly the wet capsule can be replaced is not discussed. Being a wet suppressor it is likely only the first few rounds fired would benefit from the silencer before the medium in the capsule is exhausted.

Left side partial sectional representation of SIG Sauer's Integral eccentric firearm silencer (US Patent Office)

The patent’s abstract describes the silencer:

An eccentric firearm silencer includes an elongate body having a projectile entry end, a projectile exit end opposite the projectile entry end, a bore extending through the projectile entry end and the projectile exit end for conducting a projectile there through, and a longitudinal axis X passing through the bore. The elongate body is configured to be coupled, rotatably about or slidably parallel to the longitudinal axis X, to a barrel of the firearm at or near the projectile entry end. The elongate body includes a propellant gas expansion chamber disposed adjacent to, and in fluid communication with, the bore for receiving a propellant gas. The elongate body includes a capsule container mounted eccentrically adjacent to, and in fluid communication with, the propellant gas expansion chamber. The capsule container is configured to receive therein a capsule or ablative cartridge containing an amorphous solid or a liquid.

The patent lists the inventor as Ethan Lessard, while its assignee is SIG Sauer. Lessard worked for SIG from 2002 until 2016, with five years as a senior designer for the company before leaving to become Vice President of Design at Q, a company he formed with friend, and former owner of Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC), Kevin Brittingham. Lessard has as many as 20 firearms-related patents to his name.

While working along very different lines SIG’s Integral eccentric firearm silencer equipped-pistol might prove a rival for the SilencerCo Maxim9 suppressed pistol. If SIG take the pistol to production the end product may differ significantly, with slide and frame length likely to be variable.

Left side representation of SIG Sauer's Integral eccentric firearm silencer (US Patent Office)

Check out the full patent here.

Matthew Moss
Matthew Moss

Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com

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  • 24and7 24and7 on Aug 07, 2018

    Whatever you do don't hold your breath about suppressors being made legal.. the law will never change about suppressors..and if anything they will be more restrictive laws regarding ownership of them coming.. just plan on continuing to pay the $200 tax until then.. if it was going to pass it would have already..

  • HMSLion HMSLion on Aug 07, 2018

    Damn! I had a similar idea YEARS ago and didn't patent it. And should have.

    OK...go read the patent. The idea is brilliant...use the shock wave coming out of the bore to propel a small amount of coolant INTO the suppressor. The shock wave will propagate faster through a semi-solid or a liquid faster than through air, so what you have is an ablative/coolant being sprayed directly into the hot propellant gases.

    Yes, it's only going to be good for a dozen shots or so before recharging. But this is meant to go head-to-head with the Gemtech Aurora. Take a close look at the patent drawings. What I'm seeing is a M17 frame, with the M18 slide and barrel...and the suppressor on the front end. So the whole affair isn't too ungainly, and doesn't need to be assembled. You could holster it.

    I want one.

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