SILENCER SATURDAY #132: Suppressed Pen Gun – Two Stamp Quill
Good afternoon dear readers and Happy Independence Day for all our fellow Americans. Welcome back to another edition of TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by our friends at Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturer’s of the eagerly anticipated YHM R9 suppressor. Last week we debuted the Dead Air Nomad-TI, an excellent edition to their 30 caliber lineup. This week we go slightly off-grid with a Suppressed Pen Gun from Cotton Branch Custom Firearms – a two stamp Any Other Weapon (AOW) and silencer in a discreet form factor. No, I’m not an assassin in training; pen guns are unique firearms and suppressing one has been a goal of mine for a number of years. Let’s take a look.
SILENCER SATURDAY #132: Suppressed Pen Gun – Two Stamp Quill
If you’ve learned anything about me over the years, I like unique guns. Guns with a specific purpose or character. The suppressed Pen 15 from Cotton Branch Custom is one of these firearms. I’m not sure how often I’ll shoot it, but it is one of the most unique setups in my inventory.
Not that you need my guidance, but if you decide to buy one of these neat pieces of engineering, don’t try and play James Bond and carry this past security checkpoints, even inadvertently.
We’ve covered Any Other Weapons here in the past, so I won’t belabor the explanation, but if a firearm doesn’t look like a gun when it fires a bullet, it’s classified as an NFA item and requires a $5 transfer tax stamp (Form 4) or a $200 making tax stamp (Form 1). This model requires two Form 4’s – one for the silencer and one for the gun itself. Finally I’ll have an AOW stamp for my collection.
AOW’s And Pen Guns @ TFB:Specifications: Cotton Branch Custom Firearms – Pen 15
- Manufacturer’s Website: https://cottonbranchcustom.com
- Contact: Josh@cottonbranch.com
- Instagram: cottonbranchcustom
- Weight: 8.5 ounces
- Length: 8.5 inches
- Caliber: .22LR
- Action: Single Shot
- Pricing: $500-$1,000 depending on options and materials.
- Note: I requested a custom color scheme to match a Montblanc fountain pen to stand out a bit. Standard finish is raw/brushed stainless.
Design & Assembly: Cotton Branch Custom Firearms – Pen 15
The suppressed Pen 15 is a bit long to be mistaken as a pen, but has the look of a tool with a cap or one of those old pen lights we used to get at the hardware store.
Removing the 1/2 x 28 thread protector allows the silencer tube to slide off the monocore baffle system.
The monocore and chamber unscrew from the receiver.
A rear end plug retains the firing pin spring for the straight pull-back and release bolt
The rimfire chamber has a half-side cutout to allow the firing pin to make contact with the rim for the cartridge.
A cartridge is dropped into the chamber and the silencer is reattached to the receiver.
Firing is accomplished by pulling back on the bolt and releasing all in one motion. There is no manual or automatic safety of any kind.
The internal volume is small and the monocore baffles are straight, but with subsonic ammunition it is pretty quiet. I’d rank it up with the Pill Box from GSL Technology. Add a bit of wire pulling gel or other ablative material and it gets even quieter.
Ammunitio Used:
Of course, since the end of the monocore is threaded 1/2 x 28, you can add another silencer for an extra quiet three stamp gun that looks like a fancy torch.
The high velocity rounds were louder, but I don’t think they made a supersonic crack. I’ll use the Labradar to verify velocities at a later date.
Conclusions: Cotton Branch Custom Firearms – Pen 15
For an AOW firearm and integral suppressor, the Pen 15 is a neat conversation piece with just a hint of utility. I do wish it had a lock-back safety to avoid accidental discharges. But overall it is a well made piece with decent suppression and moderate accuracy from shorter ranges.
Thanks for reading. Be safe, have fun and we’ll see you back here next weekend for another Silencer Saturday.
Silencer Saturday is Sponsored by Yankee Hill Machine:
Buy YHM silencers and accessories at:
DEALERS: If you want your link to buy YHM suppressors included in future Silencer Saturday posts, email: silencers@thefirearmblog.com
Silencers - Science Pete@thefirearmblog.com
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Pen guns are neat, but since you have to load them immediately before firing, the clandestine nature of the design is rather diluted.
A while back, I envisioned a modern Welwand, firing 22LR. It would be designed to take any conventional 1" rimfire suppressor, with a long trigger bar running from a button at the muzzle to the actual sear at the back. Ideally, it would have some kind of rebounding striker, so that it could be safely carried loaded with the striker decompressed. To fire, you would need to draw back the striker, aim, and then press the button. It would basically be like holding a side-switch flashlight, except with the button even closer to the muzzle. Bonus points for making it actually resemble a flashlight. Extra super bonus points for incorporating a small, enclosed cylinder, like the Arsenal Inc revolver knife and revolver briefcase.
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I can see the use for this in specific application "survival" kits. I think a suppressor made with wipes or a modular wipes/baffles suppressor would be great!