The Freudian History of the Firearm Silencer

Clockwise from Upper Left: Sir Hiram Maxim, 1840–1916, with his instrument of death and control. Hiram Percy Maxim, 1869–1936, listening to shortwave radio. Daniel Craig as James Bond brandishing Bond’s trademark Walther PPK with silencer attachment.

In one of the most poetically Freudian bits of sound-related history possible, the inventor of the firearm silencer (Hiram Percy Maxim, 1869–1936 — right, in headphones) was the son of the inventor of the machine gun (Sir Hiram Maxim, 1840–1916 ).

Hiram Sr.’s Maxim Machine Gun is credited as the tool most responsible for British colonialist empire, having been used to mow down countless indigenous human beings in the name of British conquest.

Hiram Jr. was also a pioneer of radio, inventing the radio relay station which significantly extended the geographical reach of early radio broadcasting. A connoisseur of silencing the mechanical, Hiram Jr also invented the automobile muffler.

Hiram Percy Maxim’s US patent for the ‘Silent Firearm’ (1909).

Advertising for the Firearm Silencer in the early 20th century called it ‘interesting’, ‘wonderful’, and ‘fascinating’. An advert in Popular Science magazine from April 1920 touted the silencer’s ability to help women shoot guns ‘with certain aim’ since the silencer eliminated the harsh noise and recoil which usually hampered those dainty little flowers in their quest to shoot like daddy. The silencer ‘makes target practice and small arms shooting a fascinating pastime for the whole family’!

Early 20th Century advertising for the Maxim Silencer.