Canton Ohio custom gunmaker Middlebranch Machine has released a teaser image of a new kind of suppressor, which they say is made of “carbon fiber composite” construction. Unlike previous efforts at making carbon fiber suppressors, Middlebranch Machine’s design does not seem to use a straight carbon-fiber tubing body, but appears to be 3D printed, instead. This is strongly suggested by the background of the image which shows a customized Glock with a unique looking suppressor in front of what is probably a Markforged Mark Two carbon fiber 3D printer. Mark Twos are some of the only carbon fiber 3D printing machines in the world.

There have been few previous attempts at making suppressors out of carbon fiber. Though light and strong, carbon fiber tubing is not an especially good material for making suppressors. YouTuber gommie404 has a very interesting and entertaining video (embedded below) on constructing homemade aluminum/carbon fiber hybrid suppressors. In the video, he notes that straight carbon fiber tubes eventually fail, as the propellant gasses eventually stretch and work their way through the fibers, resulting in wall breaches. This phenomenon evidently plagued the carbon fiber suppressors made by Shooter’s Depot some years ago.

It seems likely that the printed construction of the MM suppressor will help compensate for this problem. However, it’s not yet well established how strong printed carbon fiber is, versus the conventional weaved variety.