Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-26
Mr.. Maxim Explains the SiIeneer.

| k1HdIl IeTSy |NdAiui VI AAoA tAOAus ~
an interesting letter regarding the re-
markable device which he has invented
for muffling or deadening the explosion
of firearms. Mr.. Maxim is a son o.
the famous Maine-born inventor and is
| showing himself plainly capable OF
doing things on his own account. HE
so-called silencer has aroused prompt
and protracted discussion in all sec
tions, and many states, Maine among
them, have proceeded to pass laws for
bidding the use of such device except
by military organizations authorized
by law to bear arms. OF course the
chief value of such an invention lies
in its use in warfare and many per-
sons have felt that it's use in times CT
peace would aid criminals in their
work, especially would-be murderers
and game poachers.
In Chapter 129 of the Public Laws
of the 74th Legislature, the sale, use or
possession of such a device is for
hidden under penalty of a fine of 500
or imprisonment not exceeding 90
days. Mr. Maxim, naturally enough.
thinks that these laws are very I'M
necessary and that the objections to
put it mildly, are very i'll founded. He
goes on to explain in his letter that no
silencer has yet been invented, or
seems possible, which will deaden the
noise of a pistol or revolver, hence the
criminals is materially lessened. He
also explains that while the silencer
deadens the explosion of the rifle %
which it is attached there is neverthe-
less a very distinct and characteristic
noise caused by the bullet ripping
through the air. We are glad to give
Mr.. MaXm's letter in full-although as
the law forbidding the use of the
silencer here in Maine has been passed,
it can have no influence upon our
Maine lawmakers-and hope that ii
will be given a careful reading since
the subject of which it treats has been
much discussed by persons little in
formed.
Editors Kennebec Journal:
In view of the agitation that has APP
peared in your State against the so-called
''.loiseless CAIN" | would request space
In which to give you reasons why this
agitation is, to put it very mildly. ILL
founded.
The criticism of the so-called Noise,
less Gun" is that it shoots in silence and
therefore In secrecy. Those of us VINO
are untrammeed by facts jump TO me
thus, means that anything can be killed
thus, in silence and in secrecy. Upon
this they build a lurid story of death ana
e determination. If 1t were only that the
facts could be ignored, this might be SO.
But fortunately. facts must be taken into
account. Now | would suggest that these
facts be considered,
| have found a way to silence from %
70 to $3.50 of noise made at the muZzle OF
a rifle. 1t might be thought that TINS
cuts out all the noise of firing, but this
is where the wrong conclusion is Jumped
It does not cut out nearly an the NOISE.
There is a lot of very curious noise left:
| say curious for it is very curious. and
cannot be described by words. 1t seems
to he a general, all-pervading, reverber-
dtOIN SOTl Ol 1OlSe, cOIlllHS HUN ilo"HCit
in particular. One of its astonishing prop
Ell ties Is that 1t seems to depend upon the
of the country over which
you shoot. For example, 800 rifle
fired up into the air makes less noise than
a boys air rifle. The same gun brought
down and fired acros field in which
there are trees and bushes makes loud,
curious reverberation, which may pc
woods the noise is like that which comes
after a flash of lightning and just before
the arrival of a thunder clap. 1t suggests
a tearing" or ripping
Der of people. [ have experimented,
long time. and I have found that this
noise is entirely apart from the gun; |
call it oxEun nose because of use ,n mas
self. 1t is made by the bullet tearing its
way through the air. Most people think
Il bullet makes a whine. whistle. or a
screech. 1t does at old-fashioned. low
does nothing of the sort; however; 1t.
on the contrary, makes loud Crack or
explosive SNAP if you will go down
prove this by taking up a position, say
200 yards from a rifleman. and letting the
latter shoot so the bullet will pass him.
say as near as 80 or 60 feet. Let him
hide behind a rock if he cannot trust the
man with the gun. When the bullet
passes he will hear loud crack which
will astonish him. 1t sounds directly over
ms mead no matter now he may ne stand
ing. II the gun has a silencer fitted to it
this "crack' of the bullet is all he will
hear. If the gun has no siencer he will
first hear the crack, for the bullet gets
to him faster than the sound of the gun
can, and after an interval he will hear
the crashing boom of the gun.
/ have made many hundreds of silencers
and sold them all over the world. in fact
the Maxim Silent Firearms Company of
New York are regularly supplying 81
lencers for all caibres of guns to the
shooters of the country. but [ have yet
to find one man who has known about this
bullet noise until he began using si-
lencer. The thing which seems particu-
larry surprising is the fact that the noise
which is heard seems to come from
down the range back toward the gun,
instead of directly from the gun itself
Now this is just where the only advan-
tage which the slencer gives over game.
comes in. The noise heard by an animal
being fired at, is no different than has
ever been the case. excepting in the one
respect of the boom of the gun itself.
Game will not hear this. and when start
led by the bullet noise they may run
toward the gun. There are many other
dire ctions which they may choose. how
ever. so in reality the chances of advan-
tage are really very slim. This is absolut
~ all there is to it. as far as effect on
game life is concerned A silencer makes
gun shoot ''sweetly" as the President of
the National Rife Association has said. 1t