A classic suppressor screws onto the muzzle thread and sits entirely in front of it. An integrated one works differently: its body slides over the barrel, and only part of its length extends past the muzzle. On Tihon’s production rifle models, 100 mm of the body sits over the barrel.
This creates a large primary chamber around the barrel where the propellant gases go first. That chamber is why an integrated suppressor is quieter than a classic one, and why the rifle is often shorter.
Where integrated suppressors came from
The idea of building the suppressor into the firearm rather than screwing it onto the barrel took shape in Britain during the Second World War. Among the first such designs were the Welrod pistol, the Sten Mk II(S) submachine gun and the De Lisle carbine, designed in 1942 and built in a run of only about 129.
The best-known post-war example is the Heckler & Koch MP5SD, introduced in 1974. Its barrel has 30 holes of 2.5 mm: some of the gas bleeds into the suppressor before the muzzle, and the bullet slows to subsonic speed. The VSS Vintorez and the Turkish MKE T94 SD, a civilian version of the MP5SD, use the same ported-barrel layout.
About the name: ours are “pseudo-integrated”
On the MP5SD or the Vintorez, the suppressor cannot be separated from the ported barrel — these are true integral systems. Our Integra models fit a normal barrel without holes, so the more precise name is pseudo-integrated, or over-barrel.
“Pseudo” does not mean worse. The part of the body that sits over the barrel forms a large primary gas chamber, and that makes the suppressor quieter than a classic one. We also build true integral suppressors for ported barrels, to order.
Why a rifle with an integrated suppressor is shorter
Take two models from one series. The classic MARA L is 180 mm long and all of it extends past the muzzle. The integrated MARA L INTEGRA is longer, 260 mm, but 100 mm of that sits over the barrel. It extends only 260 − 100 = 160 mm forward, which is 2 cm less.
Two centimetres are noticeable in your hands: the less mass sits in front of the muzzle, the easier the rifle swings and the faster it comes back on target. In other series the difference is even bigger:
| Series | Classic | Integrated | Integrated extends | Shorter by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARA L | 180 mm | 260 mm | 160 mm | 2 cm |
| Oberig L | 180 mm | 250 mm | 150 mm | 3 cm |
| Vihor L | 200 mm | 270 mm | 170 mm | 3 cm |
To be fair about the downside: an integrated suppressor is about 100 g heavier than the classic one (MARA L is 380 g, MARA L INTEGRA is 480 g). But most of that weight sits over the barrel, closer to the shooter, so it affects the balance less than the same grams at the end of a classic suppressor.
How much quieter: 2–4 dB
We compared classic and integrated pairs from the same series. The integrated one is 2–4 dB quieter:
| Series | Classic | Integrated | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARA L | −36 dB | −38 dB | 2 dB |
| Oberig L | −34 dB | −36 dB | 2 dB |
| Vihor L | −33 dB | −35 dB | 2 dB |
| MARA XL | −36 dB | −38 dB | 2 dB |
| Oberig XL | −34 dB | −38 dB | 4 dB |
| Vihor XL | −32 dB | −34 dB | 2 dB |
| Carbon L | −38 dB | −40 dB | 2 dB |
| Carbon XL | −40 dB | −42 dB | 2 dB |
On paper 2–4 dB looks small, but decibels are a logarithmic scale: minus 2 dB is 1.6 times less sound energy, minus 4 dB is 2.5 times less. We explained the maths in “How decibels work”.
Polyurethane sleeve included
All our integrated suppressors come with a polyurethane sleeve. It protects your rifle’s barrel from scratches during fitting and damps unwanted vibration when you fire.
Three types of Tihon integrated suppressors
All models are listed under Integrated suppressors. By purpose, they fall into three fundamentally different series.
Integra Premium — for bolt-action rifles
This series is made only for bolt-action rifles, so it has no gas relief system, and that makes it as quiet as possible. It comes in all-titanium — Integra Premium L and Integra Premium XL — and in carbon: Carbon L-Integra and Carbon XL Integra.
The difference is not just the body material. The carbon models have more complex, more refined internals that weigh more, yet the light body makes the whole suppressor lighter. So for less weight you get a quieter suppressor:
| Model | Body | Weight | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integra Premium L | titanium | 500 g | −38 dB |
| Carbon L-Integra | carbon | 490 g | −40 dB |
| Integra Premium XL | titanium | 570 g | −38 dB |
| Carbon XL Integra | carbon | 540 g | −42 dB |
MARA Integra, Oberig Integra, Vihor Integra — for semi-automatics
These three series are made specifically for semi-automatic rifles and have a gas relief system. Thanks to it, less gas blows back into the shooter’s face, the case ejects consistently at 3 o’clock, and the rifle does not overgas. All three series are all-titanium and, in standard form, sit 100 mm over the barrel.
MARA Integra is the newest series, Oberig Integra the previous one, and Vihor Integra the one before that, proven over years. The .223 and 5.45 line shows how each newer series gets quieter and lighter:
| Model | Weight | Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| MARA L INTEGRA | 480 g | −38 dB |
| Oberig L-Integra | 530 g | −36 dB |
| Vihor Integra-L | 545 g | −35 dB |
For .308 and similar calibres there are the MARA XL INTEGRA, Oberig XL-Integra and Vihor Integra-XL.
Titan Integra — for 9 mm and rimfire
This series covers 9 mm as well as .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR. The suppressors fully come apart: the body and the first baffle are titanium, the rest of the internals are high-grade duralumin. The low impulse of these cartridges does not need the complex multi-stage system of the rifle models, and the take-down design makes cleaning quick — these calibres are very dirty.
Titan Integra 9 is well known among owners of civilian carbines such as the KelTec SUB2000, MKE T94, Inter Ordnance M215 and AKDAS SA-9 HP. How far it sits over the barrel depends on the carbine. For rimfire rifles there is the Integra WMR.
Made to order and custom projects
If a model is not in stock, we make the integrated suppressor to order with prepayment, usually within 10 working days. We also take on custom projects: a different over-barrel length, an unusual carbine, or a ported barrel — rare, but they exist.
One example is our suppressor for the MKE T94 SD that replaces the factory one. It is shorter (260 mm vs 320 mm), lighter (345 g vs 500 g) and quieter: down to −40 dB with subsonic ammunition. You will find it among the options of the Titan Integra 9 MKE/MP5.
How to fit an integrated suppressor
An integrated suppressor needs 100 mm of clear barrel behind the muzzle and a thread.
- Front sight on the barrel. If a front sight near the muzzle is in the way, it has to come off. On any AK the front sight has to be removed and the barrel threaded — models for 5.45×39 and 7.62×39 are under AK suppressors.
- No thread, or a damaged one. We cut a new thread or restore a worn one, and restore the muzzle crown geometry, which wears over time.
We do all of this in our workshop in Kharkiv — see services and prices.
Why a Ukrainian Tihon suppressor
- We have been making suppressors in Kharkiv since 2015.
- 36-month warranty on the MARA, Oberig, Vihor, Integra Premium and Carbon series; 12 months on Titan Integra.
- Service close by: suppressor cleaning, threading, fitting.
- The suppressor is built for your specific rifle and over-barrel length, usually within 10 working days.
Not sure which model fits your rifle? Message or call us — we will help you choose and advise on the thread and fitting.
FAQ
How is an integrated suppressor different from a classic one?
A classic suppressor screws onto the thread and sits entirely in front of the muzzle. An integrated one slides over the barrel (100 mm on our rifle models), so the rifle is often shorter and the shot 2–4 dB quieter.
Can an integrated suppressor go on an AK?
Yes. The front sight has to come off and the barrel needs a thread — we do this in Kharkiv. Models for 5.45×39 and 7.62×39 are under AK suppressors.
Will an integrated suppressor work on a semi-automatic?
Yes. The MARA Integra, Oberig Integra and Vihor Integra series are built for semi-automatics and have a gas relief system. Integra Premium is for bolt-action rifles only.
How long is the wait if a model is not in stock?
We make it to order with prepayment, usually within 10 working days.
