My favorite part of this job—surprisingly —isn’t testing new guns or getting review samples before everyone else gets to see a new product. It’s visiting manufacturers and seeing how they operate. Seeing how the sausage is made, meeting the people behind the products, and getting a feel for a company’s culture can turn me into a believer—or, sometimes, a detractor.
I try to look beyond the marketing spiels, talk to the people who are actually doing the work, and pay attention to what’s happening around me. That’s especially important with smaller or startup companies, where you’re often evaluating the person behind the business as much as the product itself. That was my focus when I visited TiGuard Technologies, a new suppressor maker here in my backyard in Akron, Ohio.
Another New Suppressor Company
I get it. Another new suppressor manufacturer. Do we need more? Maybe…ehh, probably not. But what we need is people who take pride in their craft and provide a product and service you don’t typically find.
Jason (Jay) Carmel, the founder of TiGuard, spent the better part of three decades in the custom tool and die space. He started working in a shop at 14, literally sweeping floors. Those experiences gave him the foundation for being both a perfectionist and a talented machinist.
The idea of building suppressors started about two years ago. Jay knew he had all the equipment. He just needed to dive in. And dive in, he did. He spent those two years designing and perfecting his flagship line, all while keeping up with his custom tool and die backlog. The result? One of the most unique suppressor offerings I’ve seen.
A Unique Approach
While much of the suppressor industry is moving toward additive manufacturing (3D printing), TiGuard is taking a more traditional approach, using mills and CNC machines to build its titanium suppressors. Hence the Ti in TiGuard And unlike many lightweight titanium cans, TiGuard’s are built for serious use.
Each suppressor starts as a 3mm-thick (1.5″ diameter) titanium tube that goes through the entire machining process. These are beefy cans, and while some may see that as a drawback, I see it as an advantage. Titanium is exceptionally strong and offers excellent weather and corrosion resistance—both valuable traits in a suppressor.
While most titanium cans I’ve used are designed for bolt guns or handguns, TiGuard’s are built to live on the end of an AR-15. That durability and intended use have caught the attention of several police departments throughout northeast Ohio.
The Lineup
TiGuard has three main lines: the Cipher Series (PVD-coated), Designator Series (laser-imaged), and the Black Out Series (Cerakote). The Cipher is TiGuard’s flagship model and comes in 5.56, 6.5mm, and .30 cal diameters. You can choose the color, end cap, flow, muzzle attachment, thread pitch, and length (from 5.5” to 11.25”). All of the Ciphers are PVD-coated to match titanium’s durability. Starting price is $899.
The Designator is for those who want to stand out. Users can select from a variety of images to be laser-engraved on the suppressor body. All other options remain the same except for color—this is a raw, unfinished suppressor with a starting price is $799.
The Black Out maintains all the features of the Cipher series, but rather than a PVD finish, you can choose from a range of Cerakote finishes. This one may be TiGuard’s most popular option. The starting price is $799.
Made to Order
Those options sound great, but they aren’t what sets TiGuard apart. TiGuard offers a custom suppressor service, something you rarely see in the suppressor world.
Under the Blackout Custom line, customers can choose from different lengths, bore diameters, attachment methods, colors, exterior designs, front caps, and baffle configurations. And if you don’t see the option you need, just give TiGuard a call. The company came from a custom tool and die background. If you can dream it, Jay can make it reality.
That custom work extends beyond suppressors. Jay also supports the local community through gunsmithing and machining projects. As I write this, Jay and his Cerakote guru, Joe, are giving new life to a POF MP5 clone.
As Jay and his team continue building TiGuard, the goal is to eventually become a full-service shop. Suppressors will be the bread and butter, but Jay wants to expand TiGuard’s capabilities to service all kinds of firearm platforms. Local communities need that. The days of the local gunsmith are disappearing. Jay’s trying to fill that void.
What TiGuard is doing is fascinating, and Jay is clearly a talented machinist. But none of that matters as much as his drive and belief in what he’s building. It came across clearly the first time we talked.
While I was there, Jay showed me a suppressor that had failed inspection and asked me to find the blemish. I gave it my best shot, but was flummoxed. I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. He eventually pointed out a thread that was slightly off. I’ve seen much worse from some of the biggest suppressor makers, but 99% wasn’t good enough for him. It had to be right. So what did he do? He started over.
In 2026, when new suppressor manufacturers seem to pop up like weeds after a thunderstorm, TiGuard is worth watching. The company is doing something different while staying true to old school American craftsmanship. And Jay isn’t settling for “good enough.”