The Cutts Compensator was once a very familiar sight for North American shooters—you could buy them for your shotgun, and they came as standard equipment on the Thompson submachine gun for years as well, before World War II production demands meant the design had to be streamlined. The Cutts Compensator disappeared from the market many years ago, but now, as muzzle devices return to the mainstream, a new version of this device has hit the market. Aftermarket add-ons @ TFB: Silencer Saturday #414: AAC Legacy Suppressors Return (...kind of) Lyman Introduces the GuardianGrip for Small Frame Revolvers [SHOT 2026] Gunslinger Tactical SeraphIM Multi-Light/Laser Device New Minimalist Night Sights for Colt Python by XS Sight What did the Cutts Compensator do?The intention behind the original Cutts Compensator was to reduce your gun’s muzzle climb as well as its recoil. The idea was that the ports cut into the compensator’s body would redirect gasses in such a way that your gun was more controllable, focusing on vertical muzzle movement during repeat firing. On shotguns, the Cutts Compensator also served as a mounting point for internally-threaded choke tubes long before Winchester released the Winchoke system; Lyman also offered an adjustable choke, similar to a Poly-Choke, that was integrated to the Cutts Compensator. Poly-Choke and other aftermarket companies also offered their own muzzle devices with a similar function to the Cutts Compensator. Although these devices were once seen as very desirable add-ons for clay shooting, they fell from popularity, especially as autoloaders reduced recoil through their action and shooters found other ways to mitigate their guns’ kick. The New Cutts CompensatorNow, Blind Squirrel Enterprises has brought out a new compensator with looks that recall the original Cutts design, but with updated internals based on a “modern understanding of fluid dynamics, increasing gas velocity through the vertical ports by constricting the bore through the entire length of the compensator, and shaping the ports to produce a de Laval nozzle effect.” It looks like an old Cutts Compensator—they even put their logo in a position similar to the original—but it should work better. The original Cutts was sold for shotguns and Tommy guns; the new version is made for pistol-caliber carbines in either 9x19mm or .45 ACP. The nine-mill version is made for muzzles with a ½-28 thread, and the forty-five version is made for muzzles with 5/8x24 threads. Of course, you can shoot any caliber smaller than 9mm through that model, and any caliber smaller than .45 inch through the .45 ACP compensator. The new compensators are made of 4140 pre-heat-treat steel, with a Rockwell 34 hardness. They’re both 2.25 inches long and 0.94 inches in diameter. The CC45 (for the .45 ACP, obviously) weighs 4.2 ounces, and the CC9 weighs 4.6 ounces. For now, the compensators are only going to be made in small production runs of 25 each, but they plan on scaling up to full production after these sell. These first-production versions will be shipped with special first-edition premium packaging, in case you care about that sort of thing, and a double crush washer for attachment. Retail price is $129.99 each. Keep an eye on the Blind Squirrel website for more details.All photos: Blind Squirrel Enterprises