Please help me identify
 

I was given the following about fifty years ago. I still have no idea what it is. Barrel is brass and seems too light to fire a shot. Pictures included. There are no identifying letters or numbers.

Re: Please help me identify
 

Looks like it could be a flare pistol.

Re: Please help me identify
 

Possibly a line throwing gun--not the arrow launcher type, but
the kind that launches a rocket like a Schermuly.

Maybe it is a signal rocket launcher?

What does the hammer hit when it falls? I don't se a nipple for a cap---does it impact
something that sticks through from the barrel?

Re: Please help me identify
 

yes it does have a nipple for a cap.

Re: Please help me identify
 

It has a hole behind the trigger and a pulley mounted on the side. It's obviously designed to be fired remotely with a string but I don't see any way of mounting it to anything. Interesting.

Re: Please help me identify
 

My guess is a net gun, used to capture birds or small animals alive...activiated by a trip wire to trigger.

Re: Please help me identify
 

folks came up with lots of things before regulations and anti gun idiots ..

Re: Please help me identify
 

Best bet would be some sort of trap gun.The rod under the barrel with the eye loop probably runs the length of the tube under the barrel,and probably had some sort of way to attach a bait or tripline on the end near the muzzle,rather like the old Furgetter trap gun(was available in .22 and 10 ga.),but homebuilt or a patent model.Mechanism reminds me of the second version of the North & Couch trap pistol.Heard that were popular as a roo trap in Australia,Jack404 may have seen one before they were totally banned.

Re: Please help me identify
 

By the way,what part of the world are you in?Could help to narrow it down,depending on how active the hunting culture was in your area when it was made.

Re: Please help me identify
 

Note the notch in the rear upper part of the trigger guard and the pulley attached to the left side of the stock.

Re: Please help me identify
 

The notch is in the front.