TheFirearmsForum.Com - View Single Post - Tear gas colt industries 38 caliper tear gas pen

Jim K · 10-09-2012, 08:00 PM

Colt didn't make those pens, it only marketed them. IIRC, they were actually made by Lake Erie Chemical Co. (which was owned at one time by S&W). They are NOT illegal or an AOW under Federal law (they may be illegal under some state or local laws) because they do not fire a conventional cartridge. The gas is contained in the "cartridge" that screws into the front of the gun. A regular bulleted cartridge cannot be fired without re-manufacturing the pen.

The two red cartridges are flares, which could be used for signalling in distress.

P.S. Any attempt to re-manufacture that gun to fire a cartridge, legality aside, would lead to disaster, since the gadget would not stand up to the pressure of a live round, and they have no breech block, so the blowback would wreck the gun and seriously injure the user.

Jim

10-09-2012, 08:00 PM	#12
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Tear gas colt industries 38 caliper tear gas pen Colt didn't make those pens, it only marketed them. IIRC, they were actually made by Lake Erie Chemical Co. (which was owned at one time by S&W). They are NOT illegal or an AOW under Federal law (they may be illegal under some state or local laws) because they do not fire a conventional cartridge. The gas is contained in the "cartridge" that screws into the front of the gun. A regular bulleted cartridge cannot be fired without re-manufacturing the pen. The two red cartridges are flares, which could be used for signalling in distress. P.S. Any attempt to re-manufacture that gun to fire a cartridge, legality aside, would lead to disaster, since the gadget would not stand up to the pressure of a live round, and they have no breech block, so the blowback would wreck the gun and seriously injure the user. Jim Last edited by Jim K; 10-09-2012 at 08:05 PM..