old flare guns / milsurp.. etc

[soundguy]

was looking in some of the militaria catalogs.. see lots of flare guns

what do these things fire?

also seen some aluminum inserts that turn them into a firearm.

anyone heard of this?

use one?

where do you get flares?

what size?

what old flare guns are compatible / common?

prices?

[lead]

I haven't seen them, but I would be worried about the quality of the steel in a flare gun being able to handle pistol round pressures.
That, and the question of how legal it would be to turn it into a firearm.

[soundguy]

apparrently thay are big guns.. like 35+??mm

and the inserts look like a big aluminum slug with a central hole. i have seen 22lr and one ofhter caliber listed so far.

there was a warning that installing the insert constituted making a firearm, so 'check your local laws' etc.

someone is making these inserts comercially.. I'd imagine that means for liability reasons.. the insert itself must be able to withstand the chamber pressure of the cartridge without respect to the? 50-70 yr old gun?

then again.. I'm asking because I don't know the skinny on them either?

[soundguy]

maybee 26.5mm flares? did some google and found polish stuff ?

[GunnyGene]

Originally Posted by soundguy

was looking in some of the militaria catalogs.. see lots of flare guns

what do these things fire?

also seen some aluminum inserts that turn them into a firearm.

anyone heard of this?

use one?

where do you get flares?

what size?

what old flare guns are compatible / common?

prices?

Many of the older flare guns are 40mm. I have a 1916 brass made by Cogswell and Harrison (Queens mark), inherited from my father (USN) who used it in WWII. Flares for it can be hard to find. And no, you can't fire 40mm grenades from it. Don't even try.

This model was also known as a trench flare gun, and fired parachute flares, and other 40mm flare rnds. Some would be fitted with a removable flared external sleeve.

Mine is worth around $400 according to what I've seen advertised.

[soundguy]

i see 39mm flare stuff at gun shows.. are people fireing those out of those type guns?

[GunnyGene]

Originally Posted by soundguy

i see 39mm flare stuff at gun shows.. are people fireing those out of those type guns?

Don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised. Some folks just can't resist "trying it out".

[45Auto]

Not that long ago, the surplus dealers had a number of old East Block flair guns and flairs to go with them. Maybe that's what you have been looking at.