Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice condition M-8 37mm big-bore signal pistol, as used during WWII, complete with an empty M-9A1 Flare Shell. The barrel has studs for attachment to a flare port in the fuselage of large aircraft such as bombers. The right side of the frame is marked inside a triangle (partly obscured):

This example is offered in good fully functional condition, and is marked on the spine of the grip with SERIAL No. E-078085. The original finish on these was usually phosphate, and age and moisture exposure of degraded it somewhat, with a oxidized patina present in areas, particularly on the right side of the pistol. The aluminum portions still have most of the original black paint, with wear on the area around the pistol grip. It is marked with the U.S. Ordnance crossed cannons and "P" on the bottom of the grip.

This is a flare pistol, mainly used during and after WW2 in aircraft. Although intended to be mounted in the M1 aircraft mount, this flare pistol can be used as a conventional flare pistol. The barrel hinges down to allow removing a spent cartridge or loading a cartridge from the breech end of the barrel. But a grooved type cartridge can be loaded from the muzzle end of the barrel.

Included with this pistol is a very nice grooved base M-9A1 FLARE inert spent  cartridge, the type that can be loaded from the muzzle end. It is dated faintly with AUG 43 on the plastic bottom. It still can be muzzle loaded, and the flare pistol probably extracts the base of the cartridge when broken open.

The pistol was designed during WWII to be manufactured by the Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co. and so uses metal stamping instead of machined parts. The frame is cast aluminum. Contracts were also sent out to McInerny Spring and Wire Co. of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The two levers on the top of the barrel give it a very unique look. The top hook shaped lever when pulled back allows the pistol to be installed or removed from the M1 mount in an aircraft.