If you have in mind to own a flare gun that will really last and one that will handle these inserts with as much safety as possible, these are the type of arms you will need. Versions such as the Polish and German flare guns are still available, though prices have been rising over the years. A previous article looks at the rise in value of collector-type Mil-surp flare guns. Unlike dropping by a big box store to purchase a plastic Orion launcher, buying most Mil-Surp flare guns these days is neither cheap nor easy. Milsurp Flare Gun – With the rage of these ammo-eating adapters rapidly growing, we’d be remiss not to examine the only guns truly meant to house them. For what its worth, I’ve used GaugeMate’s sub-gauge adapters in both 10 and 12 gauge shotguns with great success. GaugeMate is also a fine company and makes tons of different adapters for actual firearms. Doing so may cause fatal injury.”Īll warnings aside, these inserts will fit into whatever launcher your little heart desires, so some common sense and caution will go a long way. Flare adapters are not meant to be used for single-use plastic flare guns. GaugeMate’s disclaimer states, “12 gauge shotshell ammunition is not interchangeable with 12 gauge flares and not to be used within a flare gun. Like Kennesaw Cannon, GaugeMate also offers all the appropriate user warnings, information and a copy of the BATF letter. Unlike Kennesaw whose adapters fit solely into 26.5 mil surp launchers, GaugeMate manufactures inserts for any number of flare gun bore sizes including 12 gauge, 25mm, 26.5mm and 37mm. GaugeMate – Another well-established company called GaugeMate sells. Kennesaw even includes the BATF letter with each purchase. It’s BATF approved as a stand-alone item because it is obviously not a firearm in-and-of itself. The SCD itself is a rifled steel barrel encased in a lightweight adapter and weighing around 1.6 ounces. The key here is that Kennesaw’s devices fit solely inside Mil-surp type 26.5mm launchers, which naturally makes them incompatible with the bore diameter of most plastic-type flare guns. The company markets its items for boaters, campers and hikers with the motto “don’t be caught defenseless.” Kennesaw Cannon – The Kennesaw Cannon company, most notable for selling mini-cannons, sells both. That’s why there are two makers I’d seriously consider-Kennesaw Cannon and GaugeMate. So when we talk about creating an actual weapon, we’d suggest leaving that to the professionals. 45 Long Colt.Īn Internet search will turn up dozens of manufacturers of varying repute and hundreds of do-it-yourselfers (whose craftiness may or may not have led to subsequent emergency room visits). If you pay much attention to firearms media, you’ve no doubt seen ads for what are commonly called “adapters” or “sub-caliber devices.” These are smallish inserts that can be dropped into the barrel and turn said signal device into any number of actual live ammo shooting calibers including.
The artful Very pistols, whose solid construction was not unlike that of guns that fired live ammunition, have largely given way to commercial plastic/polymer launchers with smaller bore diameters. In fact, the special colored flares fired from Very pistols were affectionately known as “Very lights.” The bores of the time were most often 1-inch in diameter.įast-forward to today and the design of flare guns has not changed all that much. Very pistols were a breech loading, single-shot, single-action hammered arm with a snubby barrel that fired signal flares, or lights. Turning a flare gun into a real, live pistol If you listen closely to the lyrics, the story is there and even mentions use of the flare gun. Members of Deep Purple watched the smoke rolling over the waters of Lake Geneva. When an audience member fired a flare gun during the concert, the theatre caught fire and was destroyed. In 1971, while the band was recording in Montreaux, Switzerland, Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention were in the middle of their performance across the lake. Similarly, in the midst of World War II, a German pilot who mistakenly landed at an unfriendly airfield was taken into custody using a Very pistol, as the arresting officer did not have his sidearm at the time.īut probably the most famous flare gun reference comes from the English rock band Deep Purple’s song “Smoke on the Water,” which was written due to the use of a flare gun. In WWI, it was rumored that a German plane was destroyed on the ground when a Very pistol’s flare was fired into the craft.
While their use has never been that of an actual weapon, difficult circumstances may dictate using a weapon of opportunity and sometimes (sometimes) it just happens to be a flare gun.