Flare Pistols?

Every one of the life jackets (also SOLAS standard...) have both a whistle and a lightstick lanyarded in place - and yes, I also keep a signal mirror onboard with my other gear. That "other gear" includes not only a full sized EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) but also a small PLB (personal locator beacon) that is lanyarded to my my belt - but rests in a pants pocket... in case I'm ever separated from my skiff...

All of this is overkill for a guy who only operates a small 17' skiff - but I run my anglers out into the wilderness of Everglades National Park most days and as I get older my taste for "adventure" has declined...

One last thought about flares... The day or night you actually need one (or a bunch of them) it won't be very good weather (understatement...).

Here's a quick photo of me and my skiff at the boat ramp - and that critter next to my skiff isn't an alligator at all... Once you leave the dock and head into the backcountry you're in miles and miles of jungle wilderness each day.... My favorite place in this world.

I bought an H&K Flare Pistol a few years back plus one of those 45 colt / 410 barrel inserts. Couldn't hit anything with it and the recoil w/ 410 and 45 was pretty intense. Sold it for what I had into it on gunbroker. A Cap & Ball revolver with a conversion cylinder is more accurate and useful, IMHO.

The problem with parachute flares is that you really have a good chance of starting a forest fire with them.

If you want to play around with parachute flares, just go to your local gun show and find the guy selling these. They usually go for about $20 each:




I have lit off a couple of these when there was snow on the ground. They worked as advertised.
This recent 4th of July we lit off the handheld smoke ones. Worked ok. Nothing like the military grade smoke we had in the army.

JCooperfan1911 said:

I live in the desert so not very many plants.

I’ve been looking and can’t find one that’s not terribly beat up. I’m going to place a WTB ad here.

EDIT: I just placed the ad.

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Gun broker has some on auction...

If you end up getting a Czech or Polish one, they fit perfectly into a Condor or other generic brands 1911 holster. The mag pouch also fits a 26.5 flare cartridge too.

Flare pistol pouches come up enough that you can buy a proper one for your gun, and it has a nice set of loops for cartridges.

I don't know why. You'd think everyone would want a holster to at least carry it, but somehow not, so I even got my NOS German Army one with cleaning brushes still in bags, in a clearance bin at an LGS for like $5.

There is a cool WWII era Nickel plated U.S. Navy Very pistol in the family, great conversation piece/prop...haven't ever used (!) Maybe we should get some flares and try on a wet, wet day! I do like that they go everywhere in the U.S. and aren't regulated as a firearm. And all this talk gets me thinking...again...about 37mm and how I WANT an old prison/police used S&W "Gas Gun" for my collection!

shoobe01 said:

Flare pistol pouches come up enough that you can buy a proper one for your gun, and it has a nice set of loops for cartridges.

I don't know why. You'd think everyone would want a holster to at least carry it, but somehow not, so I even got my NOS German Army one with cleaning brushes still in bags, in a clearance bin at an LGS for like $5.

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I didn't get a nice little pouch with mine and the cheap holster made a great protective cover for it. Edit: misread post.

Bfh_auto said:

I guess I need to rain on this parade.
Can't you find a more cost effective way of lighting fields on fire

Just kidding I want one too.

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I was warned at the range to only shoot them after a rain so they won’t set the woods behind the range on fire. LOL

AK Hunter said:

I was warned at the range to only shoot them after a rain so they won’t set the woods behind the range on fire. LOL

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We're haven't had rain in over a month. I would shoot someone with a real pistol if they pulled out a flare gun at my house.

Oh flares! Yes, flares indeed.

drobs said:

This recent 4th of July we lit off the handheld smoke ones. Worked ok. Nothing like the military grade smoke we had in the army.

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This is the good stuff, SOLAS quality.
It quickly filled a cul-de-sac with impenetrable smoke, just like the smoke grenades I used in the Army.

And it floats while putting out a smoke screen for 4 minutes.

Speedo66 said:

View attachment 1026489
This is the good stuff, SOLAS quality.
It quickly filled a cul-de-sac with impenetrable smoke, just like the smoke grenades I used in the Army.

And it floats while putting out a smoke screen for 4 minutes.

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I will say the ones I used were better than any garden variety smoke bomb found at a Fireworks tent on the side of the road. Both the smoke and signal parachute flares are hand held / launched via, pulling on the cap after unscrewing it.

Chatting with my neighbor, a flare gun w/ flares is required to be on all boats (motored) in Missouri. I'm pretty sure I could get away with the type I pictured above. Just not as cool as a flare gun though.

drobs said:

I will say the ones I used were better than any garden variety smoke bomb found at a Fireworks tent on the side of the road. Both the smoke and signal parachute flares are hand held / launched via, pulling on the cap after unscrewing it.

Chatting with my neighbor, a flare gun w/ flares is required to be on all boats (motored) in Missouri. I'm pretty sure I could get away with the type I pictured above. Just not as cool as a flare gun though.

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These were given to me by my son who works in the marine shipping industry, old ones no longer in date to Coast Guard standards.

So the price is right for fooling around.