Incredibly Rare 1937 Brass Kriegsmarine Double Barrel Flare Pistol

Description

10/30/26 - This is an incredibly rare example of an excellent brass double barrel flare pistol manufactured for the Kriegsmarine in 1937 by Artillerie Werft Wilhelmshaven. Sometimes considered one of the most desired flare guns of WWII, this example was designed for the Kriegsmarine, but was ultimately rejected in 1937. The rejection came from many reasons, but primarily that the brass manufacturing was not ideal as Germany was preparing for a full-scale war and needed the material for ammunition, the flare pistol was significantly heavier than aluminum or inox alloy counterparts, and finally that Artillerie Werft Wilhelmshaven was a Naval shipyard and repair facility which produced with a lack of uniformity in their flare guns compared to other small-arms manufacturing plants.

The condition of this flare pistol is one of the nicest you will find, with very minimal damage and retaining a beautiful color. The left side of the receiver is stamped "A.W.W. 37" which is the maker's mark (Artillerie Werft Wilhelmshaven) and the year of manufacturing. Below that is stamped "N.Nr. 50 S.", which means "Nordsee Nummer" or North Sea fleet number, inventory number "50", and Schiff or ship use. Below those stamps in front of the trigger well is a Kriegsmarine acceptance proof, which is also present on the top of the flare gun on the left of the break open toggle. Behind the trigger on the left side of the receiver is the safety toggle, which is marked with "Sicher" (safe) and "Feuer" (fire). The right side of the receiver bears a larger Waffenamt. This example is all-matching serial number "272" and is serialized between the barrels when the break is open, as well as on the break pivot screw, inside of the receiver frame just inside the trigger well, as well as below the grip panels on the bottom left side of the frame, on the safety bar, and underneath the grip panel itself (hand scratched).

This flare pistol is constructed from solid brass, with steel components such as the break release, face to the breech, and many internals like the safety and trigger. This single-trigger design with no barrel toggle fires both barrels simultaneously. There are very few surface blemishes present on the receiver of the flare pistol, though there are a couple present on the very back of the receiver and on the barrel. There is one small area of material loss just above the muzzle on the right barrel, though this does not penetrate completely through the barrel, and there is a small impression on the right barrel near the center joint of both barrels. Other than that there are just light surface scratches and blemishes present on the barrel. The barrels themselves do show some slight dents in the muzzle that have slightly disfigured the circular opening. The brown checkered bakelite grips are still in excellent condition with no signs of any chips or cracks. Overall this is one of the nicest examples of a very rare Kriegsmarine flare gun.