Unknown Flare Gun- seems cheap, at an antique store.

[CavalryCombatant]

I ran into this today (about half an hour ago, actually.)  And it seems super promising, it’s something I’d usually just grab on the off chance it’s something good, but I didn’t have the cash with me today.  The box definitely seems of the period, cosmolined etc, but I have no idea about the launcher/flares themselves.  It doesn’t look like the traditional flare guns I’m used to seeing, but the knurling Looks to well done to just be a random pipe.  The size is similar to 12 gauge, not nearly a 37MM.  
 

It seems almost like a scaled down M9 projector, but there’s no sights or anything- maybe an emergency bailout piece?  I apologize for the bad photos, but the bag is sealed and I didn’t want to take it out unless I was very serious about purchasing it.  It seems like it has a spring loaded end cap that slams into the primer on the flare.

 

I don’t really collect much ordinance, so unless it’s WWII us army it’ll probably be sold here on the Forum if I do get it; so here are my questions. Is it actually military?  Is it worth buying?  And is it worth keeping?
 

Thanks!
CC

[CavalryCombatant]

I think I may’ve solved my own question- I probably should’ve done some more research before I posted this.  I think this is a USN MK4 Flare projector.  
 

Can anyone chime in as to wether or not it’s worth the asking price?  Is there anything I should look for on it that would shift it either way?

[268th C.A.]

$35.00 is peanuts any more... I'd buy it. 

[RWW]

YES, especially with the flares!!! It is worth way more than that!!!

[CavalryCombatant]

Alright fellas, I’ll swing by tomorrow and pick it up.  
 

Thanks for the input!  

 

I’ll post some better pictures when I get it.

[RWW]

Good!  You are correct, it is a WW II Navy MK 4 with the flares still sealed in the plastic tubes.

[Charlie Flick]

Yes, that is a very good price.  I hope that you were able to pick it up.

 

The correct name is the Mark IV Hand Projector.  It was a Navy item.  The image below from a Navy BuOrd manual shows how it was packaged originally.

 

Our resident member expert on USGI survival equipment is Dustin.  He literally wrote the book(s) on the subject.

 

Regards,

Charlie

 

 

[CavalryCombatant]

I Just ran back over my lunch break and picked it up, here she is in her entirety.  The box is salty as heck, but I can read a 1943 date on it.  I wonder what it would be for, if not the original Package for the flares?  Or would it be a separate box That held extra flares?  It seems like there’s one more then there would’ve been when it was issued.
 

I’ve got to say it, this thing is dang cool.  It’s making me super tempted to break my own rules and keep it.

[CavalryCombatant]

And Charlie, thanks for that awesome diagram.  If I do decide keep it, I’m definitely going to print out a copy of that to display with the projector.

[RWW]

That is the original box. The set was also packaged that way. You did great!!!

[Scarecrow]

I believe that at least one use was for the USN M-592 back survival pack.  Here is the link to a post on this Forum. 

 

[Scarecrow]

Almost forgot.  You should check out our very own Dustin Clingenpeel's 3 volume set "Survival & Rescue Equipment of World War II".  In particular your projector and flares are discussed in Volume 2, pages 67-68.  These are must have books for your reference library.

[CavalryCombatant]

I will definitely do so!  
 

Thank you guys, all of you, once again for all the information & help on this, I think I might just turn into a small-time ordnance collector so I can justify keeping this thing.

[Dave T]

On 5/30/2023 at 6:03 PM, CavalryCombatant said:

I ran into this today (about half an hour ago, actually.)  And it seems super promising, it’s something I’d usually just grab on the off chance it’s something good, but I didn’t have the cash with me today.  The box definitely seems of the period, cosmolined etc, but I have no idea about the launcher/flares themselves.  It doesn’t look like the traditional flare guns I’m used to seeing, but the knurling Looks to well done to just be a random pipe.  The size is similar to 12 gauge, not nearly a 37MM.  
 

It seems almost like a scaled down M9 projector, but there’s no sights or anything- maybe an emergency bailout piece?  I apologize for the bad photos, but the bag is sealed and I didn’t want to take it out unless I was very serious about purchasing it.  It seems like it has a spring loaded end cap that slams into the primer on the flare.

 

I don’t really collect much ordinance, so unless it’s WWII us army it’ll probably be sold here on the Forum if I do get it; so here are my questions. Is it actually military?  Is it worth buying?  And is it worth keeping?
 

Thanks!
CC

I know about less than nothing regarding WWII flare guns & flares, but enough to know that find is a fantastic score for 35$. I wouldnt be suprised at all if one of the flares alone was worth the 35$.

I believe there is a Florida collector who specializes in flare guns and flares.

Great find!!

👍

[robinb]

I found this one today for even less money. The box is dated August 1945.

[CavalryCombatant]

44 minutes ago, robinb said:

I found this one today for even less money. The box is dated August 1945.

 

 

 

 

Nice one!  Looks like my box is missing the insert and a flare.

 

Thanks for sharing!

[Dipstik]

G'day. I know this is an bit of an older thread, but here I go anyway. I came across one of these USN Mk 4 projectors with 5 flares. I find pricing for the projector to be all over the map. From $200 up to $1500 (RIA, for some reason it was NFA registered). What I cannot locate is a resource for pricing on the flares. As flare guns are not my "thing". I would like to know what the reasonable value of the projector and five flares still in sealed in plastic cylinders, 3-red, 2-grn, might be? I have been told as much as $60/flare by passerby, but that seems a bit much? It is my goal to move this package on to someone who does collect such items. Thank you thank you!