Type 90 Triple Barrel Flare Pistol : Japanese Navy

Type 90 second pattern triple barrel flare pistol. Frame stamped with a Showa mark, an anchor and P A T No. 93006. The left side barrel is painted with a red/yellow/red 50 mm stripe. The painted strips represent different colours for flare cartridges to signal the type of operation to be carried out. There is a large rotating butterfly cocking lever at the back of the action and the grips are black checkered two piece plastic. The action is a brake-open device. This flare pistol design is unique in that it recoils on the trigger action rail when fired. The flare pistol was primarily used on aircraft and ships. All metal surfaces are finished with black enamel.

The markings on this pistol indicate that it was possibly issued to the Japanese Imperial Navy.