[madmax_95663]

Can anyone tell me what this is? ...And what it shoots? I found it the dumpster behind my work.
There are no factory markings on it.
It appears to load from the muzzle, and has a bolt that is pulled back to cock it.
Any help in identifying this device would be much appreciated.

--Max

 

[mangyhyena]

Is that thing a homemade zip gun? What the heck does it shoot, shotgun shells? And what is that little wire sticking out below the barrel and above/in front of the trigger?

 

[Scruggs]

I have seen something roughly similar that was claimed to be a WW1 German liferaft flare pistol but it looks like it has been heavily modified with new grips, etc. The fact that somebody disposed of it in a dumpster makes it's intent questionable.

 

[Reality Czech]

My first guess was some type of line throwing naval pistol, but my search was nothing close to that model.

 

[joelchrisman]

my sugestion would be wipe down very very very well and permanatly dispose of it

 

[kingjames]

Clean the paint off see what you get. Their might be something under neith. It looks like a home made boom stick.

 

[kingjames]

this is the closest I could find
http://www.olarmyjoel.com/images/flare pistols/L42.JPG

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ns&start=20&gbv=2&ndsp=20&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N

http://files.uzitalk.com/images/usma/museum/beretta-m9-german-flare.jpg

 

[kingjames]

NO THIS IS CLOSER

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...itary+flare+pistols&gbv=2&hl=en&safe=off&sa=G


http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/popup_image.php?pID=1594&type=jpg

 

[Syngin]

Are you gonna turn it over to the police and tell them where you found it?

 

[poppajoe]

Looks to me like what's left of an old concrete nail gun to me minus the barrel.

 

[Crutch]

Awesome man... why were you in the dumpster? Kidding, so... any idea guys? I think its a flare gun, at least originally. Maybe its a zip gun converted?

 

[Danf1990]

looks like it might blow up in your face if you tried to use it. still looks kinda cool

 

[Brew]

My first guess was some type of line throwing naval pistol, but my search was nothing close to that model.

Looks like a line thrower to me. They shot a very thin and strong cord and weight with the starter rope tied to that and then the real rope tied to the starter rope. Explains the spool attachment.

 

[Crutch]

I think it would make a great zip gun. The original paint has even held up. Whoops, I mean its probably a collectors item at the very least. keep it.

 

[Scruggs]

Brew's conclusion seems to make the most sense, unless the thingy under the barrel is a bayonet for use against mosquitos.

 

[shotgunken]

looks like it's a russian flare pistol you put the flare in the barrel and the striker set off the primer i belive it's 25mm flares.

 

[Fishbread]

I'm going with line thrower too. Have never seen a muzzle loader flare gun. Since it doesn't appear to break down like others I've seen I can see no other way to load it.

 

[FredLee]

I would definitely say its commercially made,not some dubious homemade zip gun. No point in turning it in,its not a gun.Looks very well built,solid.What are the numbers on it? Looks like scratched on.

 

[madmax_95663]

good info

Hey, thanks for all the input! A line thrower sounds about right. That would explain the spool wire thing below the barrel.

The markings look to be a set of letters and numbers. It's really rough, and can't read half of it.
The thing has a nice grip and a good heft to it. I don't want to shoot anything out of it, but I will keep it. It's wierd and cool!

Thanks for all the replies,
--Max

 

[Crutch]

Put it in a frame and sell it on Ebay as a rare collectors item. Tell them its a rope thrower for some sunken German sub. Then when you make 13 million, donate 10 grand to Kev, to keep this community going. ;-)