Cogswell & Harrison Brass Handgun

[ErinM]

I have a C&H brass (at least I think it's brass - see picture, assuming I uploaded them properly) handgun that appears to be a flare pistol. It has a spent shell casing in the chamber that looks like a large shotgun shell. I know nothing about the gun nor how old it is. Any advice on the gun? Date of manufacture? Value? It has a serial number of 72544, crudely imprinted on the gun, which makes me think it was mass produced at some time. Thanks for any info (or for even considering my post).

 

[James K]

I am no expert on flare pistols, but I can tell you that the gun was used by the British military because of the broad arrow property mark and was made in 1917. It probably served in WWI when flare guns were often used for signalling and communications.

Before the days of radio, it was common to use flares projected into the sky from pistols like that to convey messages. Different color flares had different meanings. For example, a white flare could order the start of an artillery bombardment; a green and white could mean to fire higher; a red and white to fire lower, and so forth.

Someone else can probably tell you the Mark (model) number of that pistol and the exact shells it used.

Jim

 

[Tidewater_Kid]

I don't much about them, but here's a link to a site selling them for $395.

http://www.collectorssource.com/militaria/flare-pistol-cogswell-harrison-wwi-brass.html


TK

 

[ErinM]

Thanks very much

Thanks to both of your for your prompt reply.

Erin