rare hungarian 42M flare gun

[bergler]

Hi,
I just got this strange looking (it actually IS strange) flare gun. The lower parts are quite similar to a Femaru P37. In fact it is a Femaru production, a hungarian flare gun Model 42. It has a hands- safety as well (or whatever it is called, that you have to have a close grip on the gun to be able to fire it). It was only produced for 1 year and followed by the Model 43 which is a lot simpler.
This flare gun is very rare to find and I consider myself quite lucky to own it now. I had a look on the net to find pictures to compare, but didn´t find any. If somebody has one or can provide some pics? the cutaway drawing I know, but pics from an actual gun would be nice.
I know that the paint is not original and has been added later. Some parts are steel, some are aluminium, and I am not sure if I shall remove the paint?
Enjoy,
Bergler

[Gergo B.]

What the hell!

Here's a pic from the technical manual for the 42 M. and 43 M. flare guns.

[bergler]

I thought you might like it ;-)

Not easy to find at all......Do you have or know some pics by any chance?

[Gergo B.]

I thought you might like it ;-)

Not easy to find at all......Do you have or know some pics by any chance?

I don't have any pictures of it

[SIGNALMAN]

Congratulations on finding this gun, it is quite rare.

I have an example with original finish.

Unfortunately yours had very little original finish, and was apparently painted.

The barrel and action should be aluminum, and have a finish similar to ~ 1937 Heer model. Of course the frame is steel with wood grips.

[bergler]

Congratulations on finding this gun, it is quite rare.

I have an example with original finish.

Unfortunately yours had very little original finish, and was apparently painted.

The barrel and action should be aluminum, and have a finish similar to ~ 1937 Heer model. Of course the frame is steel with wood grips.

Hello Howard,
the aluminium seems to be blank on mine, the steel I don´t know because of the black paint. So the aluminium should be black anodised? Is there any possibility that you can post one or 2 pictures of yours? That would be great...

[SIGNALMAN]

Hello, I will as soon as I return from the Louisville gun show. Good Collecting

[BrunoH]

Nice 'strange' flare gun...

Thanks for sharing the pictures and the info.

Best regards

[SIGNALMAN]

Note that the frame of the flaregun must have used some of the same tooling as the Hungarian .32 or .380 Pistols.

[bergler]

Note that the frame of the flaregun must have used some of the same tooling as the Hungarian .32 or .380 Pistols.

Yes, it looks very similar to the Femaru P37 pistol, which was made under german occupation as well. I have one of those at home, quite similar but still different. But in fact the only thing that can be exchanged are the grips....I spoke to an hungarian collector last weekend, who is looking for this flare gun for his collection since many years, and he confirmed that this was a totally new development, based on some existing concepts.
I got some pictures now from a very very big collection that shows an example of this flare gun with WaA, the german acceptance! Like a few of the czech VZ.30 that had WaA as well (one was on the market recently ;-)).

I am still not sure weather to remove the paint???

[SIGNALMAN]

This is my Hungarian Model 42

[SIGNALMAN]

other views

[SIGNALMAN]

Notice the same style of finish on the barrel and receiver as on the heer type flare guns. The Frame, locking mechanism, and other parts being steel show quite a bit of corrosion from hard use.

My serial number is #173

[bergler]

Howard,
many thanks for the pictures! A nice example you have git there. It is really a very uncommon flare gun, yours being with original blueing. I got pictures from another example out of a huge collection (from B.B.) where this flare gun has even WaA approval stamps. Like some few chech VZ30 are found with WaA.

I am still thinking about removing the black paint from mine. I think there is some blueing left as well.