Remington MKIII Flare Pistol
I discovered my little town has a second gun shop on Monday. Today I stopped in figuring due to the decor that they wouldn't have anything I would want. I figured modern knives and black guns.
Walked in and that's what I saw. But my eyes are getting weird so I looked closer and spotted this in a case. Never saw one before, price seemed about right with some research and it was a cash deal so it came home with me.
The weird thing is, this shop has been there since January and is close to going out of business because he can't get customers. I drive by this place at least two times a week and sometimes more. It used to be an animal hospital. He had 9 milsurp rifles in there which is 9 more than the main gun shop has had in the last year of looking. He can't figure out why he has no customers, I can't figure out how I didn't know he was there. It's on a main drag in and out of town.
Anyway, it's a Remington MKIII flare pistol made between 1915 and 1918, a small run of 24,500 This one's serial number is F94 and is marked on the inside of the frame and the underside of the barrel. No idea what the 18-450 stands for. Some have similar markings, some have none. 10 gauge and is appears a standard shot shell will fit in it but most say they are not to be fired out of it. One site says they were made for both flares and shot shells but it seems unlikely with a brass frame. I'm not planning on trying it. I don't think I have a 10 gauge shell lying about here anywhere to see if it even fits.
Condition is good, some very slight play with the barrel, no rust, some finish wear and some scratches. Bore is clean with no rust or pitting. Brass has a nice patina. Wood is a little dull but I'm going to give it some fresh coats of BLO
They do have a canvas holster which will likely cost more than the gun did. Khaki color with a leather tip and a canvas fold over cover. Standard US web belt connections.
They have appeared in four movies, "Wings" which won Best Picture in 1927, the first film to win Best Picture. It is in a scene with a US soldier on guard duty at night. He hears a German plane overhead and drops it to get a machine gun. "A Bullet for Joey" which is a spy thriller from 1955 where it is just shown with some other guns. "Mobsters" from 1990 where it is actually used as a flare gun and finally, Tremors 4 in 2004 where it is called an 8 gauge Remington Derringer and used in a gun battle as a shotgun pistol. This is also a period western so it is before it was made but it does admittely look like it would fit. The director liked it.
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