Original Item: Genuine WW2 German 26.5-mm flare signal that produces a blue smoke streamer. These are the flares that would have been used in IMA’s Leucht Pistole 42 during the War. The case is made of aluminum and may have a label as follows, although many have faded: The first line identifies the type of signal, line two shows the manufacturer and date of manufacture, and line three is the expiration date, if present.

Rauchspurpatrone blau

Hgs 4. 1941

Verbrauch bis 21.5.1945

The case has four longitudinal blue stripes, and the case head has four blue dots. The case head also is a stamped with a German WW2 letter code or the logo of the company that made the cartridge case. For example, cbl indicates that the case was made by Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke AG in Nurnberg A key to the manufacturers’ codes can be found in German Military Letter Codes 1939 – 1945 by John Walter (IMA Product Number MB1052).

The case length is 83 mm. Most flares are missing the closing wad.

NOTE: THESE FLARES ARE SOLD FOR DISPLAY ONLY. MOST OF THEM HAVE BECOME INERT OVER TIME, AND THE FLARE CHEMICALS INSIDE HAVE DETERIORATED. THEY SHOULD NOT BE FIRED.