POTD: The Best Three Barreled Flare Pistol – The Japanese Type 90
Sam.S 10.13.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Type 90 was a distinctive 3-barreled flare pistol used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1930s and 1940s. Its triple 12 gauge barrels allowed carrying loaded flares of different colors for signaling and illumination – one barrel each for red, green, and white flares marked by decals. An unusual recoil absorption system let the upper half slide rearwards. Approximately 6000 highly polished Type 90s were produced initially, with later war models simplifying to just 2 barrels for expedited production. Many were lost in sunk ships and downed aircraft. As niche signaling tools not prized by soldiers as war trophies, Type 90s are rarer finds than Imperial Army flare guns today.
“Produced by Kayaba Kogyo for the Japanese Navy up to 1945. Finished in a black lacquer overall, the three barrels are each marked with a rectangular stripe to indicate the type of flare to be loaded; yellow bordered by red on the left, solid white on top and black with green borders on the right. On top of the breech is the Kayaba symbol, inspection proof and a naval anchor. The Kayaba mark is repeated on the rear mounted cocking knob. Standard patent markings, with red and white filled safety markings, checkered grips and a lanyard ring on the butt.”
Lot 1674: Japanese Type 90 Triple Barrel Flare Pistol – Excellent Japanese Type 90 Triple Barrel Flare Pistol. (n.d.-ab). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/78/1674/japanese-type-90-triple-barrel-flare-pistol.
