This is a flare pistol, mainly used during and after WW2 in aircraft. Although intended to be mounted in the M1 aircraft mount, this flare pistol can be used as a conventional flare pistol. The barrel hinges down to allow removing a spent cartridge or loading a cartridge from the breech end of the barrel. But a grooved type cartridge can be loaded from the muzzle end of the barrel.
Designed during WW2 to be manufactured by the Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co. and so uses metal stamping instead of machined parts. The frame is cast aluminum.
The two levers on the top of the barrel give it a very unique look. The top hook shaped lever when pulled back allows the pistol to be installed or removed from the M1 mount in an aircraft.
