Original French WWI Armée de l’Air French Air Force R.C.E.P 22mm Type 913 Pistolet Flare Gun – Serial 1418 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. At the start of the First World War, France led the world in aircraft design and by mid-1912 the Aéronautique Militaire had five squadrons (“escadrilles”). This had grown to 132 machines and 21 escadrilles by 1914, the same year when, on 21 February, it formally received a budget under the Ministry of War (“Ministère de la Guerre”). On 3 August, Germany declared war against France.

This Type 913 Pistolet is a rare example of an early war cockpit stored flare gun. The various flare guns used from 1914-1918 did their job effectively for many years but they were replaced at the end of the Second World War by more modern equipment. However, these weapons were still heavy and cumbersome for “survival” use. There were two main models, the RCEP type 913 like this one and the RCEP type 913A which is the reinforced version of the 913.

The Type 913 consists of two parts; the frame and the barrel. The frame is constructed of a light alloy and houses all of the steel internal components. The frame consists of the safety button, trigger and firing mechanism. The Type 913 features a dual safety which is a top safety pedal and the safety button. To fire the flare you have to properly hold the pistolet in your palm ensuring that the top safety pedal is depressed and once the safety button is pushed in to “fire” all you have to do is squeeze the trigger. The barrel is a lever lock type and is held onto the hinge by two small screws. To “break” open the barrel to reload there is a top leaf spring securing the barrel to the frame that you have to press in to release the lock.

The markings featured on the barrel:

PISTOLET 22mm
R.C.E.P Type 913
No 1418

The overall condition is excellent given the age of this flare gun. Much of the original finish is present on the frame and about 50% is retained on the barrel. Not much information can be found on this pistolet, making this a wonderful research opportunity.

Comes more than ready for further research and display!