J00249 (IJN) TRIPLE-BARREL FLARE GUN. A blackened metal, triple-barrel flare gun, whose barrels each have an internal diameter of 1" and a length of 4". A trigger and pistol grip is beneath the barrels, the grip plates being of cross-hatched black bakelite. A two-position safety catch, its indications in Kanji characters, is immediately above where the thumb would rest on the left side of the pistol grip. A lanyard ring is to the base of the grip. "P.A.T. No. 93006" is stamped to the left side above the trigger. Forward of the trigger, and beneath the barrels, is a vertical toggle attached to a horizontal bar. When the toggle is pushed forward, it allows the barrels to be "broken" and fed with the flare rounds. A round, depressing button is to the interior between the barrels, upon which is stamped a five-lobed cherry blossom, three small circles swirling around a larger, central one, much like a triskell, and "1642." Where the top barrel meets the upper body of the pistol is stamped a repetition of the cherry blossom and triskell (the latter undoubtably the factory mark), "1642," an indistinguishable semi-circular shaped symbol and a Naval anchor. A white stripe is painted along the forward top of the top barrel, remnants of what must have been a red stripe is along the forward side of the left side barrel, and a trace of a green stripe is painted along the forward side of the right side barrel. These colors most likely were a guide as to which colored flares to feed into which barrel. To the back of the upper body is a large key which, when given a half-twist, cocks all of the barrels. A toggle beneath the key may be moved into a left, center, or right position; selecting which barrel is to be fired. Some wear to the blackening is visible to the left and right barrels, and minor surface scratching is evident throughout. Still appear to function perfectly. Rare.