Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very interesting WWI Imperial German Model 1894 Hebel flare pistol which was cut down during the interwar period and issued with a Stiff Black Preßstoff & Leather Flare Signal Pistol Holster. The flare gun’s circular barrel section was cut down to 3 ¾”. There are various small inspection stamps & proofs to the left side of the receiver. The pistol still breaks open and dry-fires without any issue.

The metal finish of the pistol is nice, with some areas of oxidation and light surface pitting, as shown. The wood grips have original finish and a good tight fit with some normal handling marks. The lanyard ring was entirely removed when the pistol was cut down. Mechanically tight and dry fires well, but the ejector does not look to be functional. The mechanism for it may have been removed when it was cut down. Despite the later alterations, the pistol remains a visually distinctive and mechanically solid example of the Model 1894 pattern.

The flare signal pistol holster is actually made mostly of "Preßstoff", an imitation leather made from pressed paper. The "hinge" for the lid is a strip of leather that is riveted onto the flap and body, as are the straps and buckle loops. Everything else is made from pressed paper. Thanks to the presence of the flare gun inside of it, it has kept its shape well, with most we see being made entirely stiff. The holster definitely looks to have seen a good amount of use in service, and shows overall heavy wear and shrinking in the material. The finish is worn, and the seams are a bit loose, as the black stitching has stretched over the decades. There are no markings we can find on the holster. The front securing strap on the flap and under the flap are both gone now, but there are still D rings. There are no markings we can find on the holster.

Taken together, the shortened barrel, removed lanyard ring, surviving Imperial-era inspection marks, altered ejector system, and period Preßstoff holster make this a particularly interesting example of a German flare pistol that appears to have remained in service beyond its original WWI role. The combination of early manufacture, later modification, and heavily used signal-pistol equipment gives the set considerable interest for collectors of German ordnance and field equipment spanning both world wars.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.