Deactivated WW2 Luftwaffe Issued Flieger Leuchpistole L Flare Pistol

This is a rare WW2 German Luftwaffe issued "Flieger Leuchpistole L" - (Pilot Flare Pistol) double barreled flare pistol. Dated 1942, it was made by Ecko (Emil Eckholdt) who only made a total of 22,800 under this makers code, this one is number 13,477th. Below the makers emblem is the Luftwaffe acceptance stamp Eagle over 2. The pistol has double triggers and barrel select lever. This model was delevoped in 1936 specifically for the German Air force. The initials Fl at the beginning of the Luftwaffe inventory numbers stand for "Flieger" or Aviator indicating that this pistol was issued to Luftwaffe aircrews and not ground crews. These pistols were issued to various bombers crews flying the Heinkel He-111, Junkers JU88 and Dornier Do17 to name but a few. Due to the huge losses suffered by the Luftwaffe of both men and aircraft, and the samll amounts produced, few of these flare pistols now exist!