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  • /Lot 2726

Lot 2726:German 1899 'Submarine' Flare Pistol, U-Boat Marked

December 1st, 2018|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 2726

Lot 2726:German 1899 'Submarine' Flare Pistol, U-Boat Marked

December 1st, 2018|Rock Island, IL
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Estimated Price$1,800 - $2,750
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Identified Imperial German Model 1899 "Submarine" Double Barrel Flare Pistol Marked to UB-110

Constructed mostly from brass with steel hammers and triggers. In function, this flare pistol resembles the later production German double flare pistols with a side-by-side barrel set. This style of flare gun was known to be issued to the early U-Boats of the Kaiserliche Marine. Operation is single action only with the hammers set into rounded housings and controlled by a single trigger which can fire both barrels with a single long pull or just the left barrel with a shorter pull. Produced without sights, with a pair of smooth grip panels, "UB 110" on each of the side plates and "ST&B 14" on the butt. While not documented, "UB 110" does correspond with a known imperial submarine. Launched in September of 1917, the UB-110 was a Type UB III submarine and during its war service, attacked two targets and sunk the 3700-ton civilian steam ship Southborough; three days later, on 19 July 1918, the UB-110 was depth charged and rammed by the destroyer HMS Garry. The 110's commander, Kapitanleutnant Werner Fuerbringer, a decorated WWI submariner and WWII Konteradmiral, later alleged that the men of the Garry opened fire on his unarmed crew after they had abandoned ship, with only 13 out of 34 surviving. The Garry's commander, Charles Lightoller, himself a crewman and survivor of the Titanic sinking, was never charged; while he never admitted the action directly, Lightoller's memoirs showed utter contempt for submariners, describing them as "an abomination, polluting the clean sea." Later in life, as owner and captain of the private motor yacht Sundowner, Lightoller evacuated 127 men from the beaches of Dunkirk. UB-110 was raised in October of 1918 and scrapped at Tyne.

Rating definitionVery good. The brass shows a well-aged patina, and a mixed brown and gray color is on the steel components along with heavy pitting. Mechanically functions but needs work as the right hammer does not retract fully. The grips are good with some aged cracking and mild dents.
Details
ManufacturerGerman
ModelFlare Pistol
TypeOther
Serial number
ClassOther
Barrel5 1/4 inch round
Finishbright
Griphardwood
Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views6187
Catalog page324
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