Deployed for Vietnam, the M9 pattern flamethrower tank unit was the final conventional flamethrower unit deployed by U.S. armed forces; while notably lighter and more compact than prior models without sacrificing function, gas-powered infantry flame units were being retired across the board in favor of shoulder-fired rockets and similar longer ranged ordnance. The tank unit has been hand-painted in a black/brown/tan/green forest/jungle pattern, with a single high-pressure gas sphere feeding a combined dual-cylinder fuel tank assembly, with a set of green canvas straps and backing. A brass identification ring between the gas sphere and fuel tank identifies American Electric Incorporated as the manufacturer, and "3-64" as the manufacture date. A thick braided hose connects to a "FMC" marked M2-style wand unit, with an identical paint job, lockable rear trigger, and a commercial propane torch (tank wrapped in Realtree-brand tape and secured with a set of band clamps) to provide ignition in lieu of the conventional ignition cartridge rig, which has been removed and disabled; some cuts have been made to the hood to permit close alignment of the torch nozzle with the fuel stream. The service kit is housed in a green painted hardwood case, with a variety of spare parts and tools (both loose and sealed , including a number of different adaptors for charging the gas cylinder, pressure test hardware, o-rings, adaptors, and a scarce multi-function service wrench), along with a set of manuals for use with the kit with a few different models of U.S. flamethrowers; many of these components have been out of production for decades, and can be hard to find. Statements made by the consignor attribute the M9 tank as a bring-back by a military supply officer, and state that the unit was loaded, fired, and fully cleaned in Fall of 2013. The consignor also states, during the '70s and '80s, the Vietnam M9-2 Flamethrower was declared inhuman and decommissioned by the military and most were issued to the U.S. Forest Service as part of their fire fighting equipment. The Forest Service found the original M-9 ignitor extremely dangerous and unreliable and, at taxpayers expense, had FMC redesign and test a new replacement Butane based ignitor system and then retro-fitted the upgrade to all the Forest Service M9-2 Flamethrowers. Every Forestry M9-2 flamethrower had this update installed. The FMC ignitor update was made available to the public and Lot 1355 the FMC blue colored Butane ignitor update installed on it. As with any retro-fit on any flamethrower, minor adjustments are sometimes necessary to attach and get the upgrade to function correctly, hence the whittling on the castings and fittings. The Forestry M-9 and also Lot 1355 were no exception.