Original French WWI Model 1917 Flare Signal Pistol - Serial 728 Snider Rifle Parts are hand-painted on the skirt

are hand-painted on the skirt and can be seen by the right chinstrap bale

which was brass and then nickel plated

crisp edges

but we do not know if this has any significance

Original French WWI Model 1917 Flare Signal Pistol - Serial 728 Snider Rifle Parts are hand-painted on the skirtOriginal Item: Only One Available. Heavy Brass French signal pistol from the First World War. It is chambered for French 25 mm flare cartridges. It does not accept the 26. 5 mm cartridges currently available nor commercial 1 inch cartridges. The bore diameter is 26. 9 millimeters. This is one of several different French signal pistols with the M1917 model designation; this version has a 4 inch barrel. There is also a letter V over a small arc on the