Need help IDing/valuing flare piston

[colreed]

I need to find a good home for this flare pistol but know little about it.
I've done a little research but have reached no conclusions.
It is marked: top of barrel HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS CO, ---WORCHESTER , MASS, U.S.A.---
On left frame: MARK VI and ONE INCH. The serial No. on front of grip frame is 12172. The SN on left barrel flange (with barrel open) shows a P12172. There is a S on the right side of barrel flange, and a small arrow head on the left side of frame.
No other markings. Has black H&R grips and lanyard ring.
The holster is as-new, Khaki with brass colored strap hardware, and is marked U S & O L IB 1942 (I think. Is partially faded), and has a arrowhead in a semicircle. See link to photos.
I have had this piece since 1969, and believe it to be of 1954 vintage.
The pistol appears to be unfired and appears to be near 100% in every respect.
See photobucket photos: http://s119.photobucket.com/user/colree ... y%20pistol
OOps, I forgot to add 2 photos: http://s119.photobucket.com/user/colree ... y%20pistol

If photos don't work for you, contact me at colreed1@hotmail.com and I'll send via email.
Thanks for your help.
Reed

[Brian Keith]

Hello Reed,
Nice gun! It is a WW II British contract, US made, H & R Mark VI. The arrowhead is the British ownership/acceptance mark. I looked and didn't find one posted in the British flare gun section. The holster is British also. Both are in excellent condition. I really don't know the sales value of these, but it does make a difference what country you are in.
Thanks for posting it.
BKW

[Brian Keith]

I'll make a slight correction, the holster is Canadian issue, the gun may have also been Canadian issue, but still British Commonwealth associated.
BKW

[colreed]

Thanks, Brian, for your info. Is good to know. I would guess there is a very limited market out there for flare guns. I did manage to pick up half dozen boxes or so of orig 1" flares in various colors over the years. Never had the opportunity to rip one off. Sort of fearful of ground fires, ya know.

[AlanD]

Yes made under a British contract for 15,000 units in WW2.

Regards

AlanD
Sydney

[colreed]

AlanD,
Thanks, You say "WWII" contract. The SN of this piece has a "P" in front of it which, according to one website I found, might indicate it was made in the 1954 time frame. Could I be misreading that? I would much rather it be in the WWII era.
Reed

[AlanD]

There is no "P" prefix on the serial on the grip strap. I think the P on the barrel is an assembly mark.

This is definitely part of the British 15,000 unit contract in WW2.

Regards

Alan

[colreed]

Sounds good to me. Thanks Alan
Reed