How dangerous to the user are Flamethrowers?

[thelastdinosaurs.com]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/878702571 Probably the cheapest military surplus flamethrower on the market. They seem like a good way to hurt yourself accidentally in my opinion. I am however happy that they are completely unregulated, the way machine guns should be, but how dangerous are they to people untrained in their proper use?

 

[dustindu4]

Worst thing that can happen is what you assume. Fuel tank explodes on your back and die a fiery death. I would never use a shady surplus unit. There are some new production and even non backpack units out there


Www.throwflame.com

 

[ScottinTexas]

I've had a few truly dangerous toys.

Got rid of all of them. Decided I don't want to look like those heroes in the Wounded Warrior commercials.

 

[rybread]

Hard pass. Full auto MG is flame thrower enough. I’ve operated one and it was HOT - certainly don’t feel the need to recreate that at all.

 

[mattnh]

Def not something to venture into without some guidance
IMHO, unknown mil surplus is not the way to go

In situations like this, ask yourself what is the worst thing that
Could happen and plan accordingly...

 

[Hey...]

I remembered the old saying out there regarding fools/injury as I saw that gunbro-ker ad asking $3000

-You Paid for That in Cash.

 

[sniperdoc]

Chinese, been lost in a warehouse for 26 years, seller says pics "are for reference only"?
No thanks. Not worth risking your money on an item that may be unusable (best case) or will kill you (bad enough) or send you to a burn hospital with your skin melted off, muscles cooked like a steak on the grill, and blinded (worse than death, IMHO.)
If you want a working flamethrower, buy a new one. If you want a wallhanger, you can get one a lot cheaper.

 

[OldBesty]

Not a Type 74 in those photographs for that auction. Type 74's have only 2 tanks.

It is either actual original Soviet made LPO-50 or Chinese made Type 58.

Given the discrepant listing and photos, have to wonder why these were forgotten in a warehouse since 1994. Its possible they are violating import regulations. They may be contraband. Buyer should beware.

In any event, they are quite hazardous even when fully operational and require operator to be prone when using due to immense recoil. They fire 3 shots in 2-3 second duration (not continuous). They operate using electrically-detonated compression charges (that pressurize the fuel tanks) and electrically-fired pyro igniters at the muzzle, and both must be replaced every time the fuel tanks are refilled. Any buyer that wants to restore it to condition safe for operational use better have source for those and 1.5v batteries.

From time spent working in burn units, I have learned not to play with fire.

 

[strobro32]

I made my own. $500. Better to burn out than to fade away.

 

[root]

That pic never gets old strobro.

Happy thankgiving everyone flame on!

 

[TheColtCollector]

Problem is a flame thrower is closer to a car than a gun. It has gaskets and a rubber hose connecting the tanks to the wand. A unit like that is 200+PSI. 30 years of dry rot will destroy that hose, don’t waste your time

 

[OldBesty]

Problem is a flame thrower is closer to a car than a gun. It has gaskets and a rubber hose connecting the tanks to the wand. A unit like that is 200+PSI. 30 years of dry rot will destroy that hose, don’t waste your time

No reason it can't be restored. Hoses and gaskets can be replaced. Having access to supply of the fuel tank compression charges and pyro-igniters is another story.

The problem is that what is in pictures is NOT a Type 74, but rather either Soviet LPO-50 or Chinese produced copy Type 58, and to my knowledge, these are banned, illegal contraband in the United States.

Perhaps someone actually having knowledge about the legality can respond?

 

[TSPC]

That listing is from Jerry at Recon Ordnance. Looks like he has at least three of them.

 

[OldBesty]

Jerry is known for being a nice guy and has a good reputation. Maybe someone knowing him on personal level can alert him the product in his photos does not appear to be Type 74.

 

[Banshee]

12 liters of gasoline makes one hell of a fireball if you standing in the middle of it

 

[mattnh]

https://youtu.be/WWM__QNgc4g

Those high pressure units are no joke
Designed to be fired from prone by 1
Guy


Agree - not a type 74

 

[ericthered]

Not to hijack the thread, as I think this is a paralel question to the discussion. What exactly constitutes a legal or illegal flamethrower?

 

[Mackjack]

Not to hijack the thread, as I think this is a paralel question to the discussion. What exactly constitutes a legal or illegal flamethrower?

No restrictions on any type of flame thrower that I’m aware of.

 

[r]

strobo32,
what cu ft is your tank and did you have it hydrostatically tested before building? do you plan on during a hydro every 5 years same as in scuba diving? how much pressure do you use in discharge tank? is it CO2 same as paintball?

 

[mattnh]

No restrictions on any type of flame thrower that I’m aware of.

They are illegal in some states