Japanese Naval Pistol Grip Switch

[NHPistolero]

I am a new member. I work for a NH firearms auction house, and sometimes I find items that are too esoteric for anybody here to identify. I often buy them for myself or to sell or give to others. Today, we got a weird pistol grip electrical switch with Japanese markings and a Naval anchor mark. It is about 7" long, and has a "barrel" about 30mm in diameter.

The trigger mechanism pushes a rod inside the barrel that makes an electrical contact. The contact has the remains of an electrical cord that obviously came out of the front end to operate a device.

There is a bail at the top for hanging the device. There is a flange at the front where the cord came out for inserting this into something else and locking it with a set screw.

My best guess is that it is the trigger for a signal lamp, but it could be an actuator for an electrically-fired weapon, too.

My questions are: What is this? What is it worth? If it turns out to be something I don't want for my collection, is there anybody who wants it if I buy it at the auction in May?

Here are some pics:

[guns ltd]

Looks like some sort of Igniter. for what, I don't know?????
Just my guess. I have never seen one of these before.

John

[Pryo]

Perhaps a flare gun?
Nvm, i don't think so

[NHPistolero]

It's definitely not a flare gun. There is no place to put a cartridge of any kind. It is really just a pistol-shaped switch -- but for what?

[SHINDENKAI]

For IJN pilots?

May be that's what the front chest pockets for.

First time to see such "gun".

Flamethrower igniter ----> Paratrooper ???

Regards,
Taka

[Richard_J]

Bomb/Torpedo release switch?

[douglas2496]

Yes possibly. My guess would be a trigger for a big naval gun.

Bomb/Torpedo release switch?

[NHPistolero]

Can you read the markings on the left side?

[NHPistolero]

This would not be an igniter, as there is no place to put a battery.