Vorratskasten

As the other weapons, flare guns maintenance were done by gunsmiths.

For that purpose, they had a spare parts containing box (translation of 'Vorratskasten').

It exists certainly two models:

- The model designed for Wehrmacht flare guns (Mod. 34 and Heer)

- And the model for Luftwaffe Mod. L flare gun (The Mod. L has a larger number of pieces and some of the maintenance operations needed some specific tools).

It may exist some Vorratskasten for Kriegsmarine flare gun but we never see any picture of it at the moment.

This box contain the whole set of spare parts so a flare gun can be completely repaired (or rebuild from nothing). It contains grips, barrels, slings...

The sentence 'Vorratskasten fur Leuchtpistolen' is painted on the cover of the box with white painting using stencil. The box can be closed using a small key.

After opening it, there is a removable tray (containing small parts). Under this tray, bigger parts are stored (see down on this page).

General overview of the Vorratskasten für Leuchtpistolen:

Manufacturer code and WaAmt on one side of the box (1942 and 1935 dated - with the change of the German eagle design).

To sumarize:

R.B. (1942 dated), WaA300

B&E [for Emil Barthelmes, Zella St. Blasi] (1935 dated), WaA?59 

We can observe the other manufacturers codes (select picture to enlarge it):

R.B. (1941 dated), WaA885

hkk [for Robert Barth, Holzwarenfabrik u. Kunsttischlerei, Breitenbrunn i./sa] (/41 dated), WaA885

Cff [for Kisten- und Holzwarenfabrik M. Koffmahn K. -G., Wien xxv, Atzgeradorf] (1943 dated), WaA920 

R.B. (1941 dated), WaA885

R.B. (1942 dated), WaA???

Inside view of the maintenance box. There is still the mark of missing holds.

Mod. 34 flare gun for which the trigger and some other pieces have been changed. We can observe the manufacturer code (ayf) on them.

Two opened boxes, unfortunately, some elements are missing (holds, upper tray) (on left, 1942 dated, on right 1935 dated).

The two different maintenance boxes have their own manufacturer code..
On this top view, there is some small difference in the way they are manufactured (round nuts and then square nuts for hinges fixation).

Other pictures of the content of a spare parts box (select the picture to enlarge it):

Here is the detailed content of the two levels of the maintenance box (pictures from the book written by Wolfgang Kern "Deutsche Leucht- und Signalpistolen" - Volume 1 - :

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