CLEANSE IT WITH FIRE

[Jaeger]

What could possibly go wrong?

[media]https://youtu.be/RVDazfVQOoA[/media]

The X15 flamethrower is a personal, consumer flamethrower that exists purely because of course it does. Who hasn't wanted to stand with a tank on their back, arms akimbo while spewing great gusts of fire into the sky? Now you can, for $1,600.

When I asked XMatter, the folks behind the X15, why they decided to sell consumer flamethrowers, co-founder Quinn Whitehead immediately responded, "Why not? This is America, land of the free," before laughing and digging into his real pitch.

"It's really an interesting product; there's nothing else like it." When they started out, there was no other consumer flamethrower on the market, meaning that anyone looking to get into the throwing-flame game would need to drop around $10,000 on a military flamethrower.

The X15, according to Whitehead, shoots about 50 feet and holds 3.3 gallons of fuel. XMatter also offers a napalm mix. "That stuff really works well." All users need to do is add a few drops per gallon. "It turns it into almost like a syrupy substance. Really cool."

As for why anyone would want a flamethrower, Whitehead pointed to agricultural uses, pyrotechnics, and, of course, "a lot of people just use it for a whole lot of fun."

"We get a lot of people that do, like, machine gun rentals, and own guns, and they'll also offer like a flamethrower package." One of their customers also rents tanks. "People will come up there, rent tanks, run over cars, shoot flamethrowers. That sort of thing."

But is it legal? "We haven't run into any trouble whatsoever." They're not federally regulated, according to Whitehead. "They're not even considered a firearm."

"In California, you're required to have a flamethrowing permit, and then in Maryland it's just against the fire code." So they just don't ship to those two states. "The other 48, it's open game."

You can purchase a X15 from XMatter's website right now, on sale for just $1,600. Way better than your average Super Soaker full of gasoline.

LINK: http://www.popularmechanics.com/militar ... e-thrower/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeeeeah... I foresee a whole bunch of issues here, not least of which being my lack of desire to strap that much napalm to my back.

Now, if only I could mount it on the truck...

--Jaeger

[DerGolgo]

Hm.
If I recall the limited amount of war stories I have picked up from the media ... the soldiers with the flame-throwers? Yeah, they never got taken prisoner. Many would surrender, mind. Just didn't make it all the way to prisoner. Not after working the Flammenwerfer.

On the other hand, some fool might have only limited fright of a gun ... but seeing someone draw this sort of thing will make just about anyone piss their pants vigorously.

Ah, whatever. This is just so 20th century. I want a sick-stick!

[Bigshankhank]

I wish there was a way to mount this on a guitar, how rad would that be...

[jae]

anyone else see the irony that a flamethrower is not classified as a "fire arm"?

[Toonce(s)]

Home defense! Take it camping to discourage camp robbing bears! Mountain lion? Gonna assume an aggressive posture and look as large as possible, or whip out an X15? Fucking Kodiak Bears would wet themselves if you pulled one of those. Siberian Tigers would be like 'Oh Hell No'.

How about pest control? That would work magic on the paper wasp nest being built near my apartment window. Since they haven't removed it yet they probably wouldn't mind.

This is the weapon to show interspecies dominance.

[DerGolgo]

This is the weapon to show interspecies dominance.

^^^THAT!

[Jaeger]

This is the weapon to show interspecies dominance.

^^^THAT!

Yep, agreed. And yes, DG, I'd heard the same thing about the "popularity" of the guys with flamethrowers and their general lack of longevity... not just because they weren't especially liked, but because they had a nasty tendency to blow up.



--Jaeger

[12ci]

random thoughts:

another reason to not live in Maryland

makes colin furze's wrist-mounted flamethrower look like a toy





and, i'm astonished that flame throwers are not classified as "destructive devices" under the NFA, or otherwise regulated by the BATFE

[Jaeger]

random thoughts:

another reason to not live in Maryland

In all honesty that did factor into my calculus when moving to Virginia. I have plenty of issues with the Commonwealth but they're not the nanny state of Maryland.

and, i'm astonished that flame throwers are not classified as "destructive devices" under the NFA, or otherwise regulated by the BATFE

Me too, though it's really nothing more than an enormous weed burner.

I wonder how long it'll take for the Feds to close that loophole.

--Jaeger

[Toonce(s)]

Just add drone technology for not-yet-regulated mayhem.

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sEo8A8giHw[/media]

X15 weight, 49 pounds.
Drone lift capacity 50 pounds.

Drone designed around 'humanitarian operations' use case. hrk.

[goose]

want for xmas, flame throwing drone!

[wyckedsin]

https://youtu.be/oO1bGlyHDNU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[12ci]

and how long before these are Federally regulated?

dated 8 September:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyl ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

which prompted these:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[goose]

I live in California, where nothing is legal, or so it seems