I know that this is not about airsoft, but we are always fascinated with fire. Moreso, we have always been playing with fire since it was first discovered. News about the XM42, about to become the world's first commercially available handheld flamethrower, is taking the media like firestorm (pun intended). A product that can shoot flames up to 25 feet can be legally owned in the USA, with the exception of two states: California (where you need  a license) and Maryland. The remaining 48 states have no legislation on flamethrower ownership.

Now on its prototype stage and developed by Chris Byars, Tony Sroka and Jim Stewart of Ion Productions in Cincinnati, Ohio. The XM42 was designed to incinerate insects, eliminate weeds, and clear snow. I'm pretty sure that there are other purposes such as lighting pyros from a longer distance, lighting up the firewood to start the BBQ grill, starting bonfires, and perhaps clearing some caves if you need emergency shelter.

It uses 87 octane gasoline which is readily available at gasoline stations. The gasoline is in a 1-liter tank mounted above the body of the XM42 which can be readily topped up by opening the cap. There is a check valve that prevents unwanted vapor from escaping and a deflector cone to prevent flame dripping backward. There is no need to strap on a heavy pressurized tank and allowing you to safely release the XM42 when you need to without worrying about a tank on your back that may just explode.

The developers have now put the XM42 on Indiegogo to raise funds to produce it.  With the aim of raising US$40,000, they have already raised more than half on the first day of their fund raising.  The pledging will close on the 28th of April, and it seems that achieving the funding goal will be done before that.

If interested, you'll need to check local laws before pledging on Indiegogo to help fund the project in order to get one.  But if you’re up to no good like a kid playing with a box of matches, better not try to get one.