• SUBSCRIBE
Athlon Outdoors Supersite
Tactical Life Website
Ballistic Website
Personal Defense World Website
Skillsetmag Website
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Thermal Vision
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Thermal Vision
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors Super Site
No Result
View All Result
  • TL
  • PDW
  • BM
  • Skillset
 
ENTER TO WIN: FREE GUN FRIDAY ft. Browning, Caldwell & Black Hills!

Burning Love: Firing Up the Commercially Available XM42 Flamethrower

ShareTweetPin
Shooting Taurus Raging Hunter
Linas CernauskasbyLinas Cernauskas
June 14, 2017
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The third-generation XM42 weighs 7.4 pounds and has a 1.5-liter fuel tank. It’s also available with a number of Cerakote finish options in case the flames aren’t eye catching enough for your tastes.





When some people see the XM42, they immediately think, “WANT!”

Others might think or cry out, “Why?!” But those who think that are usually the type who don’t understand why you would need an AR, why you would own more than one gun or why you would want a totally awesome flamethrower from an American company.

RELATED VIDEO: Watch Ion Production Team’s Absolutely Awesome Flamethrower in Action

The handheld XM42 was conceived by American dreamers at the Ion Productions Team. It is the world’s first commercially available flamethrower. And quite frankly, this thing is badass. It melts ice, starts bonfires, eliminates weeds with extreme prejudice, can perform controlled burns (not suggested in urban environments) and light your friend’s cigar (also not recommended).

This is a great representation of what American freedom is. If you’re still asking yourself “Why?” and just don’t get it, maybe you would be better served if you took up quilting and started a cat collection.

Can I Own the XM42?

XM42 Flamethrower left profile

Let’s start off with the legalities of owning a flamethrower. Doing some research showed that a flamethrower is an unregulated item, and you can own one unless you live in California, Maryland or Warren, Michigan, which has legislation in place restricting them. California and Maryland aren’t surprising in that list, but what gives Warren, Michigan? Don’t like freedom much?

I had a chance to visit the Ion Productions Team in Detroit before the company relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. I was expecting to see charred walls, fire damage, burnt faces and maybe a little fire going in the corner, but I was disappointed. The facility was hospital clean, and everything was orderly and in place. There I met Chris Byars, the Ion Productions Team’s CEO/president and the mastermind behind the XM42. I asked this mad genius about what spurred him on to create the XM42. His answer? He was inspired by the movie Aliens and video games like “Halo,” and he wanted a true-to-life flamethrower, not a lighter held up to hairspray.

Burning Details

The current third-generation XM42 features aluminum and stainless steel construction and weighs approximately 7.4 pounds empty. But with the 1.5-liter fuel tank filled up, it weighs about 10.4 pounds. This fuel tank will support up to 30 seconds of non-stop-giggling flame time.

A check valve in the fuel cap prevents unwanted vapors from escaping and catching on fire. A deflector dish at the nozzle isolates the fuel and flames to the very end for safe operation. A high-intensity butane pilot torch is powered by either a camping-stove-style butane/propane canister or an 8-ounce butane canister, which you’ll need to buy separately. The pilot ignition is done via push-button Piezo start.

The power button is on the left side, and it illuminates when the system is ready. Towards the back you’ll find the momentary switch trigger for the fun to start. The XM42 is powered by a 12.6-volt lithium-polymer battery with a run time well over four hours. Just check the battery once in a while to make sure it doesn’t drop below 10 volts. The flamethrower is currently available in 11 standard powdercoat options, with custom colors available, including custom Cerakote themes by Blowndeadline. We had the standard Inferno Orange for testing, and boy, it looks good.

Firebugs Unleashed

XM42 Flamethrower shooting

The nice thing about the XM42 is that you can fuel it with anything that is flammable—gasoline, a gasoline-diesel mixture, denatured alcohol, vodka. If it burns, you can run it through the XM42. But denatured alcohol is not recommended because it might eat away at some of the unit’s seals. It’s better to be safe than a piece of crispy bacon.

I ran the XM42 on unleaded gasoline, and man, it was a blast! I first tested it on my driveway to help melt some ice. Granted, it takes a lot of energy to melt ice, but this was one fun way to do it. Also, once it got warmer, the XM42 helped me get rid of some pesky weeds around my fire pit—a chore that I would normally grumble about, but this time I was giggling instead. The downside to it? When you’re having fun, time flies, and 30 seconds goes by quickly. The flame can reach out to 30 feet, so be careful what you have in your line of fire.

So, what can you do with it? Well, it depends upon your imagination. The Ion Productions Team suggests you can use the XM42 for clearing snow and ice, eliminating weeds, facilitating controlled burns, firefighting, controlling ground insect hives, performing at pyrotechnic events, starting bonfires or simply putting on a fun and exciting display. Trust me, it’s fun and exciting if you’re just showing it off to family and friends or putting it to work.

Forged for Fire

Each XM42 is hand-assembled using over 50 components, and each one undergoes thorough inspection and testing processes before shipment. I bring this up because of the XM42’s $1,200 to $1,300 MSRP. It is not an inexpensive flamethrower, but it is a huge step up from a lighter and a can of hairspray. That’s also why the Ion Productions Team recently moved out to a larger facility in Arizona with hopes of bringing costs down.

Chris Byars and his team have something special here—something that screams America and freedom. Besides working on flamethrowers, they are proceeding to do some research and development in other fields. This is definitely a company you’ll want to keep your eye on. Until then, burn on!

For more information, visit the Ion Production Team’s flamethrower website.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

MOST POPULAR

bond arms, bond arms derringer, bond arms derringers, Bond Arms snake slayer

10 of the Best Backcountry Pocket Pistols for Hunting, Self-Defense

13 Best Snub-Nose Revolvers for Concealed Carry [2023]

13 Best Snub-Nose Revolvers for Concealed Carry [2023]

300 Blackout vs 308, rifles, ammunition

300 Blackout vs 308 Win: Which Round Reigns Supreme in AR-15s?

Taurus Home Defender revolver in .410.

KA-BOOM: Here Comes the Taurus Judge Home Defender!

TRENDING

Marines in the Philippines to Assist with Typhoon Haiyan Relief

Marines in the Philippines to Assist with Typhoon Haiyan Relief

The SureFire XSC Weapon Light is built duty grade for EDC.

SureFire XSC Weapon Light: Built Duty-Grade for Micro-Compact Pistols

Available for civilians or professionals, the BulletSafe Elite IIIA vest stops rounds up to .44 Mag.

BulletSafe Elite IIIA Bulletproof Vest Stops Rounds up to 44 Mag

Different countries excel in different combat sports!

International Ass Kicking: Combat Sports By Country

BROWSE BY BRAND

Skillset-Logo_yellow-153x47png
Ballistic_LOGO-217x47
CH-Logo_blue-153x47
T-L-SS-stack life-47x140
PDW_CCH_LOGO-300x101
PDW-2022-Sidebyside-logo 160x30-blk
GOW LOGO x101
AF_LOGO-184x47

SPOTLIGHT

The limited edition RISE Armament Topo Watchman rifle.

UPDATED: New RISE Armament Topo Watchman Limited-Edition

RISE Armament just announced the release of a limited-time update to the popular Watchman rifle series. The new Topo Watchman...

RELATED POSTS

Davidson's Ruger American Predator

Ready to Pounce: Ruger American Predator From Davidson’s

...

Taurus Home Defender revolver in .410.

KA-BOOM: Here Comes the Taurus Judge Home Defender!

...

Ammo Storage, Survival Ammo, long term ammo storage, Prepper

Best Methods for Long-Term Ammo Storage

...

Load More

TRENDING

sig sauer rifles

Superior Sigs: 5 High-End Sig Sauer Rifles for Hunters, Target Shooters & Collectors

Sig Sauer is without a doubt one of the most dynamic firearms companies in the country. In the past several years,...

Taurus Home Defender revolver in .410.

KA-BOOM: Here Comes the Taurus Judge Home Defender!

The home defense revolver just got swole. The new Taurus Judge Home Defender brings a beefed up new version...

Testing the Mossberg 590S Shockwave and 590S full-size.

Shock & Awesome: Mossberg 590S Shockwave, 590S Pump Battle

The Mossberg 500 series of shotguns has a long and storied history of service to both civilians and armed professionals....

The Bond Arms Grizzly.

The Bond Arms Grizzly: Shooting the Multi-Cal Derringer

When you think of firearms for combat and defensive purposes in today’s modern age, images of custom-built ARs and tricked-out...

MOST POPULAR

The Mossberg MC2sc semi-auto pistol.

12 Best Micro-Compact Handguns for Concealed Carry [2022]

A thick veil of fog stood forever in front of me as I cruised down the highway at 6:30 in...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

Law enforcement in the United States is in constant evolution and that includes various police sidearms. These days, law enforcement...

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

Tuesday afternoon we broke news that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection selected three Glock 9mm pistols as its new standard...

All the best new handguns seen at SHOT Show 2023.

21 Best New Handguns [2023]

The NSSF SHOT Show is the premier event to get your hands on new gear. It gives us a first...

VIDEO SERIES: AT THE READY | SEASON 2

MORE VIDEOS

The Steiner MPS (Micro Pistol Sight) in FDE.

The Steiner MPS (Micro Pistol Sight) is Now Available in FDE

The Garmin Tactix 7 AMOLED Edition.

The Garmin Tactix 7 AMOLED Edition with Adaptive Touchscreen

HANDGUNS

The Girsan High Power Negotiator.

The Girsan Negotiator Series Gets a High Power Addition in 9mm

Taurus Home Defender revolver in .410.

KA-BOOM: Here Comes the Taurus Judge Home Defender!

holster, holsters, full-size pistol, full-size handgun, handgun, handguns, pistol, pistols

Practical Concealed Carry: How to Carry A Full-Size Pistol

The Bond Arms Grizzly.

The Bond Arms Grizzly: Shooting the Multi-Cal Derringer

The Taurus TS9.

Taurus TS9 is Available to US Civilian Market in Limited Quantities

The California-Compliant SIG Sauer P320-M18.

The P320-M18 from Sig Sauer is Now Available in California

RIFLES - click to see all

The limited edition RISE Armament Topo Watchman rifle.

UPDATED: New RISE Armament Topo Watchman Limited-Edition

The MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47 Rifle.

MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47 is Back with Limited Availability

Davidson's Ruger American Predator

Ready to Pounce: Ruger American Predator From Davidson’s

The Exclusive HKMR762A1 from Davidson's.

Davidson’s HK MR762A1 in 7.62mm Brings Exclusive Battle Rifle

AMMO - click to see all

Ammo Storage, Survival Ammo, long term ammo storage, Prepper

Best Methods for Long-Term Ammo Storage

6 .410 Ammo Options for Home and Personal Defense.

.410 Ammo for Home Defense [2023]

.44 Magnum dirty harry

Your Guide to the .44 Magnum Cartridge

The Escort PS Youth 20-gauge shotgun.

The Escort PS Youth Shotgun is Now Available in .410 Bore

The 2022 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous event.

Rendezvous Roundup: Guns & Gear at Athlon’s Signature Event

fbi ammo testing protocol

Understanding FBI Ammo Testing Standards

Magazines Available Now! Subscribe today for Home Delivery!
FREE NEWSLETTERS! Subscribe!
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • CORPORATE
  • ADVERTISE
  • EDIT DESK
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS

© 2023 Athlon Outdoors - Premium Firearm product and industry news, reviews and magazines" .