There is a fairly recent thread re: the M6 over at www.knifeforums.com in the outdoor survival forum. Somewhere in an ancient post I gave an online site with the manual and mods for the M6. The manual has also been on EBAY recently. I would pass on the .410 flares for one very simple reason. The M6 lacks an extractor. I was considered something of a pyromaniac in the service. I had a helicopter overhead looking for me in a standard pattern. As it swung toward me I fired my entire supply of pen flares PLUS a 'borrowed' Icarus flare. The pilot ( and my former watch commander) asked if I was trying to shoot him down <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Seriously, betting on a small flare that cannot be reloaded rapidly on a fast moving search aircraft is not wise.