Let’s be real for a second. If you told a venture capitalist in the 90s that a billionaire would eventually fund a sub-surface transit empire by selling 20,000 "glorified lighters" to people on the internet, they’d have laughed you out of the room. But that is basically exactly what happened in 2018.
The Elon Musk Not a Flamethrower isn't just a piece of weird tech history; it’s a masterclass in how to exploit a loophole while making everyone look at you. It was born from a joke—literally. Elon Musk tweeted that if his tunneling venture, The Boring Company, sold 50,000 branded hats, he’d release a flamethrower. People bought the hats. Then they bought the fire.
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The Loophole That Gave It a Name
It sounds like a bit, right? "Not a Flamethrower." But it was actually a very calculated move to deal with grumpy customs agents and shipping companies.
Most international shipping regulations are pretty strict about sending things labeled "flamethrower" through the mail. It tends to set off red flags. To get around this, Musk just... changed the name. He joked about calling it a "Temperature Enhancement Device," but eventually landed on the ironic "Not a Flamethrower."
Here is the thing: legally, it’s just a roofing torch. If you go to a hardware store, you can buy a propane torch used for melting ice or weeds. The "Not a Flamethrower" is essentially one of those torches shoved inside the plastic shell of a modified CSI SXR Airsoft rifle.
It shoots a flame about six to ten feet. That is way shorter than a military-grade flamethrower, which can blast fire up to 100 feet using liquid fuel. This thing uses standard 14.1 oz propane tanks. You’ve probably seen them in the camping aisle at Walmart.
Why 20,000 People Dropped $500 on a Toy
Elon sold out the entire run in roughly five days. That is $10 million in revenue for a company that, at the time, was mostly just a hole in the ground in a SpaceX parking lot.
The hype was incredible.
Musk even hosted "pick-up parties" where people showed up to grab their devices and roast marshmallows over open pits. It was a vibe. But beneath the fun, there was a lot of controversy. California Assemblyman Miguel Santiago tried to introduce legislation to ban the sale, calling it a "slap in the face" to public safety. Honestly, he wasn't alone in that feeling.
People were worried. Would random teenagers be running around setting hedges on fire? The Boring Company tried to fix the PR nightmare by selling a "Boring Fire Extinguisher" alongside it for an extra $30.
What’s Actually Inside the Box?
If you were one of the lucky (or crazy) ones to get one, the package was surprisingly sparse. You got:
- The device itself (the black and white sci-fi looking gun).
- A "Green Eggs and Ham" style terms and conditions sheet.
- Instructions that basically said "don't point this at your spouse."
The Dr. Seuss parody in the legal fine print is peak Musk. It literally said, "I will not use this in a house. I will not point this at my spouse. I will not use this in an unsafe way. The best use is crème brûlée."
The Legal Headache and Seizures
Since 2018, owning one has become a bit of a legal gray area. While they are legal to own in most of the US (except Maryland, which has strict flamethrower laws), they cause massive headaches for people traveling.
There have been multiple reports of these being seized by police during drug busts or traffic stops. In London, Ontario, the police once listed a "Boring Company Flamethrower" among a haul of illegal firearms and drugs. Technically, since it doesn't fire a projectile, it’s not a "firearm" in many jurisdictions, but try explaining that to a cop who just found a space-gun in your trunk.
Customs agents in countries like the UK and Switzerland have also been known to confiscate them because they look too much like real weapons.
Is It Actually Useful for Anything?
Probably not.
Unless you really like over-cooked steaks or you have a very specific weed problem in your driveway, it’s a collector's item. Most of them now sit in glass cases or are listed on eBay for three times their original price.
It served its true purpose: funding the early days of Prufrock (The Boring Company’s massive tunnel-digging machine) and proving that Elon Musk could sell literally anything if he put a funny name on it.
How to Handle Your "Not a Flamethrower" Today
If you still have one of these things in your garage or you're thinking of buying one on the secondary market, you should keep a few things in mind for 2026.
First, check your local fire ordinances. Just because it’s "Not a Flamethrower" doesn't mean you can’t get fined for using it during a dry spell or a burn ban. Most cities treat any open-flame device the same way.
Second, do not travel with it. Seriously. Even if you take the propane tank out, the X-ray machine at the airport is going to see a rifle-shaped object. You will miss your flight. You might end up in a small room being questioned. It isn't worth the "cool" factor of bringing it to a friend's BBQ.
Finally, maintain the seals. These use standard O-rings and rubber hoses that can dry out over time. If you smell propane when you hook up the tank, don't ignite it. Replace the regulator or the hose before you end up featuring in a "what not to do" viral video.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Inspect the O-rings: If you haven't fired yours in years, check the connection point where the propane tank screws in for cracks or brittleness.
- Verify Local Laws: Double-check your specific city's "incendiary device" codes before using it in your backyard.
- Appraisal: If yours is in the original box with the "Boring Fire Extinguisher," check recent auction sold-prices; the "full kit" value has spiked significantly for tech collectors.