Nambu Type 94 pistol
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| Nambu Type 94 Pistol | |
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 Type 94 Pistol |
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| Type | Pistol |
| Place of origin |  Empire of Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1934 - 1961 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Second Sino-Japanese War, Second World War, Chinese Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1934 |
| Manufacturer | Nambu |
| Produced | 1934 - 1945 |
| Number built | 72,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 720 g (25.4 oz) |
| Length | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Barrel length | 95 mm (3.74 in) |
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| Cartridge | 8x22mm Nambu |
| Action | recoil operated, locked breech |
| Muzzle velocity | 290 m/s (950 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 6 round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron |
The Nambu Type 94 8 mm Pistol (Type 94 Handgun, Japanese: 九四式拳銃 Kyūyon-Shiki Kenjū) was a small and light-weight (1 pound 11 ounces) semi-automatic pistol, produced in large numbers by Japan prior to and during the Second World War.
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[edit] History
Designed by Kijirō Nambu, the pistol entered production in 1934 at the Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Company. Originally marketed commercially, it is sometimes said to have been developed as a compact pistol intended for pilots, air crews, and tank crews because it was thought that the Type 14 8 mm Nambu Pistol was too large. As such, it was meant to be replaced in IJA service.[1] Indeed, the Type 14 was more than 14mm longer than Colt 1911 .45 ACP. The pistol, which had plastic grips rather than the horn or wood grips of the Type 14, was developed for cheap mass-production, but modifications increased its cost.
Large numbers of the Type 94 were produced for military use. Records were lost during World War II, but it is believed that over 72,000 Type 94 pistols were manufactured. As with most weapons produced by the Axis, quality diminished greatly during the last stages of the war.
[edit] Design
The Type 94 used the same 8x22mm Nambu (.315 inch) ammunition as the Type 14 and was easier to load, having a much stronger firing mechanism to reduce misfires. The gun became notorious for a design flaw that allowed it to be fired with a round in the chamber by pressing the exposed trigger bar on the left-hand side of the receiver. The truth however is that the safety, when engaged (as was always to be the case, except immediately before firing), safely and securely blocks the sear bar as well, thereby efficiently preventing any unwanted discharge. Additionally, the chances of accidental discharge even when dropped with the safety off was remote although danger occurs when handled by people who might "racoon finger" a loaded weapon with the safety off. This might be the source of some of the stories from ever curious GI's who found the pistol on the battlefield who were unfamiliar with its quirks and then blamed surrendering Japanese for deliberately trick firing the gun when surrendering, perhaps covering up some accidents.
[edit] Users
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Nambu Type 94 pistol (Japan)". http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/jap/nambu-type-94-e.html. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- ^ a b Paul Alvarez (2003). "Nambu Type 94 Pistol". http://omegacrossroads.com/GunCabinet/Nambu/nambu.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
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