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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  JAPANESE PISTOL TYPE 94 8MM SN# 28549
Maker/Manufacturer:	NAMBU, KIJIRO
Date of Manufacture:	06/01/1942
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 1050
Measurements:	OL: 18CM 7 1/8" BL: 7.8CM 3 1/8" 28 oz.

Object Description:

JAPANESE PISTOL TYPE 94 8MM SN# 28549
Manufactured by State Factories, Japan in 1942 - Standard Japanese semi-automatic pistol complete with 8-round magazine. Blued finish, two-piece checkered grips. Barely corn front, and square notch rear sight. Weapon weighs around 28 oz. Weapon is complete with 8-round magazine and in very good condition. Weapon manufactured from 1934 to 1945.
Native: 94 SHIKI KENJU

Markings:
Frame: Japanese characters 17.6, 28549. Japanese characters. Various proofs.

Exhibit label: "TYPE 94 8 millimeter - Designed by Kijiro Nambu in 1934, the Type 94 was originally developed for export sales. During World War II it became popular among Japan's air units."

SPAR-1050 is second weapon on the right reading from top to bottom.

"This weapon holds the unusual distinction of being universally accepted as one of the worst pistols ever made. The design originated with a retired army officer turned gun designer Colonel Kirijo Nambu, who had already produced a number of pistol designs, but, although reasonably effective, they had been both bulky and expensive and, since Japanese officers had to buy their own weapons, his wares had achieved little commercial success. So, in 1929 he set out to produce a simpler and cheaper self-loading pistol and the Army Ordnance Department showed considerable interest in the prototypes. Unfortunately, the department then assumed that this gave it the right to interfere in the design and the results, as always when committees become too powerful, was disastrous. The slide covered the entire top of the frame and barrel and the weapon was cocked by pulling this back by means of the milled ears at the rear, but unfortunately this also exposed the sear bar which was situated on the left-hand side of the frame, so that it protruded slightly, making it possible to discharge the weapon accidentally by a blow. The trigger mechanism was particularly unreliable and it was also possible to fire the pistol prematurely, before the breech was locked. These problems were inherent in the design, but all were exacerbated by the increasingly poor standard of workmanship as the war continued, those manufactured in 1944-45 being especially bad. On top of all this is the original intention had been to produce a pistol which was cheaper than its predecessors, but the actual weapon proved to be even more expensive." - Miller

References:
Miller, David. THE ILLUSTRATED DIRECTORY OF 20TH CENTURY GUNS. Salamander Books Limited. London, England. 2001.