Type
94 Photo Gallery
I
have eight Type 94s. The Type 94 is an odd-looking gun but was popular with
Japanese troops because it was smaller and lighter than the Type 14. This was
especially important for those working in cramped quarters like tankers and pilots.
It gets its designation from the fact it was officially adopted in the year 2594
by the Japanese calendar. Like the Grandpa, Papa and Type 14, the
Type 94 fired the standard 8mm Nambu round. The
magazine capacity was only six rounds compared to eight for the other, larger
pistols. Contrary what was written in some early books, it was originally
designed as a military sidearm and never intended for civilian sales.
They
started making Type 94s in Showa 10.6 (June, 1935), but production was very low
for the first couple of years. My earliest one is this dated Showa 14.2
(February, 1939).
To
see more photos of this Showa 14.2 dated Type 94 pistol, please click
here: Nambu
World: Showa 14.2 Type 94 Photos
Here
is one made later the same year, in Showa 14.9 (September, 1939).
To
see more photos of this Showa 14.9 dated Type 94 pistol, please click here: Nambu
World: Showa 14.9 Type 94 Photos
By
coincidence, at one point I ended up with Type 94s made in three consecutive months:
Showa 16.1, 16.2 and 16.3. Here is the 16.1 dated one, which I later traded to
get the 19.8 shown further down the page.
To
see more photos of this Showa 16.1 dated Type 94 pistol, please click here: Nambu
World: Showa 16.1 Type 94 Photos
This
one was made in Showa 16.2 (February, 1941).
To
see more photos of this Showa 16.2-dated Type 94 pistol, please click here: Showa 16.2 Type 94 Photos
The
next one was made just one month later, in Showa 16.3 (March, 1941). I received
it as a gift from an advanced collector who wanted it to have a good home.
To
see more photos of this 16.3-dated Type 94 pistol, please click here: Showa 16.3 Type 94 Photos
The
T-94 below is dated July, 1943, but it is a so-called goff-dateh variant,
because the serial number and date are out of sync. Based on the serial number,
the gun should have been produced about a year earlier. The leading theory
about this discrepancy is that it occurred because some pistols were shipped to
another factory for assembly to keep the workers there busy, and then they were
dated when they were returned a year later.
To
see more photos of this Showa 18.7-dated Type 94 pistol, please click here: t94187pix.htm
Here
is the Showa 19.3-dated pistol. The finish on it is noticeably rougher than on
the 18.7.
.
To
see more photos of this Showa 19.3-dated Type 94 pistol, please click here: t94193pix.htm
This
Showa 19.6 (June, 1944) dated Type 94 has markings that I believe indicate it
served with the Nationalist Chinese forces after being captured from or
surrendered by the Japanese.
To
see more photos of this Showa 19.6 type 94 pistol, please click here: Nambu
World: Showa 19.6 Nationalist Chinese Marked Type 94
The
most obvious variation in Type 94s was the switch to wooden grips that happened
around Showa 19.7 (July, 1944), through some earlier guns also ended up with
them. I have one pistol of this variation, a very nice Showa 19.8 date (August,
1944).
.
To
see more photos of this Showa 19.8-dated Type 94 pistols, please click here: Nambu
World: Showa 19.8 Type 94 (Slab wooden grip variation)
To see accessories for the Type 94
(holsters, etc.), please click here: t94accessories.htm
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Last updated: May 23, 2007. All contents are
copyright Teri unless otherwise specified and may not be used elsewhere in any
form without prior permission.