was a semi-automatic pistol developed starting in 1941 for use by the

Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of Japan, 1947 constitu ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. Developed by Bunji Hamada, the pistol took its basic design from the Model 1910 Browning. Production occurred at the Japanese Firearms Manufacturing Company, with only minor changes made as the war progressed. Eight production design periods occurred during the production of the pistol with all changes being made during late 1942 and early 1943. Production records were destroyed during World War II with few known Hamada Type pistols in existence today. Production of the Hamada type ended in February 1944.

History

Importation of foreign sidearms ceased in Japan in 1941, increasing the need for domestic production, and fully nationalizing all raw materials available for gun manufacturing. Unable to continue production of hunting guns, Bunji Hamada founded and began production of the Hamada type pistol. Initially, the Hamada Type I was designed as an inexpensive and more reliable alternative to the standard issue

Nambu pistol are a series of semi-automatic pistols produced by the Japanese company Koishikawa Arsenal, later known as the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal.Hogg, Ian, ''Pistols of the World 4th Edition'' (2004) p. 191. The series has three variants, the Type A, the ...

, which had a bad reputation among the Japanese military.Japanese Hamada
/ref> The pistol was designed as a copy of the Browning Model 1910 and chambered for the

7.65mm Browning .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol Cartridge (firearms), cartridge. It is a Rim (firearms)#Semi-rimmed, semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initial ...

,Hogg, Ian, ''Pistols of the World'', 4th Edition, (2004) p. 183 as small caliber American and European pistols were popular among Japanese officers. Around five prototypes for the Hamada pistol were tested by the Chief of the Ordnance Bureau before approval for adoption was made in 1941.Derby, Harry L. ''Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893–1945'' (2003), p. 233 The Hamada pistol does not carry the tradition naming of for

Japanese calendar Japanese calendar types have included a range of official and unofficial systems. At present, Japan uses the Gregorian calendar together with year designations stating the year of the reign of the current Emperor. The written form starts with t ...

year 2601 similar as the

Type 94 Nambu pistol The Type 94 Nambu 8 mm pistol (Type 94 handgun, in ja, 九四式拳銃, Kyūyon-Shiki Kenjū) is a semiautomatic pistol developed by Kijirō Nambu and his associates for the Imperial Japanese Army. Development of the Type 94 pistol began i ...

Type 26 revolver was the first modern revolver adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army. It was developed at the Koishikawa Arsenal and is named for its year of adoption in the Japanese dating system (the 26th year of the Meiji era, i.e., 1893). The revolver saw a ...

despite being officially adopted. The majority of Hamada pistols were sent with the

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...

to China with a few units transferred to the South Pacific. All production records were destroyed during World War II by bombing raids on Japan. It is estimated that between 4,500 and 5,000 pistols were manufactured before production ended in February 1944.

Design

The Hamada pistol is a blowback pistol and functionally a copy of the Browning Model 1910. The most significant design difference between the Hamada pistol and Browning Model 1910 is the replacement of the interrupter lugs used to hold the barrel of the Browning Model 1910 with a dovetail joint. The frame plate lock design and striker assembly were also modified and awarded patents in 1943. The Hamada pistol maintained high quality throughout its production, with the bluing done to a high standard.Derby, Harry L. ''Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893–1945'' (2003), p. 237 The safety, rear frame plate, and extractor were heat tempered to a reddish brown and the barrel, striker, and firing mechanism were brightly polished.Derby, Harry L. ''Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893–1945'' (2003), p. 239

Variations

Eight variations of known Hamada pistols exist with slight differences between them with all known pistols containing serial numbers between 2,214 and 2,959. The narrowness of the range may be attributed to the small number of pistol assigned to the Pacific Theater, where U.S. soldiers collected souvenirs. The number of serration made on the rear slide increased from six to seven between variation one and two, being reduced back to six serrations with variation three. The grip made of walnut and had a checked pattern with the border design, and lanyard loop being simplified between pistol variation three and four. The serial on the grip of the pistol was enlarged between variation four and five. The slide identification markings were discontinued between variation five and six with the slide muzzle crown being simplified between models six and seven.Derby, Harry L. ''Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893–1945'' (2003), p. 236 The disassembly arrows stamped on the slide and frame that, when aligned, allowed the slide to be removed were adjusted to indicate a slight change in design.

Holster

Holsters supplied with the Hamada type pistol were usually made of cowhide leather and contained black metal closure fasteners.Derby, Harry L. ''Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893–1945'' (2003), p. 241 Because the Hamada pistol has a long, nine cartridge magazine, the holster of similar weapons like the Browning Model 1910 will not properly contain the Hamada pistol.

Notes

References

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External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Type 94 8 Mm Pistol .32 ACP semi-automatic pistols 8×22mm Nambu firearms Early semi-automatic pistols Semi-automatic pistols of Japan Short recoil firearms World War II infantry weapons of Japan Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1941