WW2 Imperial Japanese 1943 Nagoya Type 94 "All-Matching" 8mm Nambu Pistol With Holster and 2 Matching Magazines (Original)
SKU: JAPANESE 1943 TYPE 94 NAMBU CAL 8MM PISTOL W HOLSTER
Original/Reproduction: Original (Matching)
Availability: In-stock
Manufacturer: Nagoya Arsenal
Date Manufactured: 1943
Model: Nambu Type 94
Serial Number: 27932
Caliber: 8mm Nambu/ 8x22 mm
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Recoil-Operated
Overall Length: 7.4 inches (187mm)
Barrel Length: 3.78 inches (96mm)
Bore Condition: 9/10
Weight: Approx. 765 grams (1.7 lbs)
Overall Condition: 98%/Execellent
Magazine: 2 Matching 6-round Detachable Box Magazine
Holster: Original Brown Leather Hard-Shell
Holster Condition: Execellent
Price: $1950.00
Seller Type: Classification: C&R / FFL
Seller ID: JMW
Seller Code: CA-1400
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description
This is an Original (Matching) 1943 WWII Japanese Nagoya Type 94 8x22mm caliber Nambu pistol. No import stamps. Nagoya Arsenal and Showa date 18.7 (July 1943) on right side of frame. Blued finish. Checkered composite grips. Two Matching magazines. Original Mint Condition Leather holster.
History
The Type 94 Nambu pistol was one of the standard sidearms issued to the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. Designed in the early 1930s by Kijir? Nambu, it entered service in 1935 and remained in production until Japan’s surrender in 1945. This particular example, manufactured at the Nagoya Arsenal in 1943, represents a mid-war production variant, characterized by simplified machining and finishing due to the increasing wartime demand for mass production.
Design & Features
Chambered in 8x22mm Nambu, the Type 94 was a compact semi-automatic pistol with a 6-round detachable box magazine. It had a short-recoil, locked-breech design and was known for its lightweight, streamlined form. The frame and slide were made from blued steel, with grooved wooden grips attached by screws.
A notable—and often criticized—feature was the exposed sear bar on the left side of the frame. This mechanical flaw meant the pistol could potentially discharge if pressure was applied to the bar when a round was chambered, giving the weapon a controversial reputation among Allied servicemen who encountered it in the Pacific theater.
The 1943 Nagoya-produced pistols often displayed rougher machining and thinner bluing than earlier pre-war examples, reflecting Japan’s resource shortages as the conflict intensified. Arsenal markings, including the Nagoya symbol and production date (based on the Japanese calendar year), are typically found on the right side of the frame.
Service Use
The Type 94 was primarily issued to officers, tank crews, and airmen who required a compact sidearm. While less common than the Type 14 Nambu pistol, it was widely distributed by 1943. Many were carried during the campaigns in New Guinea, the Philippines, and throughout the defensive island battles of 1944–45.
The Holster
Accompanying this pistol is its original leather holster, designed specifically for the Type 94. Early holsters were made from high-quality cowhide, but by 1943, most were of thinner leather or pigskin due to wartime shortages. The holster featured a top flap secured by a strap and buckle, an internal pouch for the spare magazine, and belt loops for suspension. Some examples also included a small pocket for a cleaning rod.
Collectability
Today, the Type 94 Nambu remains one of the most recognizable Japanese sidearms of the Second World War. While infamous for its mechanical flaws, it is highly valued by collectors for its historical significance and unique design. A 1943 Nagoya-manufactured pistol, especially when paired with its original holster, is a fine representative example of late-war Japanese ordnance—both a battlefield artifact and a testament to the desperate conditions under which Imperial Japan fought.
