Type 26 Revolver
Koishikawa Arsenal · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1893
Also known as: Type 26 Pistol, 26 Nen Shiki Kenju, Meiji 26 Revolver, 1893 Revolver
Overview
The Type 26 Revolver was the first indigenous service revolver of the Imperial Japanese armed forces, officially adopted in 1894 (Year 26 of the Meiji period). It is a six-shot, top-break, double-action-only revolver chambered in the proprietary 9x22mmR Japanese cartridge. The design borrowed elements from the Smith & Wesson No. 3, French M1892, and Belgian Nagant revolvers, including a hinged side plate that swings open for inspection of the lockwork.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 880 g (31.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 231 mm (9.09") |
| Barrel Length | 121 mm (4.76") |
| Height | 130 mm (5.12") |
| Action Type | Recoil Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Only |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 229 m/s (751 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 254 J (187 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 9x22mmR Japanese Revolver · primary — also known as 9mm Japanese Revolver, 9mm Type 26, 9x22mmR Type 26
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Six Round Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Double Action Only Trigger
- Features: Top Break Action, Automatic Extraction, Swing Out Side Plate, Spurless Hammer
Service history
Operators
- Imperial Japanese Army · adopted 1894 · as Type 26
- Imperial Japanese Navy · adopted 1894 · as Type 26
Conflicts
- Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 59,000 · Production years: 1893-1935
Approximately 59,000 production units plus around 900 pre-production examples; manufactured at Koishikawa (Tokyo) Arsenal.
Origin
Country of origin: Japan
Discontinued: 1935
Notes
The double-action-only mechanism with a notably heavy trigger pull made accurate shooting difficult. The cylinder was prone to rotating freely when the weapon was holstered, sometimes turning a chambered round away from the firing pin. Despite its shortcomings, it remained in Japanese service through World War II as a secondary sidearm.
Background
The Type 26 was Japan's first wholly indigenous service handgun, drawing inspiration from at least three foreign designs and yet produced from entirely Japanese-made parts. Its spurless hammer and double-action-only lockwork were intended to prevent cavalry troopers from snagging the hammer on equipment, but the cylinder's habit of free-spinning in the holster meant a draw could easily land an empty chamber under the firing pin.