Japanese Tokyo Artillery Arsenal Type 26 9mm DAO Military Revolver C&R

SOLD FOR: $1226.01

LSB#: 220320EH001

Make: Tokyo Artillery Arsenal (Also referred to as the Koishikawa Arsenal because it was located in the Koishikawa district of Tokyo)

Model: Type 26

Serial Number: 56313

Year of Manufacture: 1895-1923

Caliber: 9mm Japanese (NOT 9mm Luger)

Action Type: Double Action Only Revolver with Spur-less Hammer and Six Shot Cylinder

Markings: The right side of the frame is marked with the stacked cannonball logo of the Tokyo Arsenal, five Japanese characters (“26 Year Type), and “56313”. The bottom face of the hammer, the bottom face of the barrel (behind the hinge), the inside of the frame under the left grip panel, the right of the trigger guard (concealed by the frame when installed), the right of the trigger, the rear face of the cylinder under the ejector, and the inside of the left grip panel are marked “*64”, some have the * stamped on a separate line as “* / 64”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with assembly number “7″, “8” and “89”, the rear face of the barrel, below the cylinder arbor, is marked “89”.

Barrel Length: 4 3/4″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a half-round blade pinned into a slotted base atop the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” groove at the back of the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood with smooth borders. The grips have light handling wear and some discoloration from age and oil. There are a few light nicks, scuffs and scratches with the most notable wear around the edges of the right panel where there is also adhesive residue. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Good-Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued. The hammer and some other small are Fire-Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well defined rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore with some light pitting.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 25% of its metal finish. Most of the remaining finish is around the cylinder on the barrel assembly and frame. Most other surfaces have gone to a moderate-dark patina with scattered erosion and some pitting. The action shows operational wear. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, some are slightly obscured by erosion. Overall, this handgun rates in Good condition (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel locks up with barely perceptible play to the frame. The cylinder lockup shows minor play. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a black leather flap-holster with shoulder and waist straps. The holster has provision for 18 cartridges in an ammo pouch and a cleaning rod, no ammunition or cleaning rod are present. The holster shows moderate wear with some fraying, losses at the ends of the cleaning rod pouch and scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. Also included is a certificate listing this revolver by serial number as being retained by Captain Roy V.J. Johnson, signed by Captain Joseph Godenberg.

Assessment: The first service revolver used by the Japanese was the Smith & Wesson in .44 Russian. They started designing their own revolver in 1890 and the Type 26 was finished in 1893 and adopted by the military in 1894. It was a double action only revolver with a six-shot cylinder firing a 9mm Japanese cartridge similar to the .38 S&W. The Type 26 revolvers stopped production in 1923 but were still used as secondary weapons even after the Type 14 Nambu was introduced in 1926. Because of their use in the Russo-Japanese War and in WWI, many of the early Type 26 revolvers were arsenal refurbished, with the original bright blue finish replaced by a dull blue and the checkered grips replaced by those with horizontal serrations. This is an example from Standard Production, and retains some of its original finish as well as matching assembly numbers on the parts we could inspect with the sideplate open and an included holster. The revolver is in Good condition, with about 25% of its finish remaining. The bore is in fair shape and the mechanics are still strong. This revolver should make a nice addition to any collection of Japanese martial arms. Please see our photos and good luck!