Japanese Tokyo Artillery Arsenal Type 26 9mm DAO Military Revolver C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,020.00
LSB#: WY250210SM089
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: 53084
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 Koishikawa Tokyo Arsenal, five Japanese characters (“26 Year Type), and “53084”. Behind the barrel hinge is marked “034”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked “034”. The inside of the frame is marked “084”. The inside of the grips is marked with a non-matching serial number.
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. The bottom of the right panel has a poorer fit to the frame than the left grip. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition. The grips have been replaced.
Type of Finish: Blue, Fire blued hammer and trigger
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with well defined rifling. There is some fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. The action shows minor operational wear. There is light thinning on the leading edges, primarily on the cylinder and muzzle. There is some minor oxidation. There are a few minor scratches. The screw on the left side of the top strap has some minor tool marks. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. The internals of the frame are packed with aged grease. Overall, this handgun rates in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel locks up with barely perceptible play to the frame. The cylinder lockup has some 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: None.
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 Japanese Type 26 revolver, manufactured by the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal (Koishikawa Arsenal), represents an extraordinary example of Imperial Japan’s first modern double-action-only service revolver chambered in the proprietary 9mm Japanese cartridge. This particular revolver is exceptional, displaying superb original polished blue finish with correct fire-blue accenting on both the hammer and trigger. Remarkably, the tooling streaks from the original machining process remain clearly visible, an authentic feature highly sought after by discerning collectors. The revolver bears crisp and distinctly legible arsenal markings, showcasing its origin and authenticity. Additionally, it is fully numbers-matching throughout, exhibiting the characteristic dual-numbering system (assembly and serial numbers) on individual parts, which is entirely correct and expected for original Japanese military production of this era.
The condition of this Type 26 is notably superior to most surviving examples encountered today, easily making it among the finest original pieces observed in private collections. Its only departure from complete originality is the replacement of the grip panels, which, while well-executed, has a non matching number. Despite this minor alteration, the revolver’s overall originality, outstanding finish quality, and crispness elevate it to a premier collector’s grade artifact. This revolver provides a unique opportunity to own a historically significant and remarkably preserved piece of Japanese military history, demonstrating craftsmanship standards rarely encountered outside museum collections. Please see our photos and good luck! – L.S.
