NAME (NATIVE) – 26 Nen Shiki Kenju (Type 26 Revolver)
COMMON NAMES – Revolver 26, Meiji 26th Year Type
TYPE – Revolver
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Japan
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1893
CALIBER – 9x22mmR (9mm Japanese)
OVERALL LENGTH – 23.9 cm (9.4 in)
BARREL LENGTH – 11.9 cm (4.7 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 4 Groove, Right hand twist
BULLET DIAMETER – 9.04mm (0.356 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 9.72 g (150 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 195 m/s (640 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 185 j (136 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.88 kg (1 lb 15 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.96 kg (2 lb 3.9 oz)
SIGHTS – Fixed open iron, Front sight – Blade, Rear sight – V-notch
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 18 m (20 yards)
OPERATION – Manual repeater, Double action only
TYPE OF FIRE – Revolving repeater
RATE OF FIRE – 18 rpm
FEED DEVICE – 6-round Cylinder
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 6-rounds 0.086 kg (3 oz)
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 24 rounds
LOAD WEIGHT – 0.343 kg (12.1 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Tokyo Artillery Arsenal (Koishikawa, Tokyo)
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – Japanese military issue, primarily to NCOs and some officers
The Type 26 is the first cartridge revolver developed and produced in Japan. Intended to replace the older Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 revolver, the first cartridge pistol purchased by the Imperial Japanese Army, the hinged frame and latch of the S&W were adopted by the Type 26. The hinged side plate covering the internal workings of the Type 26 were taken from the French Model 1892 Ordnance Revolver. The cartridge was a 9mm rimmed round, with a particularly thin rim. Though superceded by the Type 14 Nambu automatic in 1920, the Type 26 remained in reserve and was still being issued during World War II.
