The Type 94 Nambu 8 mm pistol (Type 94 handgun, in ) is a semiautomatic pistol developed by Kijirō Nambu and his associates for the Imperial Japanese Army. Development of the Type 94 pistol began in 1929, and after several redesigns the final prototype was tested and officially adopted by the Japanese army in late 1934 (Japanese calendar, 2594). Design of the Type 94 Nambu pistol commenced in 1929 with the goal of reducing the bulk and price of previous Nambu designs. The final prototype for the Type 94 was officially adopted by the Japanese Army in late 1934 after several redesigns. an estimated 71,000 pistols were produced for the military but the exact quantity is unknown because of the production of unserialized pistols and undated pistols. Unlike previously designed Nambu pistols, the Type 94 operates with a concealed hammer and with a firing pin rather than a striker. According to author Jeff Kinard, these smaller grips are more comfortable for use by men with smaller hands. The magazine holds a maximum of six rounds because of the smaller grip
Final production
The quality of Type 94 Nambu pistols decreased towards the end of World War II as the Japanese faced bombing raids from Allied forces and material shortages increased. This drastic change in quality from late March 1945, onwards with all quality standards appearing to disappear towards the end of June 1945. As bakelite became increasingly unavailable, the earlier bakelite grips were replaced with smooth wooden grips, often called "slab" grips. A small number of pistols made during the final production stages include earlier production dates and appear to have been salvaged from previously discarded pistols that had minor or cosmetic defects. Removing the crossbolt is further complicated as the disassembler's hands are both holding the pistol and depressing the firing pin. Holsters faced the same degradation in quality as the Type 94 pistol. The pouch tow has a narrow extension to accommodate a cleaning rod. A belt loop and two shoulder strap "D" rings are provided on the rear of the holster and are made from brass, galvanized steel, or nickel plating. Because the sear bar is on the outside of the pistol, If the safety is engaged on the Type 94 it is impossible for the weapon to discharge unintentionally.