TYPE 26 REVOLVER

The 'Type 26' (or 'Model 26') "hammerless" revolver was the first modern pistol adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army. It was developed at the Koishikawa Arsenal and is named for its year of adoption in the Japanese dating system (the 26th year of the reign of the Meiji emperor). The revolver saw action in conflicts including the Russo-Japanese War and World War II.
The Type 26 was originally intended to be used as a sidearm for cavalry, and typically features a lanyard ring on the pistol butt. Due to supply shortages, it was widely used as an auxiliary weapon and remained in service until the end of the second world war.
The Type 26 is a top-break revolver based on a contemporary Smith & Wesson pattern. It does not have a hammer spur and cannot be cocked, being designed for double-action only. Also, as it has an extremely heavy trigger pull, its rate of fire is low. Furthermore, the crude manufacturing symptomatic of Japanese industry in the early 20th century often resulted in the cylinder not aligning perfectly with the barrel, making the weapon dangerous and inaccurate.

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Bibliography

See also

Bibliography

Smith, W.H.B., ''Small Arms of the World'', (Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa.)

See also

★ Revolver

★ Handgun

★ Pistol

★ List of Japanese WW2 Weapons