Japanese Type 26 Revolver
This is a very rare, hard to find Tokyo Arsenal Japanese revolver Type 26 with all matching numbers, down to the grips. Only 59,000 were made during the war, making this surviving pistol a true gem. The revolver retains approximately 60% of its original bluing, with all markings still crisp and clear. Since many of these surviving revolvers were refinished after the war, its difficult to find one with any original finish at all.
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This is a very rare, hard to find Tokyo Arsenal Japanese revolver Type 26 with all matching numbers, down to the grips. Only 59,000 were made during the war, making this surviving pistol a true gem. The revolver retains approximately 60% of its original bluing, with all markings still crisp and clear. Since many of these surviving revolvers were refinished after the war, its difficult to find one with any original finish at all.
Darren –
Hi Jerry!
Thanks for posting. Sounds like a nice set! To be honest I really need to see the pistol and accessories in order to give you an accurate price. Send me a few photos via the Free Appraisal form (click here) and I’ll have a look. Make sure to include good photos showing each side of the pistol, and all of the numbers stamped onto the various parts. If you know how to disassemble the revolver, go ahead and take photos of the parts and pieces, making sure the numbers on the parts are visible in the photos. Include shots of the underside of the grips as well (they too should be numbered). Essentially, I’m looking for photos like you see of the one on this page. Once I see those photos I can give you a value.
Thanks!
Darren
jerry –
Back in the 80s I purchased a model 26 pistol complete with the holster, all 20 bullets and the cleaning rod. Any idea what is worth?
Darren –
Hi Jim.
You’re very welcome. Thank YOU for the fantastic story! You mentioned never firing the revolver – that’s probably for the better. From what I understand through my research these revolvers were not very safe. The cylinder didn’t always line up with the barrel causing misfires. I’d love to see some photos of your pistol. I’ll shoot you an email so we can connect.
Darren
Jim –
Thank you for the very thorough photos. I had never found the numbers on the cylinder. There are some ‘decoys’ on the face before the extractor is lifted that always made me wonder if I had a complete original weapon. My father had lifted his from an unresponsive Japanese soldier between May 1945 and January 1946, somewhere near Luzon in the Philippines. His return to Japan in 1947 as a Civil Service Reconstruction employee for the following 27 years, put him in charge, for a time, of the arsenal that rebuilt the M1893 (Meiji 26) revolvers. I went to live in Japan as a 9 year old dependent in 1952 to 1958. Before our departure he asked me, “The Master of our House”, to get into a certain foot locker in our garage and I would find a fishing creel with an OD towel in it and in that towel would be an oilskin rag with a pistol in it. He had me bring the whole fishing creel intact with the towel etc. to Japan in our luggage. As it turned out, he had this weapon rebuilt and parkerized in the arsenal. I gained ownership of it in 1958 and have never shot it but I have (6) rounds of Japanese ammo that I display with it. I’m now at 70 years old and have no family member interested in this weapon, so I’m looking into it’s value for the consideration of possibly peddling it or trading it. If this is something that you can help me with, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Jim