Japanese Type 94 8 mm self-loading pistol 1937 (c)

The Type 94 Nambu 8 mm pistol was a service pistol adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army in the mid 1930s. This compact weapon was originally designed for carrying in confined spaces by, for example, tank and aircraft crew members.

Tens of thousands of such weapons were manufactured by government arsenals prior to the end of World War Two (1939-1945) so it is unsurprising that such weapons were collected or traded as souvenirs of the conflict by Allied soldiers. This example came to the Museum from the Kent Constabulary following a firearms amnesty.