Japanese Inagaki and Sugiura Pistols

Published on April 14, 2015
Duration: 10:05

This review delves into two exceptionally rare Japanese WWII pistols: the Sugiura Shiki and the Inagaki Shiki. The Sugiura is a Chinese-made variant of the Colt 1903, featuring a straight blowback action and lacking a grip safety. The Inagaki, designed by Iwakichi Inagaki, is a proprietary model with a unique trigger guard disassembly and was adopted by the Japanese Air Force and Navy, making it one of the rarest handguns with fewer than a dozen known examples.

Quick Summary

The Sugiura Shiki is a Chinese-made copy of the Colt 1903, lacking a grip safety and marked by a Manchurian factory. The Inagaki Shiki, designed by Iwakichi Inagaki, is an extremely rare Japanese pistol with a unique trigger guard disassembly mechanism and shrouded hammer.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Rare Japanese WWII Pistols
  2. 01:21Sugiura Shiki: Colt 1903 Variant
  3. 04:26Inagaki Shiki: Unique Design & Rarity
  4. 08:21Inagaki Markings & Mechanics

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Sugiura Shiki and Inagaki Shiki pistols?

The Sugiura Shiki is a Chinese-made variant of the Colt 1903 pistol used by Japanese forces, while the Inagaki Shiki is an extremely rare Japanese pistol designed by Iwakichi Inagaki, adopted by the Japanese Air Force and Navy.

How rare are the Inagaki and Sugiura Shiki pistols?

The Inagaki Shiki is exceptionally rare, with fewer than a dozen known examples existing today. The Sugiura Shiki, while less rare than the Inagaki, is still uncommon compared to standard Nambu pistols.

What are the key design differences of the Sugiura Shiki?

The Sugiura Shiki, based on the Colt 1903, lacks a grip safety and features a larger manual safety. It was manufactured in China under Japanese supervision and marked by a Manchurian factory.

What makes the Inagaki Shiki's design unique?

The Inagaki Shiki has a distinctive disassembly method where the trigger guard rotates to unlock the barrel and slide. It also features a shrouded hammer and dual recoil springs, chambered in .32 Auto.

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