This is an extremely rare example of a late WWII Japanese Type 2 "Hamada" semi-automatic pistol. This model was a continuation of the earlier Type 1 Hamada pistol that was developed circa 1940. The Type 1 pistols were produced from 1941-1944 with approximately 4,500 actually produced. These Type 2 pistols were actually only produced from late 1944 until the fall of Japan in late 1945. Both pistols were designed and developed as a low cost substitute for the Type 94 pistol, by the Bunji Hamada gun making family. In a unique partnering arrangement, the Type 2 pistols were manufactured by the Notobe factory using tooling provided by Nagoya Arsenal and then shipped "in the white" to Nagoya's Toriimatsu factory where they would be inspected, blued, and issued to the various Japanese military units. They are a simple blow-back design with the recoil spring around the outside of the barrel and housed inside the upper slide. It has a very comfortable grip angle and was fitted with mahogany grips. The original production contract was intended for 500 guns; however, it's estimated that only 10 guns of the original 500 production pistols actually exist today with the highest known serial number being serial number "50", indicating this was a fairly early production model. All of them are "in the white" with the exception of pistol #2, which was later blued in the U.S. It is speculated that maybe only the first 50 were actually completed and assembled and then were saved as souvenirs by various GIs and the remaining original unfinished pieces destroyed after the war. It has the standard Kanji markings on the left hand side of the slide, with serial number "28" below the Kanji markings. The slide is fitted with a standard blade front sight and raised fixed rear sight. It is fitted with an original set of unnumbered mahogany checkered grips. It comes complete with its original matching numbered magazine numbered "28" on the lower rear edge of the spine. These rare and unique late war pistols are discussed on page 241-250 of the book "Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893-1945" by Derby.

Very fine "in the white" metal finish all showing the factory machine marks on the pistol overall. The Kanji markings and serial numbers are all clear and sharp. The grips are also in very fine condition showing most of their orangeish varnish type finish with only a few handling marks on the sides in a few areas. Mechanically fine. A super nice all late production war Japanese Hamada pistol.