Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[Hardrada55]

http://www.warbooks.com.au/IndividualBooks/suicidesquads.html
I think this pilot is carrying a Spanish "Plus Ultra" 20 shot .32 auto. Can anyone confirm this for me? Does anyone have any information on this use of the Plus Ultra sidearm by the Japanese?

[gwsiii]

I've seen several pictures in publications on the use of those pistols, and their Japanese Contract holsters, unfortunately I don't know anything about them. Maybe someone else can help.

The Japanese used a variety of foreign made weapons as personal sidearms. They had to furnish their own for quite some time. It has been said that the cost of a Baby Nambu was more than a month's salary, so many soldiers opted for other foreign handguns that were much cheaper. The original Hand Cannons of Imperial Japan by Harry Derby, has a little more information on 'contract and foreign procured' hand guns and their contract Japanese style holsters. Thanks for posting. Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[gwsiii]

I've found mention of the 12 round Astra, and other Astra models in:

Hand Cannons of Imperial Japan, Harry Derby 1981:
"...Astra Ultra "Royal" 70575 with police ID#10172...#26079 has number and Kanji "No. 34 which serves its county". Derby, p223
also a picture of one of the holsters for the Astra 700 on page 228, Derby.

Japanese Contract Holsters, Banzai Special Report No. 5, Lodestone Publications:
Reprint of Japanese language 'catalog' has the same picture of the long grip Astra, along with a line drawing of it and its holster, it appears to be pages 2, 3 of chapter 7.

Military Holsters of World War II, Eugene Bender, reprint Rowe Publications, 1998:
Picture of Astra and Japanese holster, #1782, renumbered by Japanese to 4808. p135.

The original Hand Cannons of Imperial Japan by Derby is being revised and is due out soon as JAPANESE MILITARY CARTRIDGE HANDGUNS 1893-1945: A Revised and Expanded Edition of "Hand Cannons of Imperial Japan".

Japanese Contract Holsters should be available from BANZAI (Lodestone).

Military Holsters of World War II is available on the internet.
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!