This volume has been prepared as an inexpensive guide to Japanese military handguns of the first half of the 20th century and is intended primarily for the collector who, upon encountering a new specimen, wants information to identify, classify and evaluate it in order to make a decision on its purchase.

It will also be useful to dealers in establishing values, and to firearms owners who simply want to know where an individual pistol or its accessories fit in the overall picture of Japanese military collectibles.[AuthorName]By James D. Brown[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]James D. "Jim" Brown, a native of Davidson, NC, was born in 1949 and has been a shooter and collector of military weapons for most of his life.  He volunteered for the draft in 1968 and served with the Fourth Infantry Division in Vietnam, attaining the rank of Sergeant and earning the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and Combat Infantryman's Badge.  He utilized the GI Bill to earn a BS Degree With Honors from NC State University in 1974, followed by two years of graduate study.  In 1978 he joined the US Forest Service, working as a forester on five national forests and as a specialist in the Southern Regional Office in Atlanta, GA until retiring in 2008.  He developed skills as a writer-editor through years of data analysis and reporting and ha contributed numerous articles to firearms collecting periodicals.  In 2003 he co-authored Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893-1945 with the late Harry L. Derby III, followed by the Collector's Guide to Imperial Japanese Handguns 1893-1945 in 2007.  In 2009 he published Cold War Pistols of Czechoslovakia and has continued the study of Czech arms through today.  Jim Resides in Buford, GA with Sue, his wife of 49 years.[/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]over 80 bw images[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]over 80 bw images[/ColorPattern]