I picked up a Japanese WWII Nambu, Type 94, 8 mm pistol, this week at a local gun shop. I’ve been keeping an eye out for one for years. Very rare in LGS and at gun shows they’re way over priced.
I recognized the first Kanji marks as being from an armory in Japan. Having owned an Arisaka Rifle. It uses a numbering system that shows the year and month of the Sho or Showa Empire, which was Emperor Hirohito's reign. It's a Type 94, which means it was adopted in the year 2594 by the Japanese Calendar.
The 12 - 11 stamp says that it was produced in November 1937. There is a final inspection mark, followed by the mark of the Nagoya Arsenal and the Company Logo of Chuo Kogyo, who inherited the company after Nambu died. That's on the right side.
I going to a gun show this weekend, so if I run into some ammo, it may get a range trip. If that happens I’ll be extra cautious. They’re notorious for not being user friendly.