The pistol is a Nambu Type 14, a common one carried by Japanese officers. (It's German counterpart in Europe was the Luger P08. Both pistols were highly prized by American soldiers, the Luger more so. GI's like Leckie would often trade them for anything, including favors, which is why Leckie gives the 14 he had to Dr Grant; Grant allowed Leckie to return to his unit before his recovery was done.
In Leckie's memoir "Helmet for My Pillow" the pistol was not in the chest he found on Gloucester. Another Marine had a run-in with an officer and stole the trophy sidearm back from the officer, giving it to Leckie right before he left Pavuvu so he wouldn't be caught with it. Leckie did point it at the orderly to scare him after he was ordered to strip and hand in his razor blades and belt, but when the doctor expressed an interest in the handgun however, Leckie explained to him that it wasn't his to sell.
In Leckie's memoir "Helmet for My Pillow" the pistol was not in the chest he found on Gloucester. Another Marine had a run-in with an officer and stole the trophy sidearm back from the officer, giving it to Leckie right before he left Pavuvu so he wouldn't be caught with it. Leckie did point it at the orderly to scare him after he was ordered to strip and hand in his razor blades and belt, but when the doctor expressed an interest in the handgun however, Leckie explained to him that it wasn't his to sell.
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