Late War WWII Japanese Type 94 8mm Nambu Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1945 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,103.88
LSB#: WY240906JN005
Make: Chuo Kogyo Co. At Kokubunji Operating Under the Supervision of the Nagoya Arsenal.
Model: Type 94 Nambu
Serial Number: 67664
Year of Manufacture: February, 1945
Caliber: 8mm Nambu
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the frame above the trigger has 3 Japanese characters (model designation). The right side of the frame has is marked with the character Sho and the date “20.2” indicating the 20th year 2nd month of Hirohito’s reign, or February, 1945, over a Nagoya Arsenal upside down “8” in a circle followed by the Japanese character for “Nam” (for Lt. Gen Kijiro Nambu, one of the founders of the Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Company, the predecessor to Chuo Kogyo.). The right side of the frame above the trigger is marked “67664”. The bottom of the slide lug, the left of the barrel lug, the bottom of the locking block, the left of the bolt, and the rear of the magazine at the bottom are each marked “664”. There are a few other scattered small inspection marks.
Barrel Length: 3 3/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short post style blade fixed to the top of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch integral to the top rear of the frame.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth wood panels. The left panel has a loss along the back edge toward the top with a crack near the back edge toward the bottom that does not extend to any edges. The grips otherwise show general light handling marks and discoloration. Overall, the grips are in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is minor erosion scattered through the bore with infrequent minor pitting. In this writers’ opinion, the bore rates 6+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most blending well with the rough machining. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has minor play to the frame. The safety is pushed up for safe and down for fire. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The pistol comes with a single 6-round matching magazine and a canvas flap-holster.
Our Assessment: The Type 94 Nambu is an odd-looking pistol but was popular with the Japanese troops because it was smaller and lighter than the Type 14. It was issued to tankers, pilots and others who had to work in cramped quarters. It was originally designed as a military sidearm, and never intended for civilian sales. Like other Nambu pistols, it is chambered for 8mm Nambu. This pistol was made by the Chuo Kogyo company under the supervision of the Nagoya Arsenal in February, 1945. The pistol comes with something we don’t see very often – a magazine serialized to the pistol. This pistol is in Very Good condition with its overall appearance consistent with the time this pistol was manufactured.
By February in 1945, the Japanese were stubbornly resisting as their position became more and more hopeless. Their forces were being pushed out of Burma on the mainland and American forces were landing in the Philippines. Japanese industry was crumbling under ever-increasing aerial bombardment. The rough machining and polishing is a result of Japan’s efforts to cut corners, speed production, and do everything possible to continue the fight despite the outcome being all but certain, and not in their favor. This pistol should be a big hit with the collectors of Japanese weaponry and of military weapons used in WWII.
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
