1806

Scarce WWII Japanese Tokyo Arsenal "Baby Nambu" with Holster and a Pair of Matching Magazines

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,250.00 USD Estimated At:4,250.00 - 5,500.00 USD
Scarce WWII Japanese Tokyo Arsenal  Baby Nambu  with Holster and a Pair of Matching Magazines
This is a very nice example of an early-production "Baby Nambu" pistol as manufactured by the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal in Koishikawa Tokyo. These pistols were never officially adopted by the Japanese military, but were intended as private purchase sidearm by high raking officers of the Army and Navy. This pistol has a high quality rust blue finish and straw colored trigger, magazine release, sear pivot pin and bolt lock with a bright finished bolt. The magazine has a nickel plated body with an aluminum base. The grips are finely checkered hardwood. The top of the chamber area bears the four intertwined cannon balls of the Tokyo arsenal and the right side of the receiver has the Japanese Kanji markings over the serial number "1769". The matching serial number is also visible on the underside of the bolt, the cocking knob, the back of the magazine and on the inside of each grip panel, which also has a small Kanji acceptance stamp. With a brown leather clamshell holster, equipped with a shoulder strap, cleaning rod and an extra magazine numbered to match the pistol Approximately 5,900 examples of the finely finished, compact, "Baby" Nambu pistol were manufactured before production ceased. The "Baby" Nambu is perhaps the most desirable Japanese semi-automatic pistol.
BBL: 3 1/2 inch
Stock:
Gauge: 7 mm Nambu
Finish: blue
Grips: mahogany
Serial Number: 1769


Excellent overall with 90% plus of the original blue finish remaining with light wear on the edges and high spots overall. Some browning of the blue appears on the front and rear grip strap with a coupe of areas of fine pitting on the grip safety, the upper rear area of the back strap the very front edge of the main spring housing. The grips are in excellent condition with nice sharp checkering. Holster is good, with some cracking on the hinge and real, along with some mild scuffing overall. As noted it has matching numbers on all the exposed parts. A very nice example of a scarce early production Baby Nambu pistol.