The Nambu pistol was a series of semi-automatic pistol produced by the Japanese company Koishikawa
Arsenal later known as the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal. The series had four variants, the
Type A, the Type B, the Type 14 and the Type 94. The pistols were designed by Kijiro Nambu
and saw extensive service during the Russo-Japanese War, Second Sino-Japanese War and World War
II. The Type A and B Nambus were never formally adopted by any branch of the armed forces
of Imperial Japan but were sold to officers through officer stores. The Nambus began to
suffer in quality as World War II progressed against Japan.
History The origin of the Nambu pistol series goes
back to a design by Lieutenant General Kijiro Nambu. General Nambu claimed the design originated
with experimentation during the "30 year Automatic Pistol Plan" of 1897 in Japan. It is probable
that the pistol series was influenced by the Mauser C96, after a Japanese commission toured
Europe and reported recent developments. The first Nambu type known as the Type A was completed
in 1902. The Type A underwent trials with the Imperial Japanese Army but was never formally
adopted. Many Original Type As were sold commercially to China and Siam. Coinciding with British
customs, Japanese army officers were expected to purchase their own side arms. The Nambu
Type A pistol was adopted by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1909 and the Thai Army in
the 1920s. Most of the Type A and Type B Nambu pistols
were produced by the Tokyo Arsenal with a few pistols being produced by the Tokyo Gas
and Electric Company. The Type 14 Nambu was produced by the Nagoya Arsenal in either Nagoya's
Atsuta or Toriimatsu factories. Common design
The Nambu pistol series withdraw the magazine from the left side of the pistol by pressing
the magazine release button on the left side of the magazine. The magazine case is loaded
by hand and there is no charger clip for loading. Both the Type A Nambus and the Type 14 Nambus
have 8 round magazines while the Type B Nambus have a 7 round magazine.
The Nambu pistol series is a recoil operated, locked breech, semi-automatic pistol. The
pistols are slender barreled with a single piece frame. The barrel is forged integrally
with the receiver. The breech-lock was achieved by a propping system similar to the breech
lock system used in the Glisenti Model 1910. As the barrel moved forward, the block would
be lifted as it rode across the frame forcing the lug upward to lock into the bolt. The
Nambu series is well balanced despite the main spring chamber protruding from the left
side. The Nambu pistol uses a low pressure 8 mm
cartridge, which is considerably less powerful than comparable Western rounds like the .45
ACP, the 7.62x25mm Tokarev, the .455 Webley, and the 9x19mm Parabellum. The safety catch
on the Type A requires both hands to operate; it was omitted entirely from the Type 14.
The stock magazine springs on early models were too weak, which could result in jams.
Type A
The original Nambu was the Type A, designed by General Kijiro Nambu in 1902. The Type
A had two basic variants with the first group of Nambus produced between 1903-06 different
than those produced after 1906. Among collectors, the original Nambus are commonly referred
to as Grandpa Nambus. The Grandpa Type A was produced until around serial number 2400.
Both the Tokyo Arsenal and Tokyo Gas and Electric Company ceased production on the Type A Nambu
in 1923. The Nambu Type A outwardly resembles the Luger P08 pistol but functionally is more
similar to the Mauser C96. Grandpa Type A Nambus have multiple variances
from later Type As. The later Type As, commonly referred to as Papa Nambus, were produced
at the Tokyo Arsenal until the 7000 serial number range. The trigger guard of the Grandpa
Type A Nambu were considered extremely cramped especially when wearing gloves and were enlarged
in later produced models. The original Nambus also had a wooden bottom magazine and welded
lanyard loops. Later productions had aluminum bottomed magazines with lanyard loops retained
in rings. Both the Grandpa and Papa type Nambus may have the Siamese juk symbol stamped on
the rear grip indicating service in Thailand before World War II.
Type B The Type B Nambu was a three-quarters sized
scaled-down version of the Nambu Type A. The Nambu Type B was produced because the Type
A was felt to be too cumbersome and sold poorly. The Type B Nambu was designated the Type Nambu
by Japanese Authorities. It is commonly referred to as the Baby Nambu in Western Markets because
of its small size. It fired a smaller 7 mm round than the conventional 8×22mm Nambu.
Production began at the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal. The first 450 Type Bs had a wooden magazine
bottom and single diameter firing pin but later Type Bs were produced with an aluminium
magazine bottom and multiple diameter firing pin. The Nambu Type B was never adopted officially
by any Japanese armed forces. Nearly all Nambu Type Bs were purchased privately by Japanese
officers but never achieved popularity as they were twice the price of comparable imported
pistols. The Japanese Army's Kaikosha military outfitting business listed the price of the
Type B nambu at 180 yen, while a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant's monthly salary was 70
yen. Koishikawa factory stopped parts production
in 1923 after the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake but assembly would continue until 1929.
Type 14
The "Type 14 Nambu" was designed in 1925 with the goal of simplifying manufacturing to reduce
cost. It was officially adopted for issue to non-commissioned officers in the Japanese
Army in 1927 and was available for purchase by officers. The Type 14 was an improved version
of the Type A Nambu. As many as 400,000 Type 14s were possibly produced. Most Type 14s
are marked with the month and year of production according to the year of Emperor Hirohito
with his reign name abbreviated Sho from Showa left of the stamped date.
Later production models are distinguished by an enlarged, oblong trigger guard and sometimes
have a knurled steel cocking knob instead of the standard "slotted" cocking knob. An
auxiliary magazine spring was added from mid-1940 to retain the magazine and aid the magazine
follower. The safety is a level on the left side and locks the barrel and barrel extension
as well as stopping the sear from moving. A redesigned cocking knob was implemented
in 1944 in order to simplify production. The Type 14 also lacks the grip safety used on
the previous models. The Type 14 could be equipped with the Type 90 tear gas grenade
with use of a special attachment. Pre-World War II Type 14s are well made, with
quality dropping during wartime. Machining marks, a lack of polishing, and thin bluing
became more common as wartime shortages affected quality. The later Type 14s remained quite
functional despite the decreased quality. Holster quality for the Type 14 also degraded
as the shortages of critical raw materials forced a change from a leather holster to
rubberized canvas. One quality of the Type 14 caught the eye
of William B. Ruger who had acquired a captured Nambu from a returning U.S. Marine in 1945.
Ruger duplicated two Nambus in his garage, and although he decided against marketing
them, the handgun's rear cocking device and the Nambu's silhouette were incorporated into
the Ruger .22 semi-automatic pistol series, when in 1949 the Ruger Standard pistols were
sold to the American public. Users
Empire of Japan Thailand
Notes
References
External links Modern Firearms page