Nambu question - need an expert
 

I have the opportunity to pick up a 1944 Japanese Type 14 Nambu (large trigger guard) for 450.00 It is in excellent shape and the finish is great. I dont know anything about Jap pistols, but would appreciate any input you would have. Would a Type 14 be worth the $450.00?

Thanks,
Mark

14
 

Assuming the finish is original and the numbers match, that is a fair price. If the magazine number matches that is a bonus. I would not pay any more than 450, although I am on the cheap side. David

It would to me... :thumbup:

If you decide not to take it, I'd be interested in purchasing it... :rolleyes:

The Nambu 8mm ammunition is hard to come by, btw...

Rich, The Nambu 8mm ammunition is hard to come by, btw... I put a couple hundred rounds of the stuff on this Forum a year or so ago and no one was interested. Maybe no one shoots them?

Jerry Burney

Hi:

The T-14 Nambu has a very interesting action and is a very accurate pistol!

Ammo is hard to come by so plan to reload your own!

Nambu was an excellent designer. The only things I really dont like about the T-14 are the safety and the cartridge, other than these things, I feel it was a world class design!

Sieger

Make sure it's original and all matching (including firing pin and grip panels). Buy it. Sell it to a Japanese collector, I am sure it's profitable. But T-14 is a little bit numerous,,,,,, T-94 is very easy to sell these days.

Well, they made a small, small number of nambu's compared to lugers / 2 million lugers compared to 300,000 T14's and about 60,000 T94's if memory serves me right.

Nambu's (T14 AND T94) are nice shooting guns. Kinda like a giant 32 acp in my opinion.

Lets be nice and not use "Jap" plz.


Ed

go here...Teri is the best there is on japanese weapons...
 

8mm Nambu ammunition is being manufactured by "MrNambu". Just type MrNambu in your search engine and he'll come up. It is not that expensive to buy compared to other hard to find rounds (44AMP, 357AMP, etc.).

http://www.macsguns.com/

Not an expert on this. But following parts must be numbered on the gun (magazine is numbered as well, not pictured). For your quick reference.... if any part mismatches, it's not a collectible because this variation is common enough.

One more part. That's it.

Actually, The early Nambu Type 14's did not have numbered firing pins.

Jerry -

If I had had a Nambu, I'd have bought them... :thumbup:

Here's a scan of Donnelly's 8mm Nambu page -

Rich, If a cricket had a machine gun the birds wouldn't eat him!

Thanks for the 8MM page. I was going to try reloading the 7MM Baby Nambu but that turned into an expensive nightmare. Better to buy some if and when I can find it. If Mr Nambu makes it..God bless that man!

Jerry Burney

The comment on it not being collectable because parts don't match does'nt make sense. If a part breaks during the war it is replaced and still used. Finding all matching firearms is possible but non matching are just as collectable that have period replacement parts. Aftermarket parts will take away from it. But all in all it's still what it is. And that makes it collectable.

I've been picking up Nambu's when I can, and bought several boxes of ammo from Mr. Nambu and took it to the range. Really did shoot nice. Right on the money and functioned perfectly. Cost averaged out to just under a buck a bang. Not cheap but not so bad that I can't go try out a new gun.
Anyway, Nambu's have a charm all their own, and I'll not turn my nose up at a mismatched bolt if the price is right.
dju

As a matter of fact, Mr. Nambu does make the 7mm as well. I wish I could afford the Baby Nambu to shoot the bullets out of.

from the digging I've done, it seems the easiest and cheapest way into 8mm ammo is to buy the CH dies (about 75.00 - RCBS dies are twice that!) and run once-fired .357 SIG brass thru em....you can find the brass for about $40/1000....I don't shoot my Nambu much, but I'm thinking of trying it.

A word of caution here regarding the firing pin. I learned this the hard way. I own a T14, large trigger guard. Do Not dry fire this pistol, I broke an original firing pin in mine when I did that. Craig