Nambu question - need an expert

markbritt · 03-27-2010, 03:53 PM

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

dz · 03-27-2010, 04:18 PM

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

sheepherder · 03-27-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbritt

Would a Type 14 (large trigger guard) be worth the $450.00?

It would to me...

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

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

lugerholsterrepair · 03-27-2010, 05:36 PM

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

Sieger · 03-27-2010, 06:43 PM

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

alvin · 03-27-2010, 07:02 PM

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.

Edward Tinker · 03-27-2010, 07:07 PM

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

tomaustin · 03-27-2010, 07:59 PM

http://members.shaw.ca/tju/jhg.htm

Conny · 03-27-2010, 09:09 PM

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/

alvin · 03-30-2010, 07:27 AM

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.

alvin · 03-30-2010, 07:43 AM

One more part. That's it.

Conny · 03-30-2010, 10:24 AM

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

sheepherder · 04-06-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

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

Jerry -

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

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

lugerholsterrepair · 04-06-2010, 07:27 PM

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

enfield1576 · 02-11-2011, 10:17 PM

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.

DavidJayUden · 02-11-2011, 11:13 PM

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

Conny · 02-11-2011, 11:39 PM

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.

nukem556 · 02-12-2011, 11:11 AM

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.

champ7fc · 02-12-2011, 03:23 PM

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

03-27-2010, 03:53 PM	#1
markbritt User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 240 Thanks: 5 Thanked 48 Times in 22 Posts	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

03-27-2010, 04:18 PM	#2
dz Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 260 Thanks: 1 Thanked 55 Times in 39 Posts	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

03-27-2010, 05:36 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	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 __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

03-27-2010, 07:07 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	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 __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

03-27-2010, 07:59 PM	#8
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts	go here...Teri is the best there is on japanese weapons... http://members.shaw.ca/tju/jhg.htm

03-27-2010, 06:43 PM	#5
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,579 Thanks: 2,144 Thanked 402 Times in 251 Posts	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

03-27-2010, 07:02 PM	#6
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	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.

03-27-2010, 09:09 PM	#9
Conny User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Culpeper, Va. Posts: 279 Thanks: 0 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	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/ __________________ Rangers Lead the Way, Duane Leiker

03-30-2010, 07:27 AM	#10
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	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. Attached Thumbnails

03-30-2010, 07:43 AM	#11
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	One more part. That's it. Attached Thumbnails

03-30-2010, 10:24 AM	#12
Conny User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Culpeper, Va. Posts: 279 Thanks: 0 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Actually, The early Nambu Type 14's did not have numbered firing pins. __________________ Rangers Lead the Way, Duane Leiker

04-06-2010, 07:27 PM	#14
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	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 __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-11-2011, 10:17 PM	#15
enfield1576 User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 25 Thanks: 24 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	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.

02-11-2011, 11:13 PM	#16
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	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

02-11-2011, 11:39 PM	#17
Conny User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Culpeper, Va. Posts: 279 Thanks: 0 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	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. __________________ Rangers Lead the Way, Duane Leiker

02-12-2011, 11:11 AM	#18
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	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.

02-12-2011, 03:23 PM	#19
champ7fc User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 103 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	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 __________________ cfm