Nambu Type 14 Pistol

[Olle]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

I have had some that I could not get the trigger assembly off, had to soak and then bang off with a mallet.

old, sticky oil, plus it might have just been tight?

I had to do that with the one I restored, it seemed to be a combination of a tight fit, rust and gummed up grease that was just about solid.

I soaked it in Kroil over night, then I tapped it with a hammer and a nylon punch. Once it started moving, I tapped it back and forth, moving it a bit further every time. Once I had it off, I lapped it as Sheepherder described above. I used fine lapping compound from Wheelers (intended for scope rings), and finally got the trigger guard to move smoothly.

[Zorba]

Took mine apart (again) last nite to install a new Wolff spring kit. Worked the trigger assy back and forth a kazillion times to where it comes out without too much effort and no prying.

The new recoil springs were 1/3 longer than the old ones - Goddess only knows when/if they were replaced last time. 1942 was a long time ago.

Grips are on their way to Hugh...

[sheepherder]

'My' Nambu Type 14 came in today. Typical war-weary handgun; some pits, scratches, and generally roughly machined surfaces. Two surprises - The spare magazine was in better shape than the numbers matching mag, and the bore is bright & shiny. Downside - Recoil springs even feel weak, only stick out maybe 3/8" from the bolt recesses; grips fit loose & chunk out of one.

I was glad to see that the three most common breakages were not present. The magazine tension [grip] spring had not been ground, filed, bent, or broken; the safety lever is intact; and the firing pin has the original tip, also intact.

It was bone dry, and although dirty, it was not rusty. The trigger guard came off with little effort, the rest came apart easily.

Trigger pull is 'hair trigger'. No two-stage here! I'd guess less than two pounds. New springs might tighten that up.

17 groove grips with the smooth tops. I like this style. The grip feels good with the exception of that magazine tension spring. Despite the spring, the mag pops out about 1/10" when the release button is pressed. Easier to strip if left grip is removed. Grips screws look like stove bolts, but they all look that way, so I guess they're original.

Interesting...

[tomaustin]

that sucker has been rode hard and put up wet..........
it really needs some TLC.............

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by tomaustin

that sucker has been rode hard and put up wet..........
it really needs some TLC.............

What would you suggest???

[Zorba]

First clean it and OIL it!

Replace the springs - they're WAY easier to deal with than Luger springs.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by zormpas

First clean it and OIL it!

Replace the springs - they're WAY easier to deal with than Luger springs.

It IS cleaned & oiled!!! I put in my order for springs from Wolff tonight.

It's curious that none of the articles has mentioned the strange rear sight aperture...Exactly the opposite of a Luger...And the rectangular opening on the bottom rear of the frame, under the lanyard loop...I can see the back of the locking block, but why???

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by zormpas

Replace the springs - they're WAY easier to deal with than Luger springs.

My Wolff spring kit came today...First pic...

I trial fitted the recoil springs, mag release spring, and the firing pin spring. But first I compared them to my old springs...Second pic...(New springs are above old ones)...

After racking the bolt 20+ times, i took the Wolff recoil springs out and inspected them...They had 'bent' just like the old springs...

I counted the coils...The new springs have 38 coils; the old ones had 42...The new springs measure .026" wire dia; the old ones are .028"...

This is the kit with the 'standard' weight recoil springs...

So the old ones are thicker wire and have more coils...

I'm disappointed...