Nambu Type 14 Pistol

[Maestro]

only Senior & Junior

[sheepherder]

Ed Tinker was kind enough to provide me with one of his original 8mm Nambu cartridges [Thank You, Ed!]. I've attached a pic of it (on the right) compared to a 7.63mm x 25 cartridge headstamped '541 44' (Presumably a C96/M30 Mauser cartridge).

I found it interesting that the Nambu has the same three indentations spaced evenly around the neck to further help hold the bullet in place in the case. Was this typical of all WW II cartridges, or just the Axis powers???

There is also no headstamp on the Nambu round. Was there only one facility providing ammunition for the 8mm nambu, or is this an example of wartime expediency???

Extractor groove is much thinner than I expected...Also interesting is that the rim is within .001" dia of the base...COTW states that it should be 'semi-rimmed', but they only list a .005" dia difference...

(BTW: I've found COTW to be quite lacking in detail)

Edit: I've bought Ed's last OEM 7mm Nambu cartridge...You would not believe how much these old cartridges are going for!!!...

[Edward Tinker]

not being marked seems to be a Nambu thing... You find the base unmarked - I think primarily, but could look in my Japanese book.

[Zorba]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

BTW: How difficult is it to field strip the T14??? Does the trigger guard sequence pull down easily or is it a bear that requires three hands??? (I've read the takedown procedure; it sounds hard)...

Its not bad - except the trigger guard is a PITA on mine to get started off. Once you've moved it the first 1/16th inch, it slides right off. I think something needs stoning.

The nice thing is that all the springs literally fall out of the thing - so I ordered a complete new set from Wolff. Not the apparent nightmare the Luger recoil spring is - which I also ordered a new one of those and will be installing it soon. I've seen 2 methods to replace that one - the one here, and another on youtube.

I've been exchanging emails with Hugh about doing some grip work on mine (Nambu) - it has a bad crack in the middle, and my jig was inadequate so I ended up making the situation worse.

[sheepherder]

Thought I'd add a link to an old COTW table of cartridge dimensions...Might be of some slight interest...

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

not being marked seems to be a Nmabu thing... You find the base unmarked - I think primarily, but could look in my Japanese book.

I am quite disappointed in Cartridges Of The World...I have two editions...Neither has much information that isn't available in my other contemporary pre-Internet books...

/rant

[Edward Tinker]

Originally Posted by zormpas

Its not bad - except the trigger guard is a PITA on mine to get started off. Once you've moved it the first 1/16th inch, it slides right off. I think something needs stoning.
,....

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?

[Zorba]

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 was hoping for something like this, the only thing I found was a tiny amount of rust in the grooves where they mate together. Cleaned that up, still tight.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by zormpas

I was hoping for something like this, the only thing I found was a tiny amount of rust in the grooves where they mate together. Cleaned that up, still tight.

Try brushing the grooves/surfaces with a brass wire brush and see if that helps...If not...

Rather than stone it, I would try some automotive rubbing compound ['coarse'] and/or polishing compound ['fine']...Since yours will come off without a hammer, use the polishing compound...Strip off all the pieces you can, clean the mating surfaces, slather on the compound, move the guard in & out...You'll see it get dirty as it removes metal...Try it for maybe 25 'slides' (you'll probably have to tap it back & forth), then clean it all off, and lube lightly [WD-40 is good here] and see if it slides with finger pressure...Repeat as needed...

Don't use lapping compound/valve grinding compound...They are way too coarse...(But good for removing large amounts of metal)...

...Just my $.02...

[sheepherder]

I've been waiting for the Xmas shipping mess to untagle before ordering a set of reloading dies from RCBS...But last night I noticed an RCBS 8mm Nambu die set on ebay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-8mm-Nam...-/141146069780

Here's the pic - Look at it closely...



I helped run the 25 bids up to $150...And lost...Because I knew RCBS sells them new for ~$163...But I wasn't sure of the configuration...

https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/Mai...productId=2629

Here's the new RCBS die set...Notice the difference?...



So even though it may take 60 - 90 days for these 'special order' dies, I'm happy I lost the bidding war for the ebay dies...

(I'm working on a 'conversion' writeup for the 8mm Nambu now)...

[Zorba]

Goes to show - idiots on eBay will bid stuff up to past new value.

[rhuff]

I, personally, prefer a 3 die reloading set to the common 2 die set for bottle neck brass. Also, I just like starting with new dies, so IF I find a problem, I have a recourse to follow. On Ebay, they are yours.

[Maestro]

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

[Maestro]

its nice to have some original 8mm and 7mm Nambu rounds

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Maestro

Nice resource: Nambu World: Teri’s Japanese Handgun Website

It is indeed; in fact, I just got an email from Teri herself in reply to my question about the 'carrier/display' case that my Type 14 is encased in...

Originally Posted by zormpas

Goes to show - idiots on eBay will bid stuff up to past new value.

Hey! *I'm* one of those idiots!!!

If I could have gotten it for under a C-note, it would have been worth it not to have to wait three months for a 'special order' new die set...

FWIW: I made up an 'expander die' to expand 38 Special cases to 8mm nambu diameter...Works great, but as sometimes happens with my 'good enough' work, the threads were a bit rough. I used the 'coarse' rubbing compound to lap the threads into the press. That also worked out fine.

[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???