Nambu Type 14 Pistol - Page 5

John Sabato · 01-28-2014, 10:18 AM

I don't know about the mag hold open idea, but I do like the way the mag buttons are dished and grooved... that's about the only thing I do like about Nambu's...

They would be fatherless step-children without you guys... I would have melted them down to make something useful

Olle · 01-28-2014, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

They would be fatherless step-children without you guys... I would have melted them down to make something useful

They wake up your fatherly instincts, that's for sure. Kind of the same feeling you get when you find a three legged dog, a blind cat or a Dreyse 1907. They just can't help that they're not normal.

sheepherder · 01-28-2014, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

I don't know about the mag hold open idea, but I do like the way the mag buttons are dished and grooved...

I guess my Nambu magazine buttons are different from yours...My buttons are grooved, but convex, not concave...

Anyway, I found the trick for the locking magazine follower...After locking it down, loading the 8 rounds, and inserting it in the pistol, press down on the magazine retaining spring [front gripstrap] and the follower releases...

Olle · 01-28-2014, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Anyway, I found the trick for the locking magazine follower...After locking it down, loading the 8 rounds, and inserting it in the pistol, press down on the magazine retaining spring [front gripstrap] and the follower releases...

That's the way it works... or should work anyway. I have had two Nambus, and none of them would release the follower without extensive pushing, wiggling and cussing. If you could even get the follower locked down first, that is. No wonder the japs lost the war.

sheepherder · 01-29-2014, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olle

That's the way it works... or should work anyway...

Olle, is that something you discovered from trial & error or did you have a reference for it??? If a reference, do you recall where (book, magazine article, Japanese Army manual)???

None of the articles I've read mention the rear sight on the Type 14. To my mind, it is several orders of magnitude better than the Luger. To those who don't have one, the front sight is similar to the Luger (a pyramid) but unlike the Luger V-notch rear sight, it is a dovetail...So you see space around the entire front sight when sighting it...

I'll try to get a pic, if I can...

Here we go -

Olle · 01-29-2014, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Olle, is that something you discovered from trial & error or did you have a reference for it??? If a reference, do you recall where (book, magazine article, Japanese Army manual)???

I can't even remember what I had for breakfast, but I believe I read about it in one of those surplus gun magazines (Surplus Firearms, Surplus Guns or whatever they're called) a few years back. I'll dig through my piles and see if I can find it.

Zorba · 01-29-2014, 02:26 PM

Thanx for the scans and info, Sheep. My mags are on their way back, I'll be interested to see if they have this feature...

sheepherder · 01-29-2014, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zormpas

My mags are on their way back, I'll be interested to see if they have this feature...

Gerry can probably tell you...He must have noticed it. If you have a Colt takedown tool ["L" shaped, screwdriver on one end, pin drive on the other] you can use it to pull/push the follower down but you'll have to push it the final 1/8" with your thumb...

rhuff · 01-29-2014, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olle

Kind of the same feeling you get with a Dreyse 1907. They just can't help that they're not normal.

I know what you are saying about the Dreyse 1907!! I have owned mine since the early 1970s, and still can not find any hidden beauty in it......sort of a red headed step child so to speak.

sheepherder · 01-30-2014, 11:07 AM

I browse through Nonte's Pistolsmithing book frequently, and he had this to say about caliber conversions on the 8mm Nambu...(scan attached)...

No mention about boltface or extractor modifications...So I stripped my bolt down [removed firing pin], stuck a couple Fiocchi 7.65 Luger cartridges in the mag, and cycled it a couple times...Fed & extracted OK...

Further examination convinced me that if the extractor was removed, I could measure headspace from the ejection port...

I'm not contemplating converting to 7.65mm or 9mm in the near future, but barrel replacement looks do-able...For caliber change purposes...

Olle · 01-30-2014, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I'm not contemplating converting to 7.65mm or 9mm in the near future, but barrel replacement looks do-able...For caliber change purposes...

You mean cutting the barrel off and boring/threading the receiver for a new one? Makes me wonder if a Luger barrel can be retrofitted, an artillery Nambu would make a very interesting conversation piece, or maybe even a carbine...

sheepherder · 01-30-2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olle

You mean cutting the barrel off and boring/threading the receiver for a new one? Makes me wonder if a Luger barrel can be retrofitted, an artillery Nambu would make a very interesting conversation piece, or maybe even a carbine...

Here's a pic showing the external barrels, the Luger is the 120mm 'pencil' 7.65 cal barrel...Almost exactly alike...The flange/shoulder could be turned off or left...

sheepherder · 01-30-2014, 01:25 PM

OK, I took some Q&D measurements...The Luger receiver is .941" minor dia; the Nambu is .858"; the Luger barrel thread is .714" OD...That leaves a .113" wall on the Luger receiver, and if you were to tap the Nambu receiver to Luger barrel thread size you'd get a .072" wall...That's kind of thin, I think...

The Luger barrel/breechface is .628", I'd re-thread the Luger barrel (or make a new barrel) to 5/8" x 18 and saw/tap the Nambu receiver to the same thread...The Nambu has almost no feed ramp, so that wouldn't be a problem...

I'm thinking 7.65 cal...If you did 9mm and wanted a similar profile, you'd need to thin it down quite a bit...Like Ithacaartist did with his 120mm barrel...

An Artillery Nambu??? I dunno...

OK, tell you what...There was a Type 14 barrel on GB last week for $76 start; nobody bid on it...It's relisted; I put in a bid today; if I win, I'll sacrifice it for a longer/different caliber barrel...

Sieger · 01-30-2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

I don't know about the mag hold open idea, but I do like the way the mag buttons are dished and grooved... that's about the only thing I do like about Nambu's...

They would be fatherless step-children without you guys... I would have melted them down to make something useful

Hi,

Oh, come on, the Type 14 is, essentially, a Luger bottom with a C-96 Mauser top (with slight improvements).

It's not all that bad of an execution, though it certainly is not a Luger!

Sieger

Olle · 01-30-2014, 04:13 PM

Rich,

That picture is exactly what I had envisioned. The ultimate bastard that will turn both heads and stomachs.

It sure sounds like the Nambu receiver will be a bit thin, but you might be able to get away with it if you re-tread it like you described. Just keep in mind that the steel quality in the late war versions is said to be a bit iffy. I don't know if that's true, but I wouldn't take any chances.

sheepherder · 01-30-2014, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olle

Rich,

That picture is exactly what I had envisioned. The ultimate bastard that will turn both heads and stomachs.

You sure??? I'm thinking, maybe we can get Eugene to shelve Ed's Luger carbine and do a Nambu carbine instead...

Zorba · 01-30-2014, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sieger

Oh, come on, the Type 14 is, essentially, a Luger bottom with a C-96 Mauser top (with slight improvements).

Bu, bu, bu, but I thought the Nambu was a copy of the Ruger Mk 1!!

(note to the humor impaired: Yes, I know its the opposite!)

saab-bob · 01-30-2014, 07:29 PM

Great discussion on the Nambu!

Here is a couple of pics of a real stocked Nambu
Its the early Papa Nambu. Notice the holder in the wood stock for a spare magazine! Never realized that before.

Pretty cool and very rare. Wish I had one.
Bob

Zorba · 01-31-2014, 01:05 AM

The Japanese have always been good at coming up with clever stuff like that!

ADMIN - SHORTENING THE NAME TO JAPS IS CONSIDERED A RACIAL SLUR!

Shadowsix · 01-31-2014, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zormpas

ADMIN - SHORTENING THE NAME TO JAPS IS CONSIDERED A RACIAL SLUR!

Or someone might think they were talking about Jewish American Princesses!

01-28-2014, 10:18 AM	#81
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	I don't know about the mag hold open idea, but I do like the way the mag buttons are dished and grooved... that's about the only thing I do like about Nambu's... They would be fatherless step-children without you guys... I would have melted them down to make something useful __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-30-2014, 11:07 AM	#90
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	Welcome to NambuForum.com!!! I browse through Nonte's Pistolsmithing book frequently, and he had this to say about caliber conversions on the 8mm Nambu...(scan attached)... No mention about boltface or extractor modifications...So I stripped my bolt down [removed firing pin], stuck a couple Fiocchi 7.65 Luger cartridges in the mag, and cycled it a couple times...Fed & extracted OK... Further examination convinced me that if the extractor was removed, I could measure headspace from the ejection port... I'm not contemplating converting to 7.65mm or 9mm in the near future, but barrel replacement looks do-able...For caliber change purposes... Attached Images __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

01-30-2014, 01:25 PM	#93
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	OK, I took some Q&D measurements...The Luger receiver is .941" minor dia; the Nambu is .858"; the Luger barrel thread is .714" OD...That leaves a .113" wall on the Luger receiver, and if you were to tap the Nambu receiver to Luger barrel thread size you'd get a .072" wall...That's kind of thin, I think... The Luger barrel/breechface is .628", I'd re-thread the Luger barrel (or make a new barrel) to 5/8" x 18 and saw/tap the Nambu receiver to the same thread...The Nambu has almost no feed ramp, so that wouldn't be a problem... I'm thinking 7.65 cal...If you did 9mm and wanted a similar profile, you'd need to thin it down quite a bit...Like Ithacaartist did with his 120mm barrel... An Artillery Nambu??? I dunno... OK, tell you what...There was a Type 14 barrel on GB last week for $76 start; nobody bid on it...It's relisted; *I put in a bid today; if I win, I'll sacrifice it for a longer/different caliber barrel... Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter... Last edited by sheepherder; 01-30-2014 at 05:48 PM.*

01-30-2014, 07:29 PM	#98
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Great discussion on the Nambu! Here is a couple of pics of a real stocked Nambu Its the early Papa Nambu. Notice the holder in the wood stock for a spare magazine! Never realized that before. Pretty cool and very rare. Wish I had one. Bob Attached Thumbnails __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

01-29-2014, 02:26 PM	#87
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 951 Thanks: 776 Thanked 526 Times in 289 Posts	Thanx for the scans and info, Sheep. My mags are on their way back, I'll be interested to see if they have this feature...

01-30-2014, 04:13 PM	#95
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 663 Times in 318 Posts	Rich, That picture is exactly what I had envisioned. The ultimate bastard that will turn both heads and stomachs. It sure sounds like the Nambu receiver will be a bit thin, but you might be able to get away with it if you re-tread it like you described. Just keep in mind that the steel quality in the late war versions is said to be a bit iffy. I don't know if that's true, but I wouldn't take any chances.

01-31-2014, 01:05 AM	#99
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 951 Thanks: 776 Thanked 526 Times in 289 Posts	The Japanese have always been good at coming up with clever stuff like that! ADMIN - SHORTENING THE NAME TO JAPS IS CONSIDERED A RACIAL SLUR!