Nambu Type 14 From the Auction from Hell

This was actually an afterthought, went to the auction for a MKII Ross but that went too high. Nambu's don't tend to go real high here (still not cheap) and I figured with the Hacksaw Ridge movie coming out on DVD I better try to get one of these before the prices go up again like after "Pacific" came out.

It's a Nagoya Toriimatsu December 1942 Type 14 with the large trigger guard. Finish is thin the grips have a couple of cracks and the springs are weak but the exterior doesn't have much pitting and only pitting inside is along where the grips touch. Magazine does not match, everything else except the firing pin does. Firing pin is an original, just not to this gun. Bore was described as bad but it was mostly grease, dust with a little rust that mostly came out. Rifling looks good. It is missing the block spring and had the firing pin magazine block "pin" on the firing pin spring, easily fixed. I've located spring kits and ammo so will get some ordered shortly.

Photos tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

a Nagoya Toriimatsu December 1942 Type 14 with the large trigger guard.

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Seldom seen now. They must have made millions and every second man had one, so where did they all go? Looking forward to the pics.

Actually the Japanese didn't make many pistols. I believe total production for Japanese service pistols and revolvers is in the 400,000-500,000 range. Considering at its peak the IJA had about 6,000,000 people serving, that isn't many pistols to go around. There is also the Japanese Navy and Airforce which would have to be added into the numbers as well, so that decreases how many people were issued pistols even further.

I wouldn't be too worried about the firing pin, apparently they are very weak and in service they would be issued two with the pistol as it broke so often. Looking forward to the pictures

There were approximately 279,000 Type 14 pistols manufactured from 1926 to 1945, there were 11,350 produced at Nagoya-Toriimatsu in 1942 which aside from 69 produced in 1941 was essentially the first year of major production for this factory. This pistol as noted above is matching except for the firing pin and the magazine although I believe the magazine to be of the correct type, aluminum base. The grips are not marked but based on condition I would assume they are original. Finish is probably 30% although I'm not a great judge on that. It's missing it's block spring and the others just "feel" weak to me so I'm getting a spring replacement kit. It is not well regarded as a good combat handgun, it is not dangerous to the user but has been known to occasionally fire when trying to correct a malfunction. The round is rather light and the guns themselves have a tendency to jam quite a bit. Magazine is very small, holds 8 round but they are at a very steep angle which is probably the reason for the jams. The weak springs are considered another reason for malfunctions. I will probably get a few boxes of ammo so I can shoot it and have it on hand although based on reputation, it would probably be the last handgun I would grab in an emergency.

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One thing I have heard, which also likely contributes to the jamming is the weakness of the 8mm Nambu round and the fact it is a locked breech pistol. If they really wanted to they could have made it a simple blowback design, which might have helped a bit with reliability.

I watched a video on You Tube and the problem with that fellows gun was the third cartridge would not advance fully to the horizontal position and the bolt would hit it on the side of the brass. He was loading 5 at a time and the other four worked correctly, always the third round. 5th round also didn't eject after firing. He said he installed "plus" springs.

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Originally Posted by Eaglelord17

, that isn't many pistols to go around.

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That's true...

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

it would probably be the last handgun I would grab in an emergency.

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Agreed but they aren't seen much now, so as a collector I would take one for that.

A friend of mine fought in Korea and said they saw lots of Japanese weapons, mostly. He wanted a Nambu pistol the whole time, it took years for him to get one.

This one has a small import mark on it which surprised me so it most likely came from China or Korea post war.

Got a spring set to replace every spring on the gun and magazine from Wolfs for $20. Have two boxes of ammo coming from Grafs at $36 a box which isn't bad considering.

Weird thing though. Last night I was looking for ammo and found this one site which shall remain unnamed. Only found two last night and Grafs wasn't one of them. Anyway, this site had ammo for $49 a box, buy 3 boxes and they were $39 a box. So you saved $30 on three boxes which I figured was a lot better than the other place (they were $59 a box). Go back today and suddenly you have to buy 6 boxes to get that rate. Unless I was stoned or drunk and I don't do drugs or drink, they pulled some kind of switch on me. But all for the better, Grafs price is better than that and I didn't have to buy three boxes to get it.

nice find glad you got it

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

This was actually an afterthought, went to the auction for a MKII Ross but that went too high. Nambu's don't tend to go real high here (still not cheap) and I figured with the Hacksaw Ridge movie coming out on DVD I better try to get one of these before the prices go up again like after "Pacific" came out.

It's a Nagoya Toriimatsu December 1942 Type 14 with the large trigger guard. Finish is thin the grips have a couple of cracks and the springs are weak but the exterior doesn't have much pitting and only pitting inside is along where the grips touch. Magazine does not match, everything else except the firing pin does. Firing pin is an original, just not to this gun. Bore was described as bad but it was mostly grease, dust with a little rust that mostly came out. Rifling looks good. It is missing the block spring and had the firing pin magazine block "pin" on the firing pin spring, easily fixed. I've located spring kits and ammo so will get some ordered shortly.

Photos tomorrow.

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You and me both :lol: I realized early on it was going to be bad and gave up after the FNC. Glad you got a deal on one, I thought of staying for that or the Luger but decided to just leave, it was croweded, the chairs there suck and there was a show close to home in Delta I wanted to hit. It's a nice looking gun though I didn't look it over real well, hope it shoots well for you.

I think that possibly was the worst auction I've ever seen. I have never parked in the grass before. It may have been that packed a few times when Obama was making threats but I just couldn't figure this one out. My wife was going to come over and I told her to forget it as there weren't any seats left. You should let me know when you are coming and we could shake hands.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

we could shake hands

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One of the scarcities of this organization, we seldom get to meet face to face. I've met just one from here. Been on here since forever it seems too.

I added a Type 14 to my collection a few years ago. Never could get it to run reliably. Bought the wolf spring kit and installed it with no improvement. Even swapped a magazine and other parts from a friends Type 14 that work flawlessly - no change. Style trying to find the gremlin and run him out.

As big as this group is an as often as I set up all across the state only meet 2 member so far. My booth always has a seat to rest at when your at a Pa show

Four days from order to delivery of Ammo. Grafs continues to impress. Will arrive Thursday.

Nice Nambu. I had to pass on one Sunday due to lack ok knowledge. I just can't bring myself to roll the dice on something without some basic idea of value etc.. I suppose I am going to have to give in and trade in the flip phone.
Looking forward to the performance evaluation.

I've been watching them at the Delaware Cabelas. For some reason they keep getting them in. They sell them in the $800 range which I believe is high but if I can use points, not a huge deal. Out of points due to the rolling block so that was out. Gunbroker seems to list them in the $600-$900 range. I paid less than that for this so while I don't think I got a "deal", I did OK. The decision maker was the wife appeared to be fully behind it which is unusual, especially after my four recent purchases. Just two years ago, prices were about half that range and a few years before that probably around $200. Interest in Japanese stuff is going up fast though and so are the prices.

I think I should have pulled the trigger. (pun intended)

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

I suppose I am going to have to give in and trade in the flip phone.

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Might be a good idea...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Might be a good idea...

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Analog guy in a digital world. But I suppose it makes more sense than toting a bunch of books.

I entered the modern world about two months ago. Amazing how fast you get used to it. My flip phone was just plain worn out and I needed something reliable.

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

Analog guy in a digital world.

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I just mean what you're now suggesting, the flip is tired and something better is warranted now.

I know you are correct. I know I should, but the Ludite in me is resisting.
Even have a new smart phone in the box waiting for the day when pier pressure or poor vision pushes me over the edge.

P.S. I actually do carry refrence materials with me.

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

I actually do carry refrence materials with me.

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Certainly handy in case you run into one of these at auction or show. I haven't seen one at all in two decades...

Ammo came today and I tested out how it fits in the magazine.

The guy on the you tube video only inserted 5 rounds. I think this might have been part of his problem. I loaded all 8. I then thumbed them all out one at a time feeling the tension. First five were no problem at all but the 6th and 7th were really loose feeling. This 6th would equal his third and might explain the problem. Spring isn't strong enough to fully push the next round up before the barrel slams forward. I did not put the loaded magazine in the pistol. No way I'm doing that with an unexplored Japanese Nambu in my house, in my town.

Can you stretch the spring a bit? Can you pilfer one from another pistol, like Luger?

I have a complete spring set from Wolf's coming I believe the magazine spring is a +5% spring. They shipped yesterday so should be here shortly. Now I just need to renew my range membership. Last year I was a member was 2014, that's why I don't shoot often, or at all. Am planning to join, I have a lot of things to shoot.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I have a lot of things to shoot.

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A couple of range reports perhaps?

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

A couple of range reports perhaps?

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Wouldn't do much good. If it doesn't have a scope on it, I'm MOA crazy eye focus on front sight and rear sight to target. My groups are about 5 inches no matter what. With a scope I can bring them down to about an inch. That's at 50 yards not 100. I usually shoot at the gongs with handguns.

Spring set came yesterday and that made a huge difference in the way the pistol feels. All springs were approximately 25% longer than the originals, a few even longer. I expect this was primarily due to prolonged compression. I ran into a problem with the magazine release spring. Took the old one out, put the new one in and I could no longer re-install the trigger assembly. Didn't have time to look into it so put it aside until late last night. Turned out the hole was packed with debris. I don't know if it was put in there on purpose due to the weak spring or what. This spring was particularly weak and if I wasn't careful, I could drop the trigger assembly when trying to take the magazine out. I ended up using a small drill bit to hand turn the junk out. Then the new spring worked fine and the trigger assembly is safe.

New magazine spring might be too strong now. First two rounds of the eight are difficult to get out. After that, they seem pretty smooth. Might not be an issue, have to actually try running them through the action.

I am left with one extra spring, the trigger spring. I see no way to replace this without serious damage to the originality of the gun. Mine has the riveted type of pin and I don't think it is designed to come out. This spring also feels soft and I would like to replace it but I just don't know if it would be worth the effort. Maybe I'm missing something. Does the pin come out of these?

I would leave the trigger spring, and test it. If you still have issues then it would be time to replace it.