Japanese Nambu

O

old_yout

New member
Does anyone here have any experience with this Nambu? I find it curiously alluring. Have they held up over time? Are they good shooters? I'm having a tough time finding 8mm ammunition, is this common? Thanks.
 
There were two major Nambu variants, the 04 and the 14. I can't really remember which was which, but they were not, by any stretch of the imagination, great pistols.

There was also a Type 94, which is widely called the Nambu, but I don't think it had anything to do with the commission that designed the original Type 04 and named for the Col. who headed up the design committee.

Adequate at best, which is OK, because the Japanese didn't view handguns as fighting weapons, but more as badges of rank, not unlike the sword.

8mm Nambu ammo is available, but it is NOT common, and not cheap, either.

Try Old Western Scrounger.

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
It was a top war trophy for Allied Tropps in that part of the world during WWII. It was the Japanese sidearm. It is a good shooter, and collection piece, amd I think Old Western Scrounger makes the 8mm Nambu cartridge. I got that from what I have read about the gun.
 
I personaly think that the Nambu's hold the distinction of being the ugliest pistols ever made.
 
Be really careful if you get a type 94. On the side if the pistol part of the seer is exposed. Hitting that can cause the pistol to discharge.

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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
Back in 1959 bought myself a Jap Nambu with holster and couple of small boxes of Jap made 8 mm came with it...price $25.00 for the lot. Just the dozen or so 8 mm cartridges would be worth more than that today. Of course it got traded off decades ago. Never could hang onto a gun very long...one of my biggest failings...and there are many.

Jim
 
RCS,

Ever handle/shoot a Nambu? They are surprisingly comfortable to hold, and point pretty naturally, at least for me.

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
Your best bet for Nambu ammo is to reload your own from trimmed down .32ACP cases. COmmercially available ammo is near impossible to find. Most Nambus are sold as collector items, not shooters...
 
I think they are a great, interesting, historic piece.
However, while I want one I really don't think I would bother with the hassle involved in shooting it much. I would put a mag or 2 through it then put it in the safe as a collectible.

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He who dares wins.
NRA Life Memeber
 
No, I have to be honest, I have never held one. I am basing my opinion on pictures I have seen. I'm not trying to step on anyones toes, just voicing my opinion. Maybe it comes under the "So-ugly-it's-cute" principle? Like some peoples dogs, i.e. pugs.
 
Chad,

trimmed .32 ACP brass WILL NOT work. The 8mm Nambu is a bottlenecked case.

One of the ways that people made ammo years ago when none was available was to trim the rims from .38 Spl. (or use rimless .38 Super brass) and neck it down, then trim to length.

But that was NOT a perfect solution as the .38 brass was too small in the web, and would often split on the first firing.

New ammo can be had, but it's going to be expensive.

Try Ammo Depot at this link:
http://www.ammodepot.com/

------------------
Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
RCS,

Hey, I fully agree with you, the Nambu 04/14 IS ugly. Butt ugly.

But then again, I think the Luger is ugly, too, and those point like dreams. (G!)

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
The real Nambus are well made and are reliable with good ammunition. It has two major flaws viewed as a military pistol. The cartridge is umderpowered for a pistol of this size and the safety is horrible.
 
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