In the early 20th century, Japan was focused on strengthening its military power. The country wanted to become a key global force and understood the importance of modernizing its military to reach this goal. One significant step toward this goal was the development of the Nambu pistol, which was used during both the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.
Designing the Nambu pistol
The Type 26, developed by the Koishikawa Arsenal, was the first modern revolver to be put into service by the Japanese Imperial Army, seeing extensive use during the First Sino-Japanese War. At the turn of the 20th century, semi-automatic pistols were becoming more prominent. Kijirō Nambu, a soldier and firearms designer, began work on a new gun, which used the locking mechanism featured on the German Mauser C96.
The initial model of the Nambu pistol was called the “Type A,” and two versions were created. The first, nicknamed the “Grandpa” Nambu by collectors, resembled a Luger and was only manufactured between 1903-06. The second, dubbed the “Papa” Nambu, saw a couple of modifications, including the enlargement of the trigger guard and the ability to have it fitted with a stock.
Development of the Type B Nambu pistol
During its production peirod, only 7,000 Type A pistols were manufactured. over its manufacturing period. Due to its limitations, the Japanese Imperial Army started working on refining the initial design, which led to the creation of the Type B, with around 6,000 were produced. The Type B distinguished itself from its predecessor by being more compact and equipped with an aluminum magazine and a firing pin with multiple diameters.
Traditionally, Japanese military officers had to buy their own firearms, and the Type B variant of the Nambu pistol was aimed at them. However, the weapon was very expensive at 180 yen, which was equivalent to a captain’s monthly salary at the time.
The Type 14 model was put into mass production
Work on the Type 14 model of the Nambu pistol began in 1926. It was named as such because it went into production during the 14th year of the Taishō period. A recoil-spring, semi-automatic weapon, it fired the 8 x 22 mm Nambu round, which was also used by the Type 100 submachine gun. The barrel’s design was such that only this type of ammunition could be used, making it weaker than similar handguns.
The goal was to produce a weapon that was similar to the Type B, but at a much lower cost. When all was said and done, the new Nambu pistol came in at just 78 yen, making it more accessible to military officers.
The Type 14 went into production and was soon adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army. Over the course of its production period, an estimated 400,000 units were manufactured. However, it’s difficult to ascertain the actual number, as soldiers would often throw away or destroy their guns upon defeat, rather than have them fall into enemy hands.
Use of the Nambu pistol in major conflicts
An estimated 4.1 million Japanese soldiers participated in the Second Sino-Japanese War, with an additional six million engaging in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Throughout this period, the Type 14 Nambu became as the main service pistol, widely adopted by servicemen.
However, cost-cutting measures compromised the Type 14’s reliability compared to its predecessors. One notable flaw was the magazine, which proved challenging to remove when wet or dirty, making it difficult to reload. To address this, the magazine catch was eliminated. Another concern centered around the trigger guard, which was too small to accommodate heavy gloves, a bigger problem in colder climates.
A popular collector’s item
There are many hobbyists who enjoy collecting WWII-era souvenirs – and firearms are no exception. While fighting overseas, American servicemen were known to take their opponents’ guns and other weapons as souvenirs. As a result, a fair number of Nambu pistols wound up in the United States.
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As aforementioned, Japanese soldiers would destroy their weapons, rather than allow their enemies to take them. Therefore, while Type 14 Nambu pistols are available for sale, they’re also quite expensive, coming it at between $800-1,500. The previous two models sell for even more.