*RARE GRANDPAPA NAMBU SEMI-AUTO PISTOL WITH STOCK.

*RARE GRANDPAPA NAMBU SEMI-AUTO PISTOL WITH STOCK. SN 2251. Cal. 8mm Nambu. Very rare pistol from the Thailand Contract with 4-1/2″ tapered rnd bbl, barleycorn front sight and 500 meter rear sight. Right rear side of frame has three Japanese characters and the SN. Back strap is slotted for shoulder stock and has the Thai “Charka” just above the stock slot. Toe of front strap has a tiny inspector’s initial. Pistol has a tiny trigger guard with front grip safety and full checkered walnut grip panels numbered to this pistol. Top rear of frame has a fixed lanyard loop and the top front of frame over chamber area has the four intertwined circles of the Koishikawa Arsenal of Tokyo. Accompanied by one matching numbered wood base magazine with checkered ears on the base. Also accompanied by an orig wooden stock/holster with telescoping attaching metal which bears the SN “2171” on the shoulder strap plate on the back and on front collar. Spare magazine & cleaning rod are not present. Left grip has a groove cut horizontally just above magazine release. Less than 2,400 of these rare pistols were produced in the period 1903-1906. They were not adopted by the Japanese military due to lack of funding but were authorized for private purchase by military officers. An unknown number of these pistols were sold to the government of Thailand, generally in the serial range 1559 thru 2354. Others were sold to the Chinese military. This pistol was invented by Capt. Kijiro Nambu who was assigned to the Koishikawa Arsenal in Tokyo in 1897 as an artillery officer assigned to the small arms section. Capt. Nambu began working on the design of this pistol with the final acceptance in 1902 as the Type 2 pistol. In 1918 he was promoted to Major General and remained at the Tokyo Arsenal designing various firearms and machine guns. In 1922 he was promoted to Lt. General where he supervised the development of the Type 14 pistol that was adopted by the Army in 1925 and became the main side arm of the Japanese Army & Navy. At age 55, in 1924, Gen. Nambu retired and opened a private business designing & producing firearms. He died May 1949 at age 80. Reference Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893-1945, Derby & Brown. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including grips & magazine except stock, as noted above. Pistol retains virtually all of an arsenal restored finish with no visible wear. Grips are sound showing moderate wear with a few chipped diamonds and retain a dark oil stained patina. Magazine has some light discoloration and fine pin prick pitting on the body with the base sound, showing moderate wear. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Stock is sound with light handling & use marks and retains most of its orig varnish. Metal retains most of its orig blue, slightly thinned on front collar with some scattered surface discoloration. 4-40929 JR252 (5,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1085	$14,375.00	RARE GRANDPAPA NAMBU SEMI-AUTO PISTOL WITH STOCK. SN 2251. Cal. 8mm Nambu. Very rare pistol from the Thailand Contract with 4-1/2″ tapered rnd bbl, barleycorn front sight and 500 meter rear sight. Right rear side of frame has three Japanese characters and the SN. Back strap is slotted for shoulder stock and has the Thai “Charka” just above the stock slot. Toe of front strap has a tiny inspector’s initial. Pistol has a tiny trigger guard with front grip safety and full checkered walnut grip panels numbered to this pistol. Top rear of frame has a fixed lanyard loop and the top front of frame over chamber area has the four intertwined circles of the Koishikawa Arsenal of Tokyo. Accompanied by one matching numbered wood base magazine with checkered ears on the base. Also accompanied by an orig wooden stock/holster with telescoping attaching metal which bears the SN “2171” on the shoulder strap plate on the back and on front collar. Spare magazine & cleaning rod are not present. Left grip has a groove cut horizontally just above magazine release. Less than 2,400 of these rare pistols were produced in the period 1903-1906. They were not adopted by the Japanese military due to lack of funding but were authorized for private purchase by military officers. An unknown number of these pistols were sold to the government of Thailand, generally in the serial range 1559 thru 2354. Others were sold to the Chinese military. This pistol was invented by Capt. Kijiro Nambu who was assigned to the Koishikawa Arsenal in Tokyo in 1897 as an artillery officer assigned to the small arms section. Capt. Nambu began working on the design of this pistol with the final acceptance in 1902 as the Type 2 pistol. In 1918 he was promoted to Major General and remained at the Tokyo Arsenal designing various firearms and machine guns. In 1922 he was promoted to Lt. General where he supervised the development of the Type 14 pistol that was adopted by the Army in 1925 and became the main side arm of the Japanese Army & Navy. At age 55, in 1924, Gen. Nambu retired and opened a private business designing & producing firearms. He died May 1949 at age 80. Reference Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns* 1893-1945, Derby & Brown. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including grips & magazine except stock, as noted above. Pistol retains virtually all of an arsenal restored finish with no visible wear. Grips are sound showing moderate wear with a few chipped diamonds and retain a dark oil stained patina. Magazine has some light discoloration and fine pin prick pitting on the body with the base sound, showing moderate wear. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Stock is sound with light handling & use marks and retains most of its orig varnish. Metal retains most of its orig blue, slightly thinned on front collar with some scattered surface discoloration. 4-40929 JR252 (5,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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