Make: Chuo Kogyo Co. At Kokubunji Operating Under the Supervision of the Nagoya Arsenal.

Model: Nambu Type 14 1st Series (after "Original Series")

Serial Number: 18576

Year of Manufacture: January, 1944

Caliber: 8mm Nambu

Action Type: Striker-Fired Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 4 1/2”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into a slightly raised base on the barrel. The rear sight is a notch milled into a raised boss on the back of the frame.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are slab sided bamboo with 17 horizontal serrations each (Chuo Kogyo production). The inside of the left panel is stamped "L.H. LINDSEY" twice. The grips have scattered light nicks and scratches. There is wear around the screws and magazine catch on each panel. The left panel has wear from the safety lever. The serrations are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Strawed

Finish Originality: Original. Numbered parts match. The striker and striker-guide are not serial-marked.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent minor erosion and some stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 8 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 75% of its metal finish. The magazine disconnect spring is missing. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is fairly evenly scattered light finish wear and minor surface oxidation. There is handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The straw finish shows muting and wear. There is an arc of wear on the left of the frame from the safety lever. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Good-plus condition (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The magazine disconnect spring is missing, this pistol will fire with the magazine removed. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine.

Our Assessment: This is a Nambu Type 14 pistol made by the Chuo Kogyo Co. (branch of the Nagoya arsenal) in January 1944 ("1st" Series). The Type 14 was built between 1925 and 1945 for the armed forces, and almost all of the Japanese pistols and revolvers used unique cartridges. The 8mm Nambu is a bottleneck cartridge that pushes a 102 gr. bullet at a little over 900 fps. and has approximately the same power as a .380 ACP cartridge. The pistol has its original finish and the serial numbers on the numbered parts are matching including the magazine, though the striker and guide are not serial-marked.

January 1944 was a tough time for Japan as America's island-hopping campaign was in full swing, Japanese forces had been pushed out of the Aleutians, and Yamamoto had been killed. Given the time in which it was made and what would follow in the next year, this pistol is in good shape. The pistol is in Good condition with about 75% of its metal finish and a nice bore. The magazine disconnect spring is missing, but the mechanics are otherwise good. This will make a nice addition to a Japanese or WWII small arms collection. Please see our photos and good luck!