Has anyone seen a Nambu outside of a museum?

[BuckRimfire]

Does anyone here have a Nambu, or even seen one in the wild?

It's the crappy Imperial Japanese Army pistol on which l Bill Ruger loosely based the Standard/Mark design. He saw WWII bring-backs and, IIRC correctly, was impressed with how simple the design would be to manufacture, then engineered his gun to be vaguely similar but about 1000 times better and more durable!

A Nambu would be a great safe queen for a true Ruger nerd, but not something you'd shoot.

 

[chet15]

Yes, there are a few out there. The big auctions even feature a baby Nambu here and there.
In 1964/1965 WBR built two prototypes of a Ruger Nambu design. Decided it was too militaristic so dropped the idea.
Chet15

 

[Hvymax]

A few. Nip ammo was hard to find so we didn't shoot them. The Lahti is a much better pistol that's very similar.

 

[WendyZXZ]

I have seen a few in my life, kin folks back through the years that served in various wars going back to ETO and PTO in World War II and more than a few of the Cajun side did bring back some trophies of a variety of firearms which is how I always phrase it.

 

[Bad Barlow]

I have seen a few in my life, kin folks back through the years that served in various wars going back to ETO and PTO in World War II and more than a few of the Cajun side did bring back some trophies of a variety of firearms which is how I always phrase it.

A nice man let me shoot his,at an informal gravel pit shoot. It seemed like an ok military gun, didn't jam , but it had a weird,long single stage stage trigger pull.

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

Not a Baby, but I used to have this one. Bought it due to the Ruger connection, but sold it after a while since it wasn't the same type WBR modified. I learned quite a bit about these after I got this one but have forgotten most of it. I think I recall this being a model 14 and pretty late war production, maybe 1944, indicated by the elongated trigger guard which was a late design feature.

 

[JBP]

Does anyone here have a Nambu, or even seen one in the wild?

It's the crappy Imperial Japanese Army pistol on which l Bill Ruger loosely based the Standard/Mark design. He saw WWII bring-backs and, IIRC correctly, was impressed with how simple the design would be to manufacture, then engineered his gun to be vaguely similar but about 1000 times better and more durable!

A Nambu would be a great safe queen for a true Ruger nerd, but not something you'd shoot.

Saw one in a gun shop once. As much as I like variety couldn't see getting it. Always can pick one up on Gunbroker.

 

[Super Cholo]

Yes, I had one. It was the one issued to enlisted men. The finish was a bit rougher than the officer model. I did not shoot it much as ammo was hard to find. It would go "bang". I gave it to a friend who collects weird guns. John

 

[harley08]

I have seen and held a Baby Nanbu, a regular size Nanbu, a Grand Pa Nanbu.

 

[black1970]

yes, have seen 8 or 10 over the years at gun shows.

 

[oliver507]

yes, have seen 8 or 10 over the years at gun shows.

Simpsons Lugers has several for sale at this time.

 

[rugerguy]

to answer your first question, YES we see them at most any given gun show in our area here in OHio and quite a few of the guys do collect them,,,but me having always been into the Rugers have NO desire or want to have one, keep one, yes have had them ALL over the last 60 years at one time or another and quickly pass them on to my collector friends....never know what you come across at some garage sale when the old lady down the street is selling her hubbys' "stuff" found laying around and many times, " I did NOT know he ever had any guns in the house",,,,,,,yikes......now that is when you can get the "proverbial GOOD deal".....

 

[Sturgis270]

A very good friend has one that I looked at many years ago. At the time I recall I was not very impressed by it overall. I thought I remember him or someone telling me they were prone to discharging without a trigger pull? No idea if that was accurate or not.

 

[Johnnu2]

I try to stay away from UGLY (IMHO of course) guns.....

J.

 

[Hvymax]

My Grandfather sent back a lot of "Trophies" from the European Theater. My Dad not so much from the Pacific Theater. Never talked about much of anything that happened after Pearl Harbor. He got stationed in Hawaii in the 1930's from Company Town PA and the military was going to have to drag him back to the mainland.

 

[TPopkin]

I have a friend who is a prolific Nambu collector, one of the world's well known one, and he is selling some magnificent guns. The early one rival the Luger in fit finish and quality. I was amazed....
contact me if you want his contact [email protected]

 

[Coogs]

I had six of them......all went to auction in 2016

 

[jimbo1096]

My retired x/LEO had one. I thought it was quite ugly, and didn't sit right in the hand. This has been 15 years or so ago. I haven't seen one in a gun show since then.

 

[dobegrant.45]

Their is a gun store in Culver city, California that back in the 70's always had a few of them .

 

[Fox Mike]

There are we quite a few on GunBroker (26 Dec '22)