Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics
o

Notices

Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics Post Your General Gun Topics and Non-S&W Gun and Blade Topics Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-25-2020, 05:18 PM
keithpip keithpip is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 54
Liked 246 Times in 58 Posts
Default Nambu what’s it worth?

My brother has a WWII Japanese Nambu probably made in 1943. It appears to be in decent shape overall. It does have its magazine but no holster. Can anyone tell me what it’s worth. Thanks.
Keith
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 392CD08C-5823-4FD0-9B73-5D3B003EAF55.jpg (38.7 KB, 122 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 06-25-2020, 05:31 PM
ruger 22 ruger 22 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NY
Posts: 802
Likes: 1,634
Liked 1,081 Times in 483 Posts
Default

Go to GunsInternational.com. They have some anywhere from $700 to over $1000.

Last edited by ruger 22; 06-25-2020 at 05:33 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-25-2020, 05:39 PM
rkittine's Avatar
rkittine rkittine is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Manhattan/Sag Harbor, NY
Posts: 752
Likes: 9
Liked 855 Times in 365 Posts
Default

Can you tell from the piece who made it? Like in the U.S. during the war, there were a lot of firearms made by companies you would never think of as firearm manufactures. My Officers Model Baby Nambu in 7mm was made by Tokyo Power and Light.

I used to commercially load 8mm Nambu, but gave it up after a year or two.

Bob
__________________
Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-25-2020, 07:17 PM
DWalt's Avatar
DWalt DWalt is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,479
Likes: 236
Liked 28,940 Times in 14,012 Posts
Default

Back when I was in high school, a buddy had one we used as a plaything. Back then, it was easy to pick up Nambus for $15-$20, as they were common GI bringbacks and many ended up in U. S. pawnshops (as did German Lugers and P38s). Those I see at gun shows today are indeed priced in the $500-$1000 range. The 8mm Type 14 pistols of WWII vintage (as this one is) were made at the Nagoya Arsenal.

Some may already know this but the first Ruger Standard Model .22 pistol of the late 1940s was modeled on the Nambu Type 14 mechanical design, but with Luger cosmetic features.

Last edited by DWalt; 06-25-2020 at 07:34 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-25-2020, 07:32 PM
deadin's Avatar
deadin deadin is offline
US Veteran
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ocean Shores, WA, USA
Posts: 5,775
Likes: 201
Liked 5,063 Times in 1,767 Posts
Default

Just to show how old I am, I remember a guy wanting me to buy his Type 14 Nambu , complete with holster and pistol belt. He wanted $35.00 and I threw him out..........
__________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #6  
Old 06-25-2020, 09:29 PM
tndrfttom's Avatar
tndrfttom tndrfttom is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: So. Florida
Posts: 766
Likes: 2,080
Liked 1,711 Times in 520 Posts
Default

From the smooth grips and the style of cocking knob its likely a 1944 or 45 production gun. If you post a picture of the markings on the other side the date and maker can be determined. Does the magazine number match the pistol? I don't keep track of sale prices but gun show asking prices seem to start around $5-600 and go up. Checking completed sales on one of the big on-line auction sites will give you an idea of real-world prices.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-25-2020, 10:48 PM
jeffrefrig jeffrefrig is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 5,044
Likes: 6,758
Liked 7,845 Times in 3,113 Posts
Default Shooter?

Quote:
Originally Posted by keithpip View Post
My brother has a WWII Japanese Nambu probably made in 1943. It appears to be in decent shape overall. It does have its magazine but no holster. Can anyone tell me what it’s worth. Thanks.
Keith
Can I assume this is only a collectable and not a "shooter?" I've never seen one of these, so of course I can't help you with worth, but is this gun actually in shootable condition? It is a very unique pistol. It would look nice in a display case on a wall with some other WWII memorabilia. I'm curious about the price, also, but my wallet locks up on certain wall-hangers. Very cool-looking firearm.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-25-2020, 11:26 PM
Gene L's Avatar
Gene L Gene L is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 469
Liked 2,087 Times in 731 Posts
Default

gunboards forum has a section on Japanese firearms. There's where I'd ask value. I don't see any reason not to shoot it if it's shootable and if you can find ammo for it. But check there first.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 06-26-2020, 10:11 AM
SPEEDGUNNER's Avatar
SPEEDGUNNER SPEEDGUNNER is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Between the Brandywines
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 616
Liked 2,909 Times in 1,065 Posts
Default

Every part should match including the mag. Even the firing pin will be numbered. Firing pins are brittle in these pistols, you need to check to be sure the tip is not broken. There are a set of numbers and symbols on the right side of the frame that will tell you the manufacture, year of manufacture and serial number. If you post a picture of that area we can help.

As to value, it is all determined by condition and is it matched. Obviously having the holster, second mag and spare firing pin would move the needle up, just the pistol itself has good value as well, and that value depends on the information above. My estimate would be $550-$850...
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-26-2020, 10:46 AM
robertrwalsh robertrwalsh is offline
SWCA Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Peoples Republic of Calif
Posts: 4,643
Likes: 1,226
Liked 5,987 Times in 2,133 Posts
Default

There is one on the used-consignment shelf near me for $1300. It has been there for quite a while.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FOUND - Nambu 14 hobby-gunsmith WANTED to Buy 0 02-13-2016 12:38 PM
Nambu! PALADIN85020 The Lounge 13 05-21-2014 08:54 AM
WTT WWII 8MM Nambu for S.B. GUNS - For Sale or Trade 2 06-05-2013 12:44 PM
anyone load .8mm Nambu sureshotbob Reloading 5 10-26-2011 07:35 AM
Nambu Video Texas Star The Lounge 0 08-24-2009 07:54 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:20 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)