Nambu Type 94 (gun of the day)

johnwill · August 23, 2001, 04:48 PM

Here's a fine looking pistol, right Mike?

One little mistake, and you jump all over me!

**Mike Irwin** · August 23, 2001, 10:11 PM

What the hell?

That's a Nambu?

Huh?

Steven Mace · August 24, 2001, 03:05 AM

I thought this was a Nambu Model 94?

Steve Mace

Harley Nolden · August 24, 2001, 05:17 AM

Steve:
Same here. Don't have any record of Nambu making a pocket auto.l But then I have been dead wrong before. It would also appear that the Japanese are using the a different language on this one.

HJN

**Mike Irwin** · August 24, 2001, 10:33 AM

I think Mr. Will fumbled.

That looks more like a Clement pocket auto to me.

It sure as poop isn't a Nambu.

James K · August 24, 2001, 10:43 PM

It sure as poop ain't a Nambu, (Gen. Nambu had nothing to do with it) but it is Japanese, the Type 94 (1934) pistol, chambered for the 8mm Nambu cartridge. They were originally made for export and are listed in some Japanese export catalogs of the 1930's. The guns were originally made with black plastic grips and were highly polished and blued. When war came, they were made for the Japanese armed forces, and were reportedly issued to Navy pilots as well as to some higher ranking officers. As the war went on, quality deteriorated.

In spite of the crude appearance, they are functional and fairly accurate. The sear bar (the dogleg shaped piece) is set into the left side of the pistol, and led to the WWII belief was that this was a "suicide pistol". Supposedly the Japanese soldier held out his pistol as if he were going to surrender it, then pressed the sear bar, either killing himself or an American. The story was nonsense, of course. No combat soldier would let an armed enemy get close enough to do anything like that, no matter how he held his pistol.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · August 25, 2001, 04:41 PM

Jim,

You're looking at the wrong picture.

The picture that was posted originally by John, but which isn't showing due to PhotoASA being down, was of a very small, apparently .25 caliber pocket semi-auto that looked a lot like one of the Clement pocket guns.

I know what a type 94 looks like, and the picture that John posted was NOT a type 94.

johnwill · August 25, 2001, 09:53 PM

Actually Mike, he was seeing the type 94. I edited the message when I saw that I posted the wrong picture, comes from diddling with too many photos and not actually looking at what I posted.

Of course, now that PhotoUSA is down, I don't have to explain it away anyway.

James K · August 25, 2001, 11:12 PM

Johnwill,

I will look for the Clement(?) picture.

I want to thank you for posting all the interesting, and excellent, pictures and giving us a chance to comment on the various guns. I think I will have to get some digital photo capability so I can post a few that I have.

Jim

johnwill · August 26, 2001, 10:09 AM

Jim,

If you find a free photo site, please let me know. PhotoUSA seems down for the count, so I have to find a new host for my pictures.

James K · August 26, 2001, 05:41 PM

Hi, guys,

Barring another goof, we have fine pictures of two Japanese Type 94 pistols, one fairly early and one late. My comments on the Type 94 cover both.

Sorry I can't help with photo sites. I am looking for a digital camera.

Jim

johnwill · August 26, 2001, 08:06 PM

PhotoUSA seems to be halfway up, I still can't log in, but my pictures are displaying again.

August 23, 2001, 04:48 PM	#1
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Nambu Type 94 (gun of the day) Here's a fine looking pistol, right Mike? One little mistake, and you jump all over me! Last edited by johnwill; August 24, 2001 at 03:23 PM.

August 23, 2001, 10:11 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	What the hell? That's a Nambu? Huh? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 24, 2001, 03:05 AM	#3
Steven Mace Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 1999 Location: Clifton, Colorado USA Posts: 724	I thought this was a Nambu Model 94? Steve Mace __________________ After today, its all historical

August 24, 2001, 05:17 AM	#4
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Nambu? Steve: Same here. Don't have any record of Nambu making a pocket auto.l But then I have been dead wrong before. It would also appear that the Japanese are using the a different language on this one. HJN

August 24, 2001, 10:33 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	I think Mr. Will fumbled. That looks more like a Clement pocket auto to me. It sure as poop isn't a Nambu. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 24, 2001, 10:43 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	It sure as poop ain't a Nambu, (Gen. Nambu had nothing to do with it) but it is Japanese, the Type 94 (1934) pistol, chambered for the 8mm Nambu cartridge. They were originally made for export and are listed in some Japanese export catalogs of the 1930's. The guns were originally made with black plastic grips and were highly polished and blued. When war came, they were made for the Japanese armed forces, and were reportedly issued to Navy pilots as well as to some higher ranking officers. As the war went on, quality deteriorated. In spite of the crude appearance, they are functional and fairly accurate. The sear bar (the dogleg shaped piece) is set into the left side of the pistol, and led to the WWII belief was that this was a "suicide pistol". Supposedly the Japanese soldier held out his pistol as if he were going to surrender it, then pressed the sear bar, either killing himself or an American. The story was nonsense, of course. No combat soldier would let an armed enemy get close enough to do anything like that, no matter how he held his pistol. Jim

August 25, 2001, 04:41 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Jim, You're looking at the wrong picture. The picture that was posted originally by John, but which isn't showing due to PhotoASA being down, was of a very small, apparently .25 caliber pocket semi-auto that looked a lot like one of the Clement pocket guns. I know what a type 94 looks like, and the picture that John posted was NOT a type 94. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 25, 2001, 09:53 PM	#8
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Actually Mike, he was seeing the type 94. I edited the message when I saw that I posted the wrong picture, comes from diddling with too many photos and not actually looking at what I posted. Of course, now that PhotoUSA is down, I don't have to explain it away anyway.

August 25, 2001, 11:12 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Johnwill, I will look for the Clement(?) picture. I want to thank you for posting all the interesting, and excellent, pictures and giving us a chance to comment on the various guns. I think I will have to get some digital photo capability so I can post a few that I have. Jim

August 26, 2001, 10:09 AM	#10
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Jim, If you find a free photo site, please let me know. PhotoUSA seems down for the count, so I have to find a new host for my pictures.

August 26, 2001, 05:41 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, guys, Barring another goof, we have fine pictures of two Japanese Type 94 pistols, one fairly early and one late. My comments on the Type 94 cover both. Sorry I can't help with photo sites. I am looking for a digital camera. Jim

August 26, 2001, 08:06 PM	#12
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	PhotoUSA seems to be halfway up, I still can't log in, but my pictures are displaying again.

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