Tokyo Army Arsenal Type B Baby Nambu 7x20mm Compact Pistol, 3.25 in Barrel, Pre-WWII, Made in Japan
This Tokyo Army Arsenal Type B Baby Nambu is a compact, pre-WWII Japanese officer's pistol chambered in the dedicated 7x20mm Nambu cartridge. Produced in low numbers (about 6,500 from circa 1903–1929) as a private-purchase sidearm, it features the distinctive open-top receiver with a rear knurled cocking piece and hallmark Tokyo Artillery Arsenal and kanji markings. Made in Japan, it combines a blued steel finish, strawed small parts, and checkered wood grips in a historically notable small-model configuration.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: This firearm is in solid shape. There are some scratches and blemishes present. The bore is clean and shiny.
What's Included
- 1x 7-round Baby Nambu magazine with aluminum base and round checkered pull/button
- Leather flap holster with integral spare-mag pouch and shoulder/waist strap; inked kanji inside flap
- Ammunition: 7 rounds of 7x20mm Nambu
The Type B Baby Nambu is a recoil-operated, locked-breech, single-action, striker-fired design tailored to the 7x20mm Nambu cartridge. It uses a detachable single-column magazine and a heel-style magazine release, with a 7+1 capacity. The bolt holds open on the magazine follower and the design omits a separate slide stop, reflecting the pistol's early 20th-century engineering approach.
Construction is all steel with a blued finish, paired with strawed small parts and checkered wood grip panels. The compact 3.25 in barrel and lanyard-style round butt cap are true to the Baby Nambu pattern. Fixed iron sights consist of a front blade and a rear notch for a clean, period-correct sight picture.
Signature features include the open-top receiver and a rear knurled cocking piece. Markings are correct for the pattern, with the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal circular emblem on the receiver top and a kanji model marking on the left side of the receiver. Made in Japan, this example aligns with the small-model specification known as the Nambu Automatic Pistol Type B.
Produced in low quantities—about 6,500 units from approximately 1903 to 1929 as a private-purchase officer's sidearm—the Baby Nambu occupies a significant place in early Japanese semi-auto pistol development. Its compact size, purpose-built cartridge, and distinct mechanical layout underscore its appeal to dedicated collectors of pre-WWII Japanese arms.