Nambu Type 94 8mm Nambu Semi-Auto Pistol, 3.78 in Barrel, 6+1, 1941 Showa 16.5, Blued Finish
This WWII-era Nambu Type 94 stands out with a right-frame Showa 16.5 date code for May 1941 and production by Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Co. (Chuo Kogyo) under Nagoya Army Arsenal supervision. It presents in very good condition with an excellent bore and a factory magazine whose floorplate matches the pistol’s serial suffix—details that matter to buyers and collectors seeking a well-documented example.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The metal shows scattered scratches and blemishes with a few small spots of pitting. For its age and wartime background, this pistol remains in excellent overall shape.
What’s Included
- Factory Nambu Type 94 steel magazine, 6-round, floorplate stamped "670" matching the pistol’s serial suffix
Produced in 1941 and marked with the Japanese Showa date code on the right frame, this Type 94 aligns with early wartime manufacture. It bears arsenal and inspection stamps with inspector kana marks, reflecting Nagoya Army Arsenal oversight of Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Co. (Chuo Kogyo).
The pistol uses a short-recoil rising-block locking system with an internal hammer. Controls include a manual safety lever and a heel-type magazine release. The six-round single-stack magazine feeds 8mm Nambu, and the design does not use a true slide hold-open, instead resting on the magazine follower when empty. A rear lanyard loop supports service carry configuration.
Built on a compact steel frame with a blued finish, it features a 3.78-inch steel barrel and fixed iron sights—a blade front and a notch rear. Black checkered bakelite grips complete the period-correct exterior.
Markings include the Showa 16.5 date and multiple arsenal/inspection stamps. The included factory magazine is correct for the model, and its floorplate is stamped "670," matching the pistol’s serial suffix. Total Type 94 production was approximately 71,000 pistols, placing this example squarely within documented WWII output from Japan.