4/11/22 - This is a very nice Baby Nambu pistol that was manufactured at the Tokyo Arsenal in the 1910s, and still has the original, matching grips. The pistol has about 96% of the original blue, as there isn't much actual finish loss. Just minor wear on the trigger guard. There is oxidation on much of the pistol, though, and some pitting on the left side rail. Excellent grips and terrific bore. Original but mismatched magazine, numbered 2309. The Baby Nambu was developed as a personal weapon for high ranking Japanese officers and only about 6,500 were made in total. Considered by collectors to be one of the most beautiful handguns made in pre-war Japan, it featured ornamental knurling on the cocking knob and high quality “rust” blue, that rivaled European handguns of the era. The magazine is a little stiff going in and out of the frame but certainly usable.
