Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this historic semi-automatic pistol today for a penny-start auction, this is the Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Company (Chuo Kogyo) Under Nagoya Supervision Type 14 “First Series!"
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Company (Later Renamed Chuo Kogyo) under Nagoya Arsenal supervision.
Model: Type 14 “First Series”
Serial: 18728
Date of Manufacture: 1944 (According to the “19.1” date code, which indicates January 1944)
Caliber: 8x22mm Nambu
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 4 5/8"
Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Grooved Walnut Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The right side of the pistol is stamped with the Nagoya Arsenal mark, the Nambu Company logo, the First Series marker, and the serial number “18728”. The right side of the frame is stamped with a “19.1” date code, which indicates the 1st month of the 19th year of Hirohito’s reign (January 1944). The left side of the pistol is stamped with four characters, from left to right, “ju-yon-nen-shiki”, or “ten-four-year-type”, meaning Type 14.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Three facilities produced Type 14 pistols marked with the Nagoya Arsenal emblem, a symbol resembling a top-heavy “8” inside a circle. This mark is actually a stylized representation of the shachi—mythical creatures that adorn the roof of Nagoya Castle, the city’s most iconic landmark. These three manufacturers, grouped under Nagoya Arsenal-affiliated production, included the Chigusa and Toriimatsu branches of the Nagoya Arsenal, as well as a private company originally called the Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Company, later renamed Chuo Kogyo after a merger in 1936. Located in Kokubunji, a suburb of Tokyo, this company operated under Nagoya Arsenal supervision and became the second most prolific producer of Type 14 pistols. Its logo was a stylized version of the character Nan or Nam, the first kanji in “Nambu,” referencing Lt. Gen. Kijiro Nambu, the legendary Japanese arms designer and company founder.
Model: Type 14 “First Series”
Serial: 18728
Date of Manufacture: 1944 (According to the “19.1” date code, which indicates January 1944)
Caliber: 8x22mm Nambu
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 4 5/8"
Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Grooved Walnut Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The right side of the pistol is stamped with the Nagoya Arsenal mark, the Nambu Company logo, the First Series marker, and the serial number “18728”. The right side of the frame is stamped with a “19.1” date code, which indicates the 1st month of the 19th year of Hirohito’s reign (January 1944). The left side of the pistol is stamped with four characters, from left to right, “ju-yon-nen-shiki”, or “ten-four-year-type”, meaning Type 14.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Three facilities produced Type 14 pistols marked with the Nagoya Arsenal emblem, a symbol resembling a top-heavy “8” inside a circle. This mark is actually a stylized representation of the shachi—mythical creatures that adorn the roof of Nagoya Castle, the city’s most iconic landmark. These three manufacturers, grouped under Nagoya Arsenal-affiliated production, included the Chigusa and Toriimatsu branches of the Nagoya Arsenal, as well as a private company originally called the Nambu Rifle Manufacturing Company, later renamed Chuo Kogyo after a merger in 1936. Located in Kokubunji, a suburb of Tokyo, this company operated under Nagoya Arsenal supervision and became the second most prolific producer of Type 14 pistols. Its logo was a stylized version of the character Nan or Nam, the first kanji in “Nambu,” referencing Lt. Gen. Kijiro Nambu, the legendary Japanese arms designer and company founder.
Pistols produced by this firm typically feature two symbols in front of the serial number: the Nagoya Arsenal mark and the Nambu company logo, though a few early examples show the order reversed or arranged vertically. These pistols are often called “Nagoya Nambus” or “Kokubunji pistols.” Initial production formed an “original series” with no series marker. Once serial numbers reached 99999, the factory followed standard Japanese practice and began a new run with a series designation, marking the start of the “First Series,” identified by a katakana character resembling an upside-down “Y” in a circle, the same marker used for Toriimatsu’s First Series pistols.
These Kokubunji First Series pistols are the only Type 14s to feature three symbols before the serial number: the Nagoya Arsenal emblem, the Nambu logo, and the First Series mark. Although the term “First Series” may seem contradictory, it refers to the first production batch requiring a series designation after the original serial block was exhausted. Serial numbers for this variation run from 1 to just over 20,000.
Contents:
This example will ship with one magazine!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
Our #1 priority is customer satisfaction. We want to build a lasting trust in the relationship with our customers, so that you will always look to us for all your firearms needs. If you have any issues with your transactions please contact us, and we will work with you to resolve any issues you may have. We greatly appreciate your trust in us and we look forward to fulfilling all your future firearm needs.
Bryant Ridge also reserves the right to cancel any sales that may occur while gunbroker.com is experiencing technical issues that affects the entire site or a complete site outage, within an hour of the auction ending.
We have an amazing inventory of classic and collector firearms that we are adding to Gunbroker daily. Stay up to date on all of our latest auction by adding us to your favorite sellers list.
About Us
From a small town hobby, to a leader in the investment and collector grade firearms industry. Bryant Ridge Firearms is here to offer the best in quality and customer service when you are looking to unload your collector grade firearm collection.
