December 16, 17, & 18, 2020 Field & Range Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/17/2020
Series 1 Type 14 Nambu with large trigger guard manufactured by Kokubunji under supervision of Nagoya in January of 1942. Pistol has been finely gold plated and engraved with scenes of a dragon on either side of the frame, a partial Imperial Japanese flag over the chamber, a dragon's claw holding a crystal ball to the rear of the ejection port, a yinyang on the right of the receiver, a Japanese compass on the rear grip strap, and a Japanese chrysanthemum above a kanji character on the front of the trigger guard. Sections of the frame have been outlined and filled in with stippling. The bottom of the trigger guard is signed "W. Ellis", for engraver William B. Ellis. Arsenal proofs and markings appear to have been slightly enhanced. 17 groove wood grips have been refinished. Right grip screw appears to be a replacement. Matching numbers include the frame, barrel & barrel extension, locking block, bolt, cocking knob, trigger guard, trigger, magazine safety, and magazine catch. Grips are unnumbered and magazine does not match. CONDITION: Metal components retain bountiful amounts of their gold plated finish, showing some areas of cleaned pitting visible beneath the gold plated finish, while also retaining original machining marks underneath the grips. There is a small dragline along the frame from operation of the safety lever. Engraving and arsenal markings are sharp. Bore is bright, exhibiting cleaned pitting and fair rifling throughout. A unique and possibly one of a kind, custom engraved Japanese Type 14 Nambu. -MLW-