NAME (NATIVE) – Nambu Shiki Jido Kenju “Otsu” (Nambu Automatic Pistol Type B)
COMMON NAMES – Nambu Type B
TYPE – Semiautomatic pistol
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Japan
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1907
CALIBER – 7x20mm (7mm Japanese)
OVERALL LENGTH – 17.1 cm (6.75 in)
BARREL LENGTH – 8.6 cm (3.38 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 Groove, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 31.8 cm (1 turn in 12.5 in)
BULLET DIAMETER – 7.08 mm (0.280 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 3.63 g (56 grain)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 320 m/s (1050 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 186 j (137 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.52 kg (18.5 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.64 kg (1 lb 6.6 oz)
SIGHTS – Fixed, iron, Front V-blade, Rear V-notch
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 20 m (22 yards)
OPERATION – Short recoil
TYPE OF FIRE – Semiautomatic, Single action
RATE OF FIRE – 14 rpm
FEED DEVICE – 7-round removable box magazine, Single column, Single feed
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.07 kg (2.5 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.12 kg (4.3 oz)
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – two magazines (14 rounds) plus 16 rounds in loops in holster (30 rounds total)
LOAD WEIGHT – 0.35 kg (12.4 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Koishikawa (Tokyo Artillery Arsenal), Koishikawa, Tokyo
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – Commercial sales to Japanese military officers, no official military adoption
The “Baby” Nambu was a direct copy if the original Type 1904 Nambu, only produced in a reduced size and caliber. Mechanically, the weapon is identical to its larger version. The Japanese differentiate the smaller weapon as the Nambu Type B as compared to the Type A, the 1904 model. Though the weapon was never adopted by any branch of the Imperial Japanese Military, they were purchased by a number of officers who preferred the more compact weapon. Until a number of specimens were captured in the later years of the war, the “Baby” Nambu was considered a myth since such a small and weak weapon would not be military issue for combat.
