New T94

[Geokop]

Hi Everyone,
I picked up this all-matching T94 Nambu with one matching mag a couple of months ago. Also, it's holster is numbered to match the pistol, and it has the Japanese vet's name written inside the lid, "Makoto Tanabe."
I was able to add a correct, original lanyard, an original shoulder strap for the holster, a blued T94 cleaning rod, and an unopened, original box of 8mm Nambu ammo. All That is needed now is a second, spare nickel magazine.
This wasn't the only addition to my collection this past year, but it was the major one.
Happy belated New Year to everyone.

[indy1919a4]

Nice looking pistols and holster.. How does that pistol fit in your hand??

[Geokop]

Hi indy1919a4,
It's a small pistol, but it fits comfortably in my hand. If it were much smaller, though, it wouldn't. It's easy to quickly point and aim, though the sights aren't that great.
These pistols were popular with officers, airmen, tank crews, and anyone who worked in tight quarters. It definitely isn't a bulky rig.

[indy1919a4]

I have always wanted to get in to the Japanese Pistols.. But always so many shiny things out there get in the way... Any Idea what year yours was made??

[Geokop]

It is 16.1 dated, January of 1941.

[burban89]

Nice find! I have one just like yours (one matching magazine with original holster) that one of my great uncles brought home from Burma but I have yet to find any ammo to test out how it functions.

[revjen45]

Right up there with the Gyrojet as one of the ugliest guns ever made, but what beautiful acquisition.

[Geokop]

burban89, I've been away from here for a while and just now saw your kind comment. A few months ago I found a second correct nickel mag. After an extensive search one became available, so the rig is complete. I'm glad you have one with a connection to your family, which makes it extra special. I hear ammo is expensive for these; I personally won't fire mine as it's all clean and intact, and I don't want to risk a broken firing pin or other mishap. I also have read these are a royal pain to disassemble, so I'm not going to mess with it. I don't know if the T94 jams as much as the T14, possibly due to modern under-powered ammo, the shape of the bullet (vintage Japanese ammo appears to have bullets that are more rounded on top than modern-day ones; I don't know if that affects feeding) or from the fact that bullets in the T14 were fed at a really odd angle from the magazine.

revjen45, I agree this isn't an attractive pistol; perhaps part of it's "charm" among those who collect them. There was an all-matching (with two matching mags.) 1944-dated T14, with it's rope lanyard and holster up for auction at the same time as this one, that had caught my eye first. Both were offered by the same broker, "Jack the Dog." The T94 was pursued instead because of it also having it's matching and named holster, in spite of the fact it's design wasn't as pretty, and because T94's just aren't as common, period. A good friend of mine sold me the lanyard, box of ammo, shoulder strap for the holster, and cleaning rod as a package deal to help complete this rig. As mention above, I've since found a second nickel T94 mag. to finish things off.