[Lloyd in Vegas]

Yesterday, I went to the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show with Dean Gizzi (dgiz) from the Forum. The Shot Show is going at the same time here in Las Vegas so there are a lot of visitors with guns and gun/weapon stuff on their minds. This show changed venues about a year ago to its present location at Mandalay Bay Hotel Convention Center. Nice “digs” but somewhat inconvenient in terms of visitor access compared to the former location at the Riviera Hotel. Anyway, the January Show is the big show and this one was as big as I have ever seen--in terms of dealers/collectors. This show as the name indicates has a heavy selection of expensive American and European Antique weapons . There are the usual flintlocks, percussion, expensive cowboy Colt single actions and Winchester lever actions, civil war weapons and some Axis/Military pistols that we are all on this forum interested in. The prices were generally and pretty much across the board very high and there was no real bargains that Dean or I could find. I saw one very nice 1916 DWM Artillery Luger Rig (holster and stock) in very high grade all matching for $10,500. There were a lot of military marked and commercial (govt) Colt 1911 and 1911A1 pistols but the prices with the exception of a very few were very high for even mediocre examples. There were quite a few Lugers and Ralph Shattuck was there with his usual assortment of Lugers but I was not Luger looking or hunting this time. Wally Morishige sold, on dealer setup night, two (2) 1936 dated (full date) Kreighoffs to Ralph Shattuck for about $3300 and $4500 respectively. They were apparently all matching (including magazines) the cheaper one about 92% and the more expensive one at about 96%. I did not see those displayed at Ralph’s table. I came to this show looking for a Baby Nambu and I was not to be disappointed. Wally Morishige had one I came to see but had sold it at the previous gun show in Las Vegas (last weekend). We are getting a lot of gunshows here in Las Vegas. In three weeks is the Crossroads Show at the Tropicana. Well I was out of luck from Wally but that was our first stop and the whole show was before us. Wally, told me to check with Bob Hogan as he thought he had one at his table. Bee lined over to Bob Hogan’s table and there she was. Bob told me he got this one from Wally years before and had decided to sell it. Gave it a very good and careful examination and decided to buy it. Serial is 1666 and most parts with the exception of the striker have the full or partial (last three digits 666) serial stamped on them (see pictures below). Each inside wood grip has the full serial number 1666 as does the magazine. The pistol is at least 97% blue (no blue loss at the muzzle) with a very few little pin prick freckles on the right side frame. This is a very excellent condition all matching very pretty Baby Nambu. The internal organs (parts) are like new and the bore is pristine with very little evidence of much use. The wood grips are in very nice condition with no cracks or dents. From what I can determine this Baby was probably produced prior to WWI. The extra magazine is a current reproduction unit. After I purchased this Baby I saw five others at the show (when it rains in pours) ranging in price from $2,700 for a non matching magazine one to a all matching 97%+ blue rig with a soft shell holster, extra magazine, lanyard, cleaning rod for $6,500. On to the pictures…………….
Download Attachment: Baby Nambu Right Side.jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambu Left Side.jpg
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Download Attachment: Bany Nambu Full Top View.jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambu From Top.jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambu Front and Rear Grips.jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambu Serial Number.jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambu Numbered Parts.jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambu Grip and Magazine Serial Nos..jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambue Grip proof and serial.jpg
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Download Attachment: Baby Nambu Layout.jpg
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[Edward Tinker]

Man, Lloyd, just great! I want one of these, one of these days...


Ed

 

[Jan C Still]

Lloyd
Outstanding photographs, presentation and interesting story. The Baby Nambu is (in my opinion) one of the highest quality military(commercial) pistols manufactured.
Thanks
Jan

 

[lugerholsterrepair]

Lloyd, Fascinating! Very good photo's and presentation. Beautiful pistol. Jerry Burney

 

[mouser]

Lloyd:
Fantastic gun!
Did the Baby Nambu rig that you saw at the show have 2 matching mags?
Thanks.
Val

 

[Grunt]

Thank you for the interesting narative and display.

 

[arisakadogs]

Very nice! I really like these little pistols.

 

[cj029]

Lloyd,

Congratulations on the Baby Nambu, it's a great find! The presentation is excellent as usual.

I finally made it to the show Saturday morning, and stayed there most of the day. That was without doubt the largest show I have ever attended. Great show, thanks for recommending it.

Regards,

Charles

 

[Dgiz]

Hey Lloyd,
Great photos but I had the chance to see it in real life and the pictures don't do it justice! It is one nice looking pistol! Sorry I couldn't spend more time walking around the show, but I couldn't leave the wife reading in the car for too long.
The Shot Show was interesting, but a long day, or should I say days since it took two days to go through it.
Well, SOS/NGD is next! Louisville, here we come....
Dean

 

[arisakadogs]

Lloyd, you mention no blue loss at the muzzle. The muzzle crown should be white & free of bluing. I trust that is the case.
As far as dating - I have S/N 1786 & it's holster that is hand numbered to the pistol. The holster bears a Taisho 3.11 date (Nov. 1914). Great photos!

 

[Lloyd in Vegas]

Thanks gentlemen for your kind remarks regarding my recent Baby Nambu aquisition! It really is the fullfillent of a dream I have had to own one for some time now. They are without a doubt a foundation piece in any vintage military pistol collection. As Jan says and I can confirm, they are one well made and carefully crafted pistol from a quality point of view. I am thrilled I found it and was in a position to purchase the pistol.

Charles, it was nice talking to you on the telephone this weekend and I regret I did not have the pleasure of meeting you in person. You certainly have the right perspective when it comes to purchasing vintage military pistols as you have for many years. I am glad you were able to make it to the show--it was a pretty good one for a change.

Dean, as always it was great spending time with you at the show. I am sorry you did not finding anything you were looking for. Look out Louisville SOS/NGD the western boys are "revved up" and ready to charge!

Rob (arisakadogs), yes the muzzle/crown is free of any bluing. I should have been more careful in my descripton/wording. I was trying to state that the barrel right up to the muzzle (not the crown) is free of any blue loss. Thanks for the dating information. Mine is about 1,000 before yours so I would guess it was made early 1914 late 1913? Does that sound about right?

Best regards to all and continued good luck to all you collector friends in finding those pieces to fill those holes in your collection! Lloyd in Vegas

 

[arisakadogs]

quote:Originally posted by Lloyd in Vegas


Rob (arisakadogs), yes the muzzle/crown is free of any bluing. I should have been more careful in my descripton/wording. I was trying to state that the barrel right up to the muzzle (not the crown) is free of any blue loss. Thanks for the dating information. Mine is about 1,000 before yours so I would guess it was made early 1914 late 1913? Does that sound about right?

Lloyd, glad to hear about the crown - I kinda figgered that's what you meant. As to dating, it all depends on how steady production was. It might be quite a bit earlier than mine. Very nice pistol & I can relate to the excitement of getting one. I took out a home improvement loan to buy my first one over 20 years ago. It did improve my home!