This is an excellent example of a very late production "Baby Nambu" pistol as manufactured by the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal in Koishikawa Tokyo. These pistols were never officially adopted by the Japanese military, but were intended as private purchase sidearm by high raking officers of the Army and Navy. This pistol has a high quality rust blue finish and straw colored trigger, magazine release, sear pivot pin and bolt lock with a bright finished bolt. The magazine has a nickel plated body with an aluminum base. The grips are finely checkered hardwood. The top of the chamber area bears the four intertwined cannon balls of the Tokyo arsenal and the right side of the receiver has the Japanese Kanji markings over the serial number "5842". The serial number is also visible on the underside of the bolt (5842), on the back of the magazine (5842) and on the inside of each grip panel (5842). It is complete with an original, soft flap variant leather holster that has a pebble grain leather body with a smooth soft leather flap that is more oval in shape with the single pouch under the flap which holds 14 round and the dual oval metal rings on the belt loops with the original shoulder holster. It is similar to those pictured on page 88 of "Hand Cannons of Imperial Japan". Approximately 5,900 examples of the finely finished, compact, "Baby" Nambu pistol were manufactured before production ceased. The "Baby" Nambu is perhaps the most desirable Japanese semi-automatic pistol.

Excellent with 95% of the slightly faded original factory blue finish with some thinning and oxidation on the back strap with minor wear on the edges and high spots with some minor pin prick pitting on the recoil spring housing, and on the underside of the barrel. The grips are in very good condition with minor handling marks, with a couple of pressure dents and flat spots on the left side. The holster and shoulder strap are both in fine condition showing a nice original color overall with just a couple of minor areas of scuffing on the corners of the flap and the toe with tight stitching. I think that a little cleaning and leather treatment would vastly improve this holster. A scarce and very nice Baby Nambu rig.