This is a very good 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 "5583". It has matching serial numbers, on the underside of the bolt, the back of the magazine and on the inside of each grip panel. 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 as partially refinished with approximately 90% of the slightly faded original blue finish remaining with several small areas of light pin-prick pitting that has been cold blued on the underside of the barrel, around the edges of the trigger guard and the lower front grip strap, all from salt spray or sitting in a holster. There are also a few areas of very minor oxidation just starting under the edges of the grips and backstrap that could be easily corrected with a good cleaning and oiling which would improve the appearance considerably. Certainly still a very desirable Baby Nambu pistol with all matching numbers.