This is an excellent example of a very scarce Japanese "Baby Nambu" pistol. These pistols were a much smaller version of the Papa 8mm pistol and intended for private purchase by high ranking officers befitting their rank and status in either the Army or Navy. They were reduced in size to be of a more Gentlemanly size and were designated as a "Nambu type B" to differentiate it from the larger ones. Production ceased in 1927 with only about 6,500 of these finely made pistols were produced. They were never officially adopted by the military but were recognized as an "Authorized" firearm for use. This pistol was manufactured at the Koishikawa Tokyo arsenal and it has a high quality rust blue finish and straw colored trigger, magazine release, sear pivot pin and bolt lock. The bolt is finished bright. The magazine has a nickel-plated tube and aluminum base. The grips are finely checkered walnut. The chamber bears the Koishikawa, later Kokura, markings of the four intertwined cannon balls, and the right side of the receiver is marked with Japanese characters that identify the model above the serial number. The backstrap is marked with Japanese characters over "94". The matching serial number is also visible on the underside of the bolt, on the inside of each grip panel and on the lower magazine spine. The "Baby" Nambu is perhaps the most scarce and desirable Japanese semi-automatic pistol.