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Anyone Like Nambus?


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I know that Nambus are probably covered in great detail on a couple of other sites, but I'm not a serious collector of them, though I do own two. Growing up in Honolulu, I remember many trips to Security Equipment off of King Street after school to go look at guns. Since it was Hawaii, the first stop for any WWII Pacific G.I. with a war trophy wanting to enjoy themselves, Honolulu became the repository for many Japanese firearms. Security Equipment usually had at least 20 Nambus in stock. I also saw many Garands and Johnson rifles there. Anyway, I guess the weird look of the Nambu kind of put a hook in me, and I ended up acquiring two of them over the years. I thought I'd share a photo to add another thread to the new forum...

 

Both pistols are Type 14 Nambus manufactured by Chuo Kogyo K.K. Works. I need to look up the dates of manufacture again, as I didn't write them down. I have fired the one on the bottom, and it's kind of sentimental to me, as it was the only firearm I ever traded with my best friend's Dad. It was very important to him that we eventually make a gun trade, and I had a shotgun someone had given me that he wanted, so we traded in the early '90's. He died in a fire at his Texas house in 2000, along with his wife. His gun collection was also lost in the fire, so I'm glad to have one of his pistols as a remembrance.

 

Nambus-2.jpg

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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You grew up in Honolulu huh? Cool. I'm from Kauai, and I live most of the year in Kauai now. Very glad to be back. All my guns except just 3 of them stay in Texas of course though.

 

I'm not sure if I "like" them, but I did need to have one for my collection, so I own a late model one now. Looking to buy an earlier 1930s Nambu as well to add to the collection. My grandma actually was born and raised in Tokyo in the 1920s and it's always very interesting hearing what the war was like for her being a civilian in Japan at the time. Death all around her, all the drills, and the constant lies from their government. Crazy. She moved to Kauai with my grandfather after WWII, and now lives about 1 minute from me when I'm here. My grandpa was a Hawaiian/Japanese US soldier fighting against the Japanese somehow (Most were sent to fight in Germany I think?). His own Japanese side grandparents lived in Japan at the time. How awkward. What a crazy, weird, and awful time for this world, and thank God many of us still care to save these pieces of history from that time period. I wonder if I should start recording my grandmother telling her stories from her side? She's still 100% independent and remembers all of it. Anyways, sorry, I got to rambling again.....

 

You have two nice looking guns. Let us know the dates on them when you get a chance. Enjoy them! very sad story with that bottom gun.

Edited by michaelkih
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I wonder if I should start recording my grandmother telling her stories from her side? She's still 100% independent and remembers all of it. Anyways, sorry, I got to rambling

Yes, once shes gone the stories get harder to remember. I know I have a video of my grandfather holding my oldest daughter, but Im struggling to locate it. Hes been gone nearly 8 years and Id like to find that little bit of video footage I took long before we all had portable video recorders.

 

Ron

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I'm in NC taking care of my Mom, but will try and post a photo of mine when I get back. Pretty nice one with holster etc. Also have a nice sword with bring back paperwork.

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You grew up in Honolulu huh? Cool. I'm from Kauai, and I live most of the year in Kauai now. Very glad to be back. All my guns except just 3 of them stay in Texas of course though.

 

Michaelkih,

 

I grew up in Kaneohe and Honolulu (Nuuanu). Graduated from Punahou in '84. I first visited Kauai in 1978...I have a photo I took back then that looks like a post card. We did a bunch of hiking on Kauai that year in the Kokee area, and a couple of other parts of the island. I also spent some time in Princeville and Poipu. Beautiful island..."Lucky You Live Hawaii." I would love to live there maybe 3 months out of the year, which it sounds like maybe you do. I also lived in TX...Austin for 21 years. That's where I bought all but 2 of my MG's.

 

Aloha,

 

David

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You grew up in Honolulu huh? Cool. I'm from Kauai, and I live most of the year in Kauai now. Very glad to be back. All my guns except just 3 of them stay in Texas of course though.

 

Michaelkih,

 

I grew up in Kaneohe and Honolulu (Nuuanu). Graduated from Punahou in '84. I first visited Kauai in 1978...I have a photo I took back then that looks like a post card. We did a bunch of hiking on Kauai that year in the Kokee area, and a couple of other parts of the island. I also spent some time in Princeville and Poipu. Beautiful island..."Lucky You Live Hawaii." I would love to live there maybe 3 months out of the year, which it sounds like maybe you do. I also lived in TX...Austin for 21 years. That's where I bought all but 2 of my MG's.

 

Aloha,

 

David

Very cool. I'm not sure how long it's been since you lived there, but Oahu is packed now. I guess it always has been, but it is definitely a city island. Although north of Kaneohe, they have managed to keep it fairly nice and empty, but you know whats coming. The island itself is BEAUTIFUL though and there is so much to do there. I enjoy visiting Oahu a couple times a year.

 

Kauai, has luckily stayed mostly rural. The population still hovers under 70,000 for the whole island. It's still growing of course almost every year, but luckily it has done a very good job of haulting growth. Sounds weird to say that, but here, I like it that way. You should come back and visit someday. Things have changed over the years, but I think you'd be amazed at how much is still the same.

 

And yes, I go back and forth now. Dreams come true really. Besides the gun laws here, which are ridiculous, I love this place.

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You grew up in Honolulu huh? Cool. I'm from Kauai, and I live most of the year in Kauai now. Very glad to be back. All my guns except just 3 of them stay in Texas of course though.

 

Michaelkih,

 

I grew up in Kaneohe and Honolulu (Nuuanu). Graduated from Punahou in '84. I first visited Kauai in 1978...I have a photo I took back then that looks like a post card. We did a bunch of hiking on Kauai that year in the Kokee area, and a couple of other parts of the island. I also spent some time in Princeville and Poipu. Beautiful island..."Lucky You Live Hawaii." I would love to live there maybe 3 months out of the year, which it sounds like maybe you do. I also lived in TX...Austin for 21 years. That's where I bought all but 2 of my MG's.

 

Aloha,

 

David

Very cool. I'm not sure how long it's been since you lived there, but Oahu is packed now. I guess it always has been, but it is definitely a city island. Although north of Kaneohe, they have managed to keep it fairly nice and empty, but you know whats coming. The island itself is BEAUTIFUL though and there is so much to do there. I enjoy visiting Oahu a couple times a year.

 

Kauai, has luckily stayed mostly rural. The population still hovers under 70,000 for the whole island. It's still growing of course almost every year, but luckily it has done a very good job of haulting growth. Sounds weird to say that, but here, I like it that way. You should come back and visit someday. Things have changed over the years, but I think you'd be amazed at how much is still the same.

 

And yes, I go back and forth now. Dreams come true really. Besides the gun laws here, which are ridiculous, I love this place.

 

 

My sentiments exactly...I could not live there year round as a result.

 

I recall them telling us in 1978 that there was only one traffic light on Kauai. I'm sure that's changed. It was 1983 the last time I visited there.

 

Oahu has always been crowded, and I know houses have crept further up the mountains, and into previously unused parcels of Bishop Estate land, but I know of a few places there that are amazing hidden treasures, usually only frequented by kama'aina. In Kaneohe, our lot bordered on 450 acres of conservation land, which the last time I was there was still just that. I used to shoot my M1 Carbine there, and camped down in the valley below us many times.

 

Aloha,

 

David

 

P.S. Sandman mentioned Japanese Samurai swords. I have one in my collection, as well. We should discuss those here too!

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You grew up in Honolulu huh? Cool. I'm from Kauai, and I live most of the year in Kauai now. Very glad to be back. All my guns except just 3 of them stay in Texas of course though.

 

Michaelkih,

 

I grew up in Kaneohe and Honolulu (Nuuanu). Graduated from Punahou in '84. I first visited Kauai in 1978...I have a photo I took back then that looks like a post card. We did a bunch of hiking on Kauai that year in the Kokee area, and a couple of other parts of the island. I also spent some time in Princeville and Poipu. Beautiful island..."Lucky You Live Hawaii." I would love to live there maybe 3 months out of the year, which it sounds like maybe you do. I also lived in TX...Austin for 21 years. That's where I bought all but 2 of my MG's.

 

Aloha,

 

David

Very cool. I'm not sure how long it's been since you lived there, but Oahu is packed now. I guess it always has been, but it is definitely a city island. Although north of Kaneohe, they have managed to keep it fairly nice and empty, but you know whats coming. The island itself is BEAUTIFUL though and there is so much to do there. I enjoy visiting Oahu a couple times a year.

 

Kauai, has luckily stayed mostly rural. The population still hovers under 70,000 for the whole island. It's still growing of course almost every year, but luckily it has done a very good job of haulting growth. Sounds weird to say that, but here, I like it that way. You should come back and visit someday. Things have changed over the years, but I think you'd be amazed at how much is still the same.

 

And yes, I go back and forth now. Dreams come true really. Besides the gun laws here, which are ridiculous, I love this place.

 

 

My sentiments exactly...I could not live there year round as a result.

 

I recall them telling us in 1978 that there was only one traffic light on Kauai. I'm sure that's changed. It was 1983 the last time I visited there.

 

Oahu has always been crowded, and I know houses have crept further up the mountains, and into previously unused parcels of Bishop Estate land, but I know of a few places there that are amazing hidden treasures, usually only frequented by kama'aina. In Kaneohe, our lot bordered on 450 acres of conservation land, which the last time I was there was still just that. I used to shoot my M1 Carbine there, and camped down in the valley below us many times.

 

Aloha,

 

David

 

P.S. Sandman mentioned Japanese Samurai swords. I have one in my collection, as well. We should discuss those here too!

 

Yep, agreed. Texas is home too.

 

Yes, discuss the swords as well. I need a bring back of one of those too one day!

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I need to get my Uncles scrap book from his time on Guam and Iwo Jima. He had several post cards from battlefield pick up, not used some duplicates. I'll look and see it there are any machineguns in them. also has some Japanese script, coins and photos that we can't post here. Graphic photos of corpses. No idea how he got them home.

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The deal was the Japanese recruited from the Concentration camps went to the European theater with the 442nd Infantry. Something to remember is very few Japanese from Hawaii were rounded up. Problem was they ran many of the businesses there, the Military stepped in, told Hoover and company to back off.

California was different, it was mostly a land grab by Governor Warren's cronies.

 

As such Hawaiian Japanese were able to volunteer for other branches of service where they were prized as linguists.

Donovan recruited a number Japanese Americans for the OSS

Here's a page dedicated to them straight off the CIA website:

 

https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2012-featured-story-archive/japanese-americans-WWII-intel.html

 

Used to know one old guy who served with the USMC that was Hawaiian Japanese, he was hazed badly in basic. Said it wasn't until they hit the first beaches that he won any respect.

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The deal was the Japanese recruited from the Concentration camps went to the European theater with the 442nd Infantry. Something to remember is very few Japanese from Hawaii were rounded up. Problem was they ran many of the businesses there, the Military stepped in, told Hoover and company to back off.

California was different, it was mostly a land grab by Governor Warren's cronies.

 

As such Hawaiian Japanese were able to volunteer for other branches of service where they were prized as linguists.

Donovan recruited a number Japanese Americans for the OSS

Here's a page dedicated to them straight off the CIA website:

 

https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2012-featured-story-archive/japanese-americans-WWII-intel.html

 

Used to know one old guy who served with the USMC that was Hawaiian Japanese, he was hazed badly in basic. Said it wasn't until they hit the first beaches that he won any respect.

 

Thanks for the information. Pretty cool to know. My grandpa was in the Army. All I know is that the Japanese US soldiers and Japanese/Hawaiian US soldiers were quite a hit with the Japanese ladies during occupation according to my grandma. Hah!

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The deal was the Japanese recruited from the Concentration camps went to the European theater with the 442nd Infantry. Something to remember is very few Japanese from Hawaii were rounded up. Problem was they ran many of the businesses there, the Military stepped in, told Hoover and company to back off.

California was different, it was mostly a land grab by Governor Warren's cronies.

 

As such Hawaiian Japanese were able to volunteer for other branches of service where they were prized as linguists.

Donovan recruited a number Japanese Americans for the OSS

Here's a page dedicated to them straight off the CIA website:

 

https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2012-featured-story-archive/japanese-americans-WWII-intel.html

 

Used to know one old guy who served with the USMC that was Hawaiian Japanese, he was hazed badly in basic. Said it wasn't until they hit the first beaches that he won any respect.

 

Thanks for the information. Pretty cool to know. My grandpa was in the Army. All I know is that the Japanese US soldiers and Japanese/Hawaiian US soldiers were quite a hit with the Japanese ladies during occupation according to my grandma. Hah!

 

Do you know whether he was drafted or a volunteer ?

 

It's kind of sad, all the focus has been in the 442nd

there were small scattered Japanese communities outside Hawaii and California

 

Hawaii was also a bit odd in that Japanese had started settling in there in small number prior to American mercenaries seizing control of the islands. As there was a serious shortage of Japanese ladies most of the Men took native Hawaiian wives. By 41' you had third generation families their running some serious farms that supplied all the fresh produce to the US stations and bases there. Would have been a complete disaster to round everyone up in the islands.

 

Read another article years ago, seems many of the mixed blood ladies were local bar girls. The claim was large scale removal would have hammered the Red Light districts

there just were not hardly any Caucasian gals in the Bordellos, mostly mixtures of Native, Japanese and some Philippino.

 

Another cute factoid

my high school English teacher was a survivor of Dec. 7th 41'

He used to tell of Japanese that came in following the attack as general contractors, there was just so much that needed doing in the aftermath the Navy put out a call to the farmers & carpenters for assistance. He was certain a number of the young Men were recruited on the scene. He stated, one day they were there, next day a few dozen he knew were just spirited away for "training".

 

It's not like America had many Japanese linguists or even folks with a basic understanding of that particular culture. It was completely alien, probably was pretty much alien to younger Hawaiian Japanese, in short many of them seriously viewed themselves as Americans first and the same was true in California.

 

As far as the Occupation after VJ day

One of my Dad's co-workers had a War Bride from the Japans

as she explained when the Emperor capitulated unconditionally pretty much any American serviceman was a superior, even to the nobility. It was an ancient Warrior culture rooted in their own superiority. Suddenly they were thrust into a completely new normal

Old girl stated plainly one day when our families were visiting how great an honor it was for her family when an American Officer chose her.

I heard similar things from another War bride from Osaka. Her family was old noble caste. Grandfather literally gave the girl to an Officer along with the family ancestrial swords and some armor

 

Just saying it's not really like how the media remembers it.

 

There's several wonderful books written by some of the Imperial troops that refused to surrender, tremendous reads on pure survival. Some of these guys were still in the jungle up into the 70s.

Another interesting one is Bye Bye Black Sheep written by Masajiro "Mike" Kawato, a Japanese Imperial Ace who claimed to have been the one who shot down Pappy Boyington.

Post war Mike moved to America, ended up becoming one of Pappy's drinking buddies.

Used to see Mike selling his book and vintage Japanese things at gun shows, pretty sure I have at least two or three autographed copies of it. He was an extremely close friend of my late Uncle.

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Jim,

Thanks for all that info. No, he was not drafted. He volunteered in the US Army infantry. He never talked of any problems during training, but I do know all the Jaoanese and Hawaiian/Japanese soldiers were put together. It wasn't anything he spoke badly of though honestly, but unfortunately he is no longer around so I can not ask him any more questions about that stuff.

Cool you mention the 442nd. One of my best friends dads here on Kauai was in the 442nd and received the Purple Heart, still had a bullet in his body when he recently passed away, and brought home a German Luger which he been lost over the past 70 years.
And yes, besides just being plain wrong, a Japanese round up would have simply not worked in Hawaii at the time. I think at the time, the largest ethnicity group on the islands was Japanese. It would have been a disaster.

I will have to check out some of those books you mentioned. Thanks!

Ok. Anyways, sorry OP for (@ on your thread. Back to discussing Nambus. Haha.

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