Nevada Gun Auctions, LLC
Live Auction

FIREARMS, EDGED WEAPONS AND MILITARIA

Mon, Aug 24, 2026 02:00PM EDT
  2026-08-24 14:00:00 2026-08-24 14:00:00 America/New_York Nevada Gun Auction Nevada Gun Auction : FIREARMS, EDGED WEAPONS AND MILITARIA https://bid.nevadagunauction.com/auctions/nevada-gun-auctions-llc/firearms-edged-weapons-and-militaria-23151
Nevada Gun Auctions, LLC info@nevadagunauction.com
Lot 236

Japanese Type “Baby Nambu” Semi-Automatic Pistol {C&R}

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,500
Starting Bid
$500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$100 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

7mm Nambu. 3.25" barrel. SN: 5744. Blued finish, strawed small parts, checkered hardwood grips. Semiautomatic pistol with fixed sights, grip safety and lanyard loop on upper rear of frame. A Type “Baby Nambu” small-type pistol, manufactured by Tokyo Gas & Electric (TG&E), falling within the transitional serial number range associated with the Koishikawa Tokyo Arsenal (approx. 1–5881). Tokyo inspectors’ marks present on frame and rear grip strap. Includes an aluminum base magazine which is numbered to the pistol. This example corresponds to the well-documented transitional production period referenced in Still, Honeycutt, and Derby. Included period invoice notes this model as a high-ranking officer’s privately purchased sidearm, reportedly costing several months’ salary at the time. Matching numbered magazine present. Provenance: Purchased from Randall M. Bessler, Carson City, Nevada, June 24, 1999 (accompanied by original invoice noting “Pistol, Japanese, Baby Nambu, 7mm, SN 5744”). 

 

This firearm is modern and must be picked up or shipped to a FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSE HOLDER or a CURIO AND RELICS HOLDER.


Nevada Gun Auctions will facilitate transfers of modern firearms manufactured from 1899 to the present to buyers holding a valid Federal Firearms License (FFL) or a Collector of Curios & Relics License (C&R). All transfers to non-license holders will be conducted exclusively through Guns N Ammo, 1321 Hwy 395 #A, Gardnerville, NV 89410. Registration and transfer costs are as follows:
* 1 firearm: $75
* 2–4 firearms: $50 each
* 5–9 firearms: $25 each
* 10 or more firearms: $15 each
Shipping costs within the continental United States generally range:
* Handguns: $35–40 each
* Long guns: $75–100 each
All private-party purchases of modern firearms will be delivered to Guns N Ammo as soon as possible following Nevada Gun Auctions’ receipt of payment in full.

Condition

Very Fine. Fine bright bore with crisp rifling. Retains most of the blued finish, which may be an armory refinish. Metal smooth and well marked. Strawed small parts faded. Mechanically functional when cycled by hand. Grips fine with some light wear.

  • Modern Firearms — Nevada Gun Auctions will facilitate transfers of modern firearms manufactured from 1899 to the present to buyers holding a valid Federal Firearms License (FFL) or a Collector of Curios & Relics License (C&R). All transfers to non-license holders will be conducted exclusively through Guns N Ammo, 1321 Hwy 395 #A, Gardnerville, NV 89410. Registration and transfer costs are as follows:
    • 1 firearm: $75
    • 2–4 firearms: $50 each
    • 5–9 firearms: $25 each
    • 10 or more firearms: $15 each

    Shipping costs within the continental United States generally range:

    • Handguns: $35–40 each
    • Long guns: $75–100 each

    All private-party purchases of modern firearms will be delivered to Guns N Ammo as soon as possible following Nevada Gun Auctions’ receipt of payment in full.

  • California Residents — California residents holding a valid Curio & Relic License may pick up eligible firearms directly from our Nevada facility; however, Nevada Gun Auctions does not ship C&R firearms directly into California. All such transactions will be handled exclusively through Guns N Ammo.
  • Shipping — All Nevada Gun Auctions shipments are sent via FedEx with adult signature required and insured for 1.5% of the purchase price unless waived in writing. Shipping costs for each lot are published within the lot description. Handguns are required by law to ship via FedEx 2Day Air.

The estate of John C. Gibson, Delano, CA.