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LOT 1552
Scarce
Japanese
Tokyo
Arsenal Baby Nambu Semi- Automatic Pistol with Matching Magazine - Serial no. 5033, 7 mm Nambu cal., 3
3/8 inch round
bbl., blue finish,
hardwood grips.
Manufactured by the Tokyo Arsenal from 1909 to 1928,
the Baby Nambu was the semi-official officer’s pistol of the
Imperial Japanese Military. Fixed sights, with the “stacked cannonball” arsenal marking on top of the chamber and the nomenclature
markings and serial number on the right side of the frame. The firing pin
is unnumbered and the right grip panel is illegible (possibly mixed), but the other components are matching, including the magazine and left grip panel. A modern plastic case is also included.
CONDITION: Fine, with 70% of the original slightly faded blue finish, showing mild
spotting overall, shallow pitting on the grip straps (concentrated on the heel), and mild edge wear and handling marks. 30% of the straw color is present, with the rest of the area having turned a mixed brown and gray patina. The grips are very good, with mild dings. The
LOT 1554
Unique Documented Chinese/ Mauser Copy of a Model 1896 Bolo Broomhandle Semi-Automatic Pistol
Photographed and Described in “Pistols of the Warlords” - Serial no. 10069, 7.63 mm Mauser auto cal., 3 7/8 inch
round bbl., blue finish, hardwood grips. One of the most popular handguns in China, the Mauser Broomhandle would
become one of the signature weapons of the Second Sino-Japanese War, with both original and Chinese arsenal manufactured Broomhandles extensively used by both the Nationalist and Communist forces against the Japanese, as well as against each other. This example is fairly uncommon on the American market, in that it combines a Chinese workshop or arsenal made “Bolo” style frame with a legitimate Mauser, early-Postwar “Bolo” upper assembly. This specific example is photographed and described on p. 210-211
of “Pistols of the Warlords: 1911-1949”. With the heavy use these pistols saw through decades of conflict in China, these sorts of field repairs/assemblies wouldn’t have been uncommon, however, surviving examples on the American market are scarce. The frame of this example was manufactured by an unknown party but the right bears imitation Mauser markings that are actually not far off from the originals. There is a discreet import mark on the lower right just above the grip. The imitation Mauser logo on the left however
is far more typically, not even close. The rear of the frame is numbered in the standard Mauser fashion, and the rear of the hammer
is numbered “169”. The upper assembly has standard Mauser markings on the chamber including the serial number “447920” and “crown/crown/U” proof which is repeated on the charging handle. It is fitted with blade and tangent sights graduated to 500 meters, and a pair of serrated hardwood grips.
CONDITION: Good, retains traces of an arsenal applied blue finish, mostly in sheltered areas with the balance mostly a plum-brown patina and light-minor pitting scattered throughout due to years of field
use. The grips are good with extensive even wear that only comes from
use. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1555
Desirable Soviet Izhevsk Makarov Semi-Automatic Pistol Rig with Two Matching Magazines and Holster - Serial no. AP4090, 9 mm cal., 3 5/8 inch round bbl., blue finish, plastic grips. Manufactured in 1963 with matching numbers marked on the
left of the frame, slide, thumb safety, and spines of both included magazines. The right of the frame is C.K.C. import marked along with “9MM GERMANY”. Fitted with blade and notch sights and a pair of plastic grips with five point stars on each side. Includes two total magazines (both numbered to the gun), a “71” dated leather holster, and cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the original blue finish with the hammer and thumb safety showing an attractive plum hue and minimal handling evidence overall. The grips are also excellent with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is very fine with minimal wear. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK PISTOLS OF THE WARLORDS: 1911-1949 BY MCCOLLUM
extractor is bent, otherwise the pistol good order.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1553
appears to be in mechanically very
Unique Documented Chinese
Copy of a Fabrique Nationale
Model 1900 Semi-Automatic Pistol Photographed
and Described in “Pistols of the Warlords: 1911-
1949” - Serial no. 1059, 7.65 mm auto cal., 4 inch
round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Patterned closely after the
Fabrique Nationale Model 1900, this pistol shows the typical markings
of a Chinese workshop imitating those found on the European pistol
they were copying. These copies of popular European pistols were
manufactured at a variety of workshops and arsenals in China, mostly
during the period of the Chinese Civil War. The left side of the slide and
frame both show random combinations of Western letters, imitating the original
Fabrique Nationale markings, as well as close copies of Belgian proofs. The right side of the slide, frame, and rear sight are all numbered “1059”. It is fitted with a functioning thumb safety, blade front sight, and notch rear sight, with a cocked indicator which blocks the rear sight both when the pistol is cocked and when it is not. The grips are checkered hard rubbed with large imitation “FN” monograms at the top. This specific example is pictured and described on p. 360-361 of “Pistols of the Warlords: 1911-1949”. Pistols such as this saw hard use during both phases of the Chinese Civil War and Japanese invasion and are rare in any condition. CONDITION: Very good, showing primarily a plum-brown patina overall with a few patches of scattered light pitting and mostly clear markings. The grips are also very good with a hairline crack at the top of the right panel, some mild wear, and otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK PISTOLS OF THE WARLORDS:1911-1949 BY MCCOLLUM
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