Kijirō Nambu (南部 麒次郎, Nanbu Kijirō, September 22, 1869 – May 1, 1949) was a Japanese firearms designer and career officer in the Imperial Japanese Army. He founded the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company, a major manufacturer of Japanese military firearms during the period.[1] He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (2nd class) in 1914. Because of his prolific firearms designs, Nambu has been described as the "John Browning of Japan."[2][3]
Nambu was born as the younger son to a former samurai retainer of the Nabeshima clan, in Saga domain in 1869 (present-day Saga prefecture). His mother died soon after he was born, and as his father had financial difficulties, he was sent out to be raised by a local merchant. Through hard work and determination, he secured a place in the 2nd class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy at the age of 20. At age 23, he was commissioned a lieutenant of artillery.
In 1897, Nambu was assigned to Tokyo Arsenal, where he was assigned to work under noted weapons designer Nariakira Arisaka on the Type 30 rifle project followed by the Type 26 revolver. He was then promoted to major and ordered to develop a semi automatic pistol for the Japanese military. This design, an 8mm pistol, was the earliest version of the famed Nambu pistol, and was completed in 1902. Nambu built a smaller and lighter 7mm version in 1907.[4] The design was praised by then Army MinisterTerauchi Masatake, but the Japanese army did not place it into production due to production costs. The larger version was eventually adopted by the Imperial Japanese Navy's Special Naval Landing Forces, and the smaller version was sold commercially to private customers.[5]
The Type 14 pistol was an improved version of the 1902 version, similar in dimensions and performance. It was issued to non-commissioned officers, while commissioned officers were expected to purchase their own side arms; it became the most common sidearm in use. Most of the pistols were produced by the Tokyo Arsenal with a smaller number manufactured by the Tokio Gasu Denky. Production of Type 14s lasted until the end of World War II in 1945. Total production numbers are estimated at approximately 200,000 for all variants.[6]
During Nambu's tour at the Army Rifle Manufacturing Plant (later renamed the Kokura Arsenal) he developed the Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun in 1914 and the Type 11 Light Machine Gun in 1922. In 1922, Nambu was promoted to lieutenant general and placed in charge of the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal. He reorganized the army arsenal system in 1923 and was named Commander of the Army Explosives Arsenal and Army Institute of Scientific research. In 1924, he retired from active military service,[7]
At the end of World War II, Nambu announced that his company would cease all weapons production; however, his facilities were sequestered under the American occupation authorities and continued to produce equipment (under the name Shin-Chuō Industries) for the police and subsequently for the post-war Japanese National Safety Forces, the predecessor to the current Japanese Self-Defense Force. Nambu died in May 1949, and his company was absorbed into the Japanese precision equipment manufacturer Minebea Co.
^Hogg. Greenhill Military Small Arms Databook. Pg.265
External links
Dragons of Fire.com
Nambu World: A Brief History of Japanese Handguns
January 30, 2023
kijirō, nambu, 南部, 麒次郎, nanbu, kijirō, september, 1869, 1949, japanese, firearms, designer, career, officer, imperial, japanese, army, founded, nambu, arms, manufacturing, company, major, manufacturer, japanese, military, firearms, during, period, awarded, ord. Kijirō Nambu 南部 麒次郎 Nanbu Kijirō September 22 1869 May 1 1949 was a Japanese firearms designer and career officer in the Imperial Japanese Army He founded the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company a major manufacturer of Japanese military firearms during the period 1 He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure 2nd class in 1914 Because of his prolific firearms designs Nambu has been described as the John Browning of Japan 2 3 Kijirō NambuGeneral Kijirō NambuNative name南部 麒次郎Born 1869 09 22 September 22 1869Saga prefecture JapanDiedMay 1 1949 1949 05 01 aged 79 AllegianceEmpire of JapanService wbr branchImperial Japanese ArmyYears of service1889 1924RankLieutenant General Contents 1 Biography 2 Weapons 3 References 4 Notes 5 External linksBiography EditNambu was born as the younger son to a former samurai retainer of the Nabeshima clan in Saga domain in 1869 present day Saga prefecture His mother died soon after he was born and as his father had financial difficulties he was sent out to be raised by a local merchant Through hard work and determination he secured a place in the 2nd class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy at the age of 20 At age 23 he was commissioned a lieutenant of artillery In 1897 Nambu was assigned to Tokyo Arsenal where he was assigned to work under noted weapons designer Nariakira Arisaka on the Type 30 rifle project followed by the Type 26 revolver He was then promoted to major and ordered to develop a semi automatic pistol for the Japanese military This design an 8mm pistol was the earliest version of the famed Nambu pistol and was completed in 1902 Nambu built a smaller and lighter 7mm version in 1907 4 The design was praised by then Army Minister Terauchi Masatake but the Japanese army did not place it into production due to production costs The larger version was eventually adopted by the Imperial Japanese Navy s Special Naval Landing Forces and the smaller version was sold commercially to private customers 5 The Type 14 pistol was an improved version of the 1902 version similar in dimensions and performance It was issued to non commissioned officers while commissioned officers were expected to purchase their own side arms it became the most common sidearm in use Most of the pistols were produced by the Tokyo Arsenal with a smaller number manufactured by the Tokio Gasu Denky Production of Type 14s lasted until the end of World War II in 1945 Total production numbers are estimated at approximately 200 000 for all variants 6 During Nambu s tour at the Army Rifle Manufacturing Plant later renamed the Kokura Arsenal he developed the Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun in 1914 and the Type 11 Light Machine Gun in 1922 In 1922 Nambu was promoted to lieutenant general and placed in charge of the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal He reorganized the army arsenal system in 1923 and was named Commander of the Army Explosives Arsenal and Army Institute of Scientific research In 1924 he retired from active military service 7 Nambu founded the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company in Tokyo in 1927 with financial backing from the Okura zaibatsu Nambu received many contracts from both the Japanese army and navy for side arms light machine guns and heavy machine guns and also for testing and evaluation of many foreign designs This included the Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun Type 94 8 mm Pistol Type II machine pistol Type 100 submachine gun and licensed production of the Type 99 Light Machine Gun 8 At the end of World War II Nambu announced that his company would cease all weapons production however his facilities were sequestered under the American occupation authorities and continued to produce equipment under the name Shin Chuō Industries for the police and subsequently for the post war Japanese National Safety Forces the predecessor to the current Japanese Self Defense Force Nambu died in May 1949 and his company was absorbed into the Japanese precision equipment manufacturer Minebea Co Weapons EditTypes A B and 14 Nambu Pistol Type 94 Nambu pistol Type 100 Nambu SMG Type 3 Nambu HMG Type 92 Nambu HMG Type 11 Nambu LMG Type 96 Nambu LMG Type 97 Nambu LMG Type 99 Nambu LMG Type 38 Arisaka rifle Type 44 Arisaka carbine Type 99 Arisaka rifleReferences EditBishop Chris eds The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II Barnes amp Nobel 1998 ISBN 0 7607 1022 8 Chant Chris Small Arms of World War II Zenith Press 2002 ISBN 0 7603 1171 4 Hogg Ian Greenhill Military Small Arms Databook Greenhill Books 1999 ISBN 1 85367 360 9 Nila Gary Japanese Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937 45 Elite Osprey Publishing 2002 ISBN 1 84176 465 5Notes Edit 1 Nambu World A Brief History of Japanese handguns Japanese Nambu Type 14 Pistol Still Seen in the Most Curious Places Guns com Retrieved 2021 03 20 Tales of the Gun Ep 26 Japanese Guns of WW2 Youtube Archived from the original on 2021 12 22 Retrieved 27 April 2021 Nambu Archived from the original on 2008 10 05 Retrieved 2008 09 19 Japanese Nambu Pistols Nila Japanese Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937 45 Chant Small Arms of World War II 2 Dragons of Fire com Hogg Greenhill Military Small Arms Databook Pg 265External links EditDragons of Fire com Japanese Nambu Pistols Nambu World A Brief History of Japanese Handguns Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kijirō Nambu amp oldid 1121600448, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
