really small japanese pistol

[michael leone]

baby holster

what would one expect to pay for a baby nambu holster? regards,,mike

[Ronnie Fry]

ATTABoy Michael!!
Great Baby Nambu!!! And matching mag is just the icing on the cake. It is an investment in your family's future. I call mine my 401K!!
As to the price of the holster, I was lucky enough to get one with my Baby. It was part of the deal. I would venture to guess that if you find one that has not been a doggie chew for under 1k, you better jump on it. And up from there as condition dictates. A nice one would be well North of 2K. IMHO!! I know I sure wouldn't sell mine for that. Not even close. In fact, the holster is rarer than the pistol.
Be VEWWY VEWWY careful tho!! If you don't know what you are looking at, there are some good reproductions out there. If it looks almost too good to be true, it's probably a repro!!

r

[michael leone]

baby nambu

thanks for the info on the holster! i will keep my eyes open for a real one, i have seen the really good copies out there, and they are good! i cant seem to stop checking out the details of the gun, it is so small next to my type 14. is it really true that there are only around 480 known in US colletions? what would the seasoned collectors think one of these baby nambus are worth? what should i insure this for? thanks,,mike

[Ronnie Fry]

Michael,
In my humble opinion, and mine only, your Baby would be worth well North of 3K. The "Blue Book" shows 3.5K for a 100% one. I think most collectors would agree that the Blue Book is parsimonious in it's evaluation of most military items. The market in the last couple of years has literally exploded.

r

[ramon]

A very nice pistol.

You need to contact either Harry Derby or James Brown to report your serial number as it does not appear on their serial number list for the Baby.

Truly a nice 'out of the woodwork' Baby.

Ramon

[Ronnie Fry]

Michael, look at this side on Auction Arms. This guy is asking 3.6K for a POS. Well, at least the mag matches.......

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...VERY%20FINE%20!

r

[michael leone]

nambu

i did see that baby nambu on the auction site. it didnt look like the condition was very nice, perhaps that is why no one has bid on it yet. what would you think is a fair price for that one?

[r.blue]

Michael,
That is the problem with Baby Nambu's. They are one of the most difficult pistols to purchase...in my opinion.
They are not what I would consider rare guns but scarce guns. (The rare Baby's are TGE Baby's.... they are a whole different ball game.)

The problem is that they have a reputation for being expensive. Because of this the standard criteria of firearms purchasing seems to get tossed out the window. The hell with condition, the hell with matching numbers, the hell with whether or not the pistol will function properly....etc
It's a Baby Nambu and it's worth lots of $
A Baby Nambu in the hands of a dealer is a funny thing to watch play out. A couple of years back a local dealer picked one up. It was an early one but the condition was about like the one on the auction. Nothing great but not poor. However, the barrel had a crack in it. I don't know how anyone else would feel but to me a cracked barrel is a pretty serious condition problem. He priced it like it was a mint, matching example with two matching mags and a holster. Sat on it for several years and finally sold it or traded it or something- Hell, I don't know and don't care.

So to answer your question...I don't have any idea how to really price one. To me that pistol on the auction is decent example but there is no way in hell I would shell out that kinda dough for it. $1500 maybe.

I don't own one for that very reason. I have had several chances to purchase them but nothing worth the asking price yet. I'm thinking that the only way to get into one right and in right condition is for it to come from a fellow collector or out of the woodwork. They are just difficult pistols.
R.B.

[Ronnie Fry]

Michael and Roscoe
I was lucky enough that I got mine from a --- won't call him a collector, but an aggregrator, locally. I had seen the pistol and the holster a couple or three years before, and didn't really know what it was. But I remembered. I did ask him to call me when he decided to sell it. In the meantime, I had done my reasearch.
Patience, is sometimes a virtue, and I have never been known for this. But on this pistol I was forced. I asked him several times if he was ready, and always a negative answer. Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for me, he suddenly had a need to pay legal fees and court costs to get his driver's license back. He knew what he had, and had access to the net. I got the pistol and the holster for about what the pistol alone will bring now. At the time, it was NOT a bargain. But, it is now. The trick, I think, is not so much as what the price is, but someone who is willing to sell. Regardless of price. There are some "Babys" around, but no one willing to part with them. Thus the price for an available one goes up..... and up. Economics 101.

r

[Ronnie Fry]

Not to hijack the thread, but here's a photo of my "baby".. Excuse the dirty sock.

r

[michael leone]

baby nambu

great combination, ronnie, thanks for showing them. that holster looks to be the soft shell variety. very nice condition. perhaps i will get lucky and find one for my baby!

[r.blue]

The hardshell variation is an extremely rare holster.

Nice looking pistol Ronnie. The holster is a nice one too.
R.Blue