As IJA officers had the "pick of the litter" in terms of their selected pistols, some elected to purchase proven foreign pistol types with their larger, high-powered cartridges than settle for the 8mm Nambu. Despite some good qualities in the design, the Type 14 was nonetheless vastly inferior when compared to the proven "manstoppers" of her time such as the famous American Colt 0.45 pistol. The striker recoil springs proved inherently weak and became much worse over time which eventually led to misfires - a defect originating in the 4th Year Type of 1909.
During the Japanese campaign in Manchuria, cold weather had set in, forcing Japanese officers to don thick winter gloves. However, the trigger ring of the original Type 14 proved too small for the gloved hand and thusly forced another revision to the Type 14 design in 1939 (known as the "Kiska") which, naturally, enlarged the ring for such operation. At this time, a magazine retaining spring was also added. One of the many shortcomings of the Type 14 was its magazine design which proved difficult to remove from the frame when the gun had become dirty or wet. This defect led to the deaths of many Japanese officers in the various jungle campaigns of World War 2.
Perhaps as many as 320,000 Nambu Type 14 pistols were produced. Its wide-spread use by Japanese forces made it a popular "trophy" of sorts to Allied personnel, similar to how the German Luger in Europe was coveted.
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