Astra Pistol Serial Numbers

The Astra modelo 400 was a Spanish service pistol produced by weapons manufacturer Astra-Unceta y Cia SA.^[2] as a replacement for the Campo-Giro 1913/1916, which had also been chambered in 9mm Largo.^[3] It was the standard issue sidearm in the Spanish Army during the Spanish Civil War and also saw service in Germany during World War II.

The right place to find all older Star pistol model numbers is on the butt, as seen in the illustrations below and photo to the right. On the flat plate on the bottom of the gun, just rear of where the magazine is inserted, look for a letter, set of letters or a word. The longer number is your serial number, incidentally. Astra Modelo 400 (1921) A brief history of the Astra Modelo 400 (1921) In 1912 the Spanish Armed Forces selected the Gampo-Giro Model 1913 as their standard issue sidearm. In 1920 the decision was made to replace the Gampo-Giro with a new pistol, three designs were considered. Jun 14, 2018 A German inspection office was set up there for use with both Spanish arms and Unique pistols. The first purchases from Spain were Astra 300 and Astra 400 pistols – the 300s were fine, but in.380 and.32 caliber. The 400 was a more suitable service sidearm, but it was chambered for the 9x23mm cartridge which Germany did not use. Beginning 1995 the Spanish proof house implemented a new serial number system.The new system consists of four sets of digits separated by ahyphen. The firstr set is the manufactureres code,the second designates the type of firearm, the thirdset is the firearms chronological number, the fourthset shows the year of mfg.

The pistol was mass-produced and many examples still exist today. The Spanish Navy, along with the German Luftwaffe and the Chilean Navy primarily used the smaller variant Astra 300 and the Wehrmacht later altered the Astra 400 into the Astra 600 to better handle the 9mm Luger. The 400 was considered heavy as in order to handle the power of the 9mm Largo round in a blowback action the 400 had a reinforced slide and tough spring.

History[edit]

The Spanish War Ministry of King Alfonso XIII began tests in 1919 to replace the Campo Giro pistol as the standard military sidearm.^[2] The 9mm Largo Astra modelo 400, patented by Pedro Careaga, was selected for the Spanish Army in August 1921, and was also adopted by other Spanish Armed forces. Astra pistols were supplied to Republican Spain and to the Basque government which controlled the plant until the Bombing of Guernica in April, 1937. Astra pistols were subsequently produced for Nationalist troops, while Republican forces made approximately 22,000 copies of the pistol in Terrassa (marked F. Ascaso) and Valencia (marked RE for Republica Española). Astra production after the civil war was for Nationalist troops except serial numbers 92851 to 98850 for Nazi Germany. Astra continued private production until 1950 even though in 1946 the Spanish military adopted the Star Model A as the standard sidearm.^[2] Spanish military inventories were sold to civilian wholesalers between 1956 and 1965. A total of around 106,175 pistols were produced.^[4]

Mechanics[edit]

The Astra 400 is heavy compared to many contemporary service pistols of the time like the Tokarev TT-33 but is similar in weight and length to the Colt 1911. Yuvraj movie video songs free download free. The Astra 400 was designed to be safe to fire with a simple blowback action unaided by any breech-locking devices.^[5] This is only possible with a heavy slide and strong recoil spring. It was fitted with an internal hammer which was considered very hard to cock.^[5] The pistol also featured grooved finger grips and left sided combined slide lock/safety behind the trigger guard.^[1] The original design was chambered in 9mm Largo, but later variants would be chambered differently so as to better fulfill different military needs.^[5]

Variants[edit]

Astra 600 Pistol Serial Numbers

Astra made some experimental variants of the 400 chambered in 7.63mm Mauser,^[4].32 ACP, and .30 Luger. 9mm Largo rounds were often in short supply outside of Spain. Though several other 9mm cartridges like the 9mm Luger and .380ACP could feed, be fired, and eject successfully,^[3] this was a capability of questionable use where 9mm Largo ammunition was available as chronograph tests show considerably higher muzzle velocities and thus energies with the 9mm Largo than 9mm Luger and .380.^[3] The 9×23mm Steyr cartridge is more similar in dimension to the 9mm Largo than both the 9mm Luger and .380 and performs better as well.^[3]

The Astra 600, a slightly shorter and lighter version of the Astra 400 that is chambered in 9mm Luger,^[6] was later developed for export sales, primarily to Nazi Germany.^[1] A smaller variant for both domestic and export sales, the Astra 300, was offered in .32 ACP and .380 ACP. By the end of 1947 171,300 were made and were primarily issued to security forces of the Spanish Navy and the German Luftwaffe.^[4]

Users[edit]

• Algeria: Astra Models 300 and 400^[7]
• Chile^[2]
• Republic of China: Used in small numbers during the Second Sino-Japanese War.^[8]
• Finland: Astra Model 300 used by Finnish Civil Guard during World War 2.^[9]
• France^[4]
• Germany^[1]
• Spanish State^[5]

Notes[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdFowler, AnthonyPistols, Revolvers, and Submachine Guns (2007) pp.136
2. ^ ^abcdAntaris, Leonardo M. American Rifleman (December 2008) pp.58-68
3. ^ ^abcdHolt Bodinson (April 2008), 'Spain's Astra 400: a major caliber blowback semiauto', Guns Magazine
4. ^ ^abcdHogg, Ian Pistols of the World (2004) pp.111
5. ^ ^abcdMcnab, Chris The Great Book of Guns (2004) pp.145
6. ^Smith, W.H.B. Book of Pistols and Revolvers (1968) pp.374
7. ^'World Infantry Weapons: Algeria'. 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
8. ^Shih, Bin (2018). China's Small Arms of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). pp. 71–72.
9. ^'Revolvers & Pistols, part 4'. 22 April 2018.

References[edit]

• Antaris, Leonardo M. (2008). American Rifleman. 19 (2): 58–68.Missing or empty |title= (help)
• Fowler, Anthony; Stronge, Charles (2007), Pistols, Revolvers, and Submachine Guns, JG Press, ISBN1-57215-595-7
• Hogg, Ian; Walter, John (2004), Pistols of the World, Krause Publications, ISBN0-87349-460-1
• McNab, Chris (2004), The Great Book of Guns, Thunder Bay Press, ISBN1-59223-304-X
• Peterson, Philip (2011), Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide, Krause Publications, ISBN978-1-4402-1451-6
• Smith, W. H. B.; Smith, Joseph E. (1968), Book of Pisols and Revolvers, Stackpole Company, pp. 370–374

External links[edit]

As indicated above it is not clear as to when the name Victoria was changed to Astra on the 6.35 mm. pistols, and it may well be that both names were used for some time. Specimen No. 251,141 which is identical to the pistol marked Victoria No. 229,363 bears the name Astra, as do those of this design produced subsequently. This Astra specimen is marked „1924 Model.' Actually there was no 1924 Model, the designation simply indicates the year in which it was made. When the Banco de Pruebas (Proof House) began to function it required that completed pistols be stamped with the year of manufacture. Pistols which were unblued were stamped with the Spanish proof marks, without the year.

The name Astra had previously been used on the 7.65 mm. pistol (No. 925, for example) which bears the inscription

7.65 mm. 1911 MODEL AUTOMATIC PISTOL - ASTRA PATENT

The brand name Astra was not actually registered until November 25, 1914, hence it appears that the name was used prior to official registration, a practice not uncommon. Many Spanish pistols bear the word PATENT though no patent was issued. In passing, it may be remarked that at least one other Spanish manufacturer pirated the name Astra, and this may have been the reason for the registration, i.e., protection. The author owns a 7.65 mm. pistol bearing the name Astra which obviously is not an Esperanza y Unceta product (though similar in design), as it is very inferior in workmanship and does not have the word HOPE on the barrel - a distinguishing feature of the early production of this firm.

The early 1911 Victoria and the 1911 Astra pistols did not have a grip safety. The grip safety is reported, in recent correspondence with the firm, to have been introduced at Serial No. 233,460 (year not stated). Presumably the pistol was made in both forms, with and without this additional safety device, as the 6.35 mm. specimens No. 251,141 and No. 269,399 (the latter owned by the author) do not have the grip safety. No. 296,446 in the same caliber does have a grip safety.

Model 200-Recent correspondence from the firm also states that the Mod. 200 (a „new model' having a grip safety) includes the 6.35 mm. pistols numbered in the following serial number blocks: 233,460-317,350; 500,001-506,000; 648,601-663,300; 678,001710,000; 722,001-759,500; and 780,001-785,300 (Figs. 103, 104).

The statement is made that with the introduction of this new model (in May 1920) the use of the word HOPE on the barrel was discontinued. This statement does not seem to correspond to some facts, however, as specimens with serial numbers as high as 269,399 (specimen owned by the author) have the word HOPE on the barrel and are of the earlier design. Evidently both the earlier and the 200 design were made simultaneously.

Pistols in the 200 Series appeared with several finishes, and to distinguish between them they were designated as Models 200, 200/1, 200/2, 200/3, etc., depending on the kind and extent of engraving. Specimens of Mod. 200 with serial numbers approaching 900,000 have been examined and measured, so production of this model did not cease at No. 785,300 as might be inferred from the statement above concerning numbering blocks. This model is sold in the U.S. under the names Astra Fire Cat and Astra Fire Cat CE (engraved).

Astra 400 Pistol Serial Numbers

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