STAR Model B

9mm

Description

Original & fully matching, including the magazine! Offered for sale is this hard to find WW2 era Spanish STAR Model B, which were manufactured by Franco's Nationalist (Fascist) Spanish government & exported to various AXIS countries during & immediately post WW2 including Germany, where we found this gun. This pistol is chambered for 9mm Parabellum (not 9mm Largo). Back in the 1920's the company began to develop semi-automatic pistols, based on the Browning-designed Colt M1911 design. These pistols are recoil operated, locked breech, single action pistols that were Browning-designed & used the linked barrel locking principle. These pistols were similar in appearance & action to the original M1911, but chambered for 9x19mm Luger. During WW2, the STAR factory produced numerous hand guns for Axis & other 'aligned countries' including Nazi Germany & Bulgaria. This was a good source of foreign currency for the Spanish who were still recovering from the Spanish Civil War (SCW) , plus it was a good opportunity for Franco to suck up to Hitler who was mad that Franco refused to join the war against the Allies despite Germany's support during the SCW. The full-sized guns such as the Model B were issued to German Police & "certain military units", often for use in occupied territories. In general, lower-priority organizations such as the police could not get first line German-made weapons during the war, so external contracts such as this are not unusual. The “Cal. 08” marked on the top of the barrel, over the last 3 digits of the serial number indicated it is the 9mm ammunition as used in the P.08, further supporting this was an export gun. Regarding the proof marks, the helmet over the X indicates admission to (receipt at) proof house (Used after July 9 1931). Secondly, the P in the circle indicates passing of proof test – Automatic pistol from Eibar proof house (Used after December 14, 1929). Finally, the X with an asterisks over it indicates year of proof which we think is 1952. Across the slide it is stamped "STAR B. ECHEVERRIA" & then underneath that is "EIBAR-ESPANA" & at the end of it all is "S.A. CAL 9mm". The first part of this inscription identifies the pistol as the Star Model B that was manufactured by ECHEVERRIA. The next part of this stamp, "EIBAR-ESPANA" indicates that the firearm was manufactured in the Eibar region of Spain. The abbreviation "S.A." is basically the Spanish equivalent of "inc." or incorporated. These are great guns that feel good in the hand & point naturally which until recently have been overlooked by many collectors of WW2 era military handguns. If you see a STAR Model B with Nazi stamps on it don't walk away, run as this is almost certainly a fake. It is known a Dutch dealer fraudulently applied Waffenamts to a large number of Bulgarian contract Model B's in the 2000's before importing them into the US at an inflated price. These guns, although desirable in their own right as examples of this very cool pistol, are now worth substantially less than an original, unmolested gun such as this example. All these pistols have the last 3 digits of the serial number on all major components, as this example has & all numbers fully match, including the magazine! Our research shows that the LPN stamp on the front strap indicates post War use by the Landespolizei Niedersachsen Polizei (West German Ministry of the Interior of Lower Saxony, Hanover, West Germany). Do your own research & you will know if this is for you. Please view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired. This has a barrel length of 127mm so is completely club legal. Shoot service pistol with this & see the heads turn! We think we have described it accurately & correctly but do not claim to be infallible so if we have got anything wrong, it is unintentional & are happy for feedback. Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & this is sold on an 'as is' basis. As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting. We have a pretty unique refund policy on our collectable guns whereby we will refund your money if it is not as described when you receive it. Just let us know before you decide to send it back. Call for shipping cost to your dealer.

Specifications