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Here are some photos of it: Holster Astra Logo Astra 600 Proofmarks Barrel Stamp Here's my Astra . Now if you find one with a serial number below 10,500, that was a Nazi issue piece. This is a Navy release according to Astra's conventions. It's made of a hard polymer and comes in two sizes, each of those having two graduated bearing surfaces. The result was the Astra 600/43, basically a model 400 rechambered for 9x19mm. To be certain that your example is original, it needs to be in the correct serial range and have the right side of the tang marked with waffenamt that consists of a E/WaAD20. Customized M600 with ventilated slide and modified safety. Gun #: 925524428. Its just thin and doesnt displace recoil well. This is very rear pistol in good condition. The leather is crisp and clean, with an interior maker stamp and waffen proof stamp embossed in the leather. The left side of the frame is marked with several Spanish proofs including the date code "0". They can be identified by a Waffenamt stamping on the right rear grip. It would have more value and interest if it saw use with the Germans in World War II, and if the numbers were the same. Cultivate your knowledge of firearms with books in the WorthPoint Library. Eventually The Astra 400 had a 5.9-inch barrel and was chambered in the underappreciated 9mm Largo. The first group of Model 600s (up to serial number 10,500) which The Model 600 had a internal hammer and fired with an unlocked breech, blowback mechanism. The company produced high-end 1911-pattern pistols in addition to AR-15 rifles for the civilian, law enforcement, and military market in Europe, Central, and South America. In 2008, a Swiss firearms maker located in the city of Sion adopted the name Astra Arms S.A. and took over the rights to the Astra trademark. Want to add to your collection? [7], The Astra 600s that were sold to the German military during World War II are commonly referred to as "first contract" Astra 600s. In the late '70s and '80s, the company faced a decline in sales that led to the 1998 merger of Astra y Unceta Cia and the bankrupt Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A. I recently picked up my dads Astra 9mm, I am needing help with some of the markings. The demand of new ASTRA 600 pistol's has risen 1 units over the past 12 months. Manufactured by Unceta y Cia, Guernica, Spain, from 1942 until 1948 as a substitute pistol for use in the German military service. pried out rather than punched out. Unlike the test pistols, the production guns had their slide marked with the Astra U/C logo. In the course of disassembly you should ensure that the major components should be stamped with a matching number. Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 877.481.5750, Relevant Firearms and Accessories Articles, Great Discoveries: Magnet Fisherman Finds Antique Gun, Collecting German World War II Infantry Weapons, Astra's variants in uppercase inside a double line circle, 2020 Standard Catalog of Firearms: The Collectors Price & Reference Guide, Auto-Ordnance Corp. Firearms Manufacturer, Auto Mag Corporation Firearm Manufacturer. 2023 - WorthPoint Corporation | 5 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 2900. Conversion kits, consisting of an extra barrel and slide, were also available to convert the Model 4000 to .22 Serial numbers were stamped on frame, slide, and barrel. These are serial number 44,501 to 45,300. This is very rear pistol in good condition. In 1943 the Nazis ordered and paid for 50,000 guns, and deliveries started in 1944. The P date code places manufacture in 1945. Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297, If it's a 9mm Parabellum, then it's an Astra 600. Astra army list. It had an unusually strong recoil spring that caused a stiff trigger pull. Some of this information came from PMs from other forum members, so credit it due to them, albeit anonymously. JavaScript is disabled. In other cases, I've seen the full 5-digit number. However, I rocked and rolled with a modern, super tactical two-handed stance and had no major ergonomic issues. [6] Around fifteen pistols were manufactured to fire .32 ACP. The Model 400 eliminated the crossbolt that fixed the slide to the frame of the That supports the belief that the pistols were stamped by the Germans upon receipt, not at the factory. Excellent action. GUERNICA ESPAA. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. What I love about surplus guns is the fact its a living, mechanical piece of history. The manual safety sits in front of the grip and rotates upwards. I doubt that a mix up occurred while the property of the German police. The Astra 600 was a Spanish semi-automatic pistol used during World War II by the Wehrmacht. The extractor, grip Reply . Picked up an unusual, but solid Astra 600 9mm :) Jump to Latest Follow Follow Great piece of shootable history . scarce outside of Spain. The 600 magazine has a tab protruding from the right hand side of the floor plate to assist removing the magazine. These pistols were delivered to German Army via the Spanish-French border before it was closed by the Allies. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. strafing of Guernica on April 26, 1937 destroyed three-quarters of the city but spared the Astra factory. 1 Pistols 2 Rifles 3 Machine guns 4 Submachine guns 5 Anti-tank weapons 6 Other Weapons 7 See also 8 External links 9 References Pistols Rifles Machine guns Submachine guns Anti-tank weapons Other Weapons See also List of equipment used in World War II List of World War II Luftwaffe aircraft weapons List of aircraft of the World War II Luftwaffe M600 #21872, that was never delivered to the German military, should only have had the usual post war markings. Legacy Collectibles strives to provide quality investment-grade military collectibles to an appreciative public. I will post pics tonight. ASTRA 600 NAZI MARKED RIG WITH CONDOR LEGION MEDAL. Toward the end of the Spanish Civil War the German Condor Legion joint task force ordered Astra Model 300 pistols for their pilots. AN ASTRA 600 pistol is currently worth an average price of $707.08 used . Taurus Marketing Manager Caleb Giddings highlights the features of the new Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum, a purpose-built revolver with a 10.5-inch barrel and an effective recoil-taming brake, with Guns & Ammo Executive Editor Joe Kurtenbach. All rights reserved.Click on the pictures to open a larger version in a new window. lugerlou, I believe I understand your thinking, but Im not sure it really solves the mystery. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. In January 1938, the German Heereswaffenamt requested a lightweight, compact, rapid firing 9 mm weapon for paratroopers and armored crews. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. It did come with the correct black leather full flap police/military type holster. ASTRA 600/43 600 HOLSTER 9x19 mm - Genuine militaria Contact Us About me Facebook Menu CUT RECEIVER PARTS MAGAZINES PISTOLS ASTRA BAYARD BERETTA BERGMANN LIGNOSE BERNARDELLI BROWNING CARPATI CEBRA RUBY CLEMENT COLT CZ DELU DREYSE DWM ERMA ESPERANCA UNCETA FEINWERKBAU FEMARU FROMMER FEG GALESI GLISENTI HAENEL HAMMERLI HECKLER KOCH HI STANDARD The used value of an ASTRA 600 pistol has risen $50.41 dollars over the past 12 months to a price of $707.08 . Handgun Manufacturer Detail Astra www.genitron.com. The O with + , I'm thinking date, if they used the letter O ( some manufactures don't because it is easily mistaken for a Q ) perhaps the + is to differentiate the difference between a O and a Q. I'm sure on of the more Astra knowledge posters can tell you. The black leather is completely in tact - as is the original stitching. The company submitted their Pistola de 9 millimeters Modelo 1921 for the army trials. If it's a 9mm Parabellum, then it's an Astra 600. [1] A smaller variant for both domestic and export sales, the Astra 300, was offered in .32 ACP and .380 ACP. Call me a fudd, but these days an old surplus pistol like the Astra appeals to me a lot more than the latest 5.56 caliber AR 15 or polymer frame striker-fired pistol. I have one Astra 600 above 10500 that is LPBN marked on the grip strap. I understand that above 10500 were not delivered to the Germans during the war and most were sold to West Germany post-war for use by the police. The overall condition is nearing fine. Pictures would sure help in a question like this. These were in the serial number range of 501-10,500, delivered to the Germans and stamped with German waffenamts. The grip height on the 4000 is a slightly greater than the 300 (by Neither of the magazines are numbered. Ben Voss FN Product Manager talks about the new FN SCAR 15P ultra-compact rifle-caliber pistol at SHOT Show 2023. Looking to possibly sell for right price. The magazine release on the Model 300 was moved to the lower left side grip. First, make the slide massive and heavy. It was discontinued in 1956, with a total production of 44,389. The weapon uses a removable magazine thats single stack and holds eight rounds. I dont think the question I was posing is clear; I'll try again. 3/12/19 - This is a very nice and honest example of a scarce Astra 600 that is waffen marked and part of the first Nazi contract for these pistols. Standard 9mm and NOT 9mm Largo. Subscriber Services. 1933-1945: Mauser Lugers. Astra designed military holsters. It is by far not the worst military surplus pistol I have ever shot (the Argentine HP on the other hand. Esperanza left the firm to start his own business. . During World War I, the company got started with an order for approximately 150,000 Ruby-type semi-automatic pistols. The Model 300 was never an official military pistol, but it was often preferred to the larger 400, and was widely used by Later production guns which were exported were usually stamped MADE IN SPAIN. Not bad for a bottom-mounted magazine release. The numbered magazine, barrel bushing and barrel bushing lock were numbered post-war, presumably by the LBPN armorer. The post-war numbered parts beyond what was done in the Astra factory is somewhat unique and presumably done by the LBPN. So, if the magazine is numbered, view the gun with suspicion. German: Foreign Mfg. In 1943, the Germans ordered a large quantity of the newly co-designed Spanish Astra 600s in 9x19 mm, essentially a scaled down version of the model 400 (M1921). The grip angle isnt an issue. Model 300, which differed from the one on the base of the Model 400 grip. The Astra had crisp recoil. I believe that the GB magazine you reference is post-war German police numbered magazine from an LBPN marked Astra. He is a. In my 20 or so years collecting I only came across an Astra 600 once, and I passed on it because the guy was way too proud of it and would not budge on the price, primarily because of the German markings. A rare few featured smooth wooden grips. Early Falcons were fitted with black or brown checkered plastic grips with the Astra logo and the word Falcon in a scroll. Theproof on the right tang was applied by the Germans after acceptance of the guns in France. The Bomb with "P" means the pistol was fired 4 times with the correct loading for the gun. Smaller quantities were sent to the Philippines, Costa Rica, Egypt and other countries. I have one myself. There is no way to know if it saw Wehrmacht service before the end of the war. Here is what I have learned and why it is likely that dual WaAD20 / LBPN markings occurred. Posts: 3420 | Location: Western PA | Registered: July 20, 2010: IP screws, and magazine release were fire blued. Serial 31XXX (frame) was manufactured for the German contract but never left Spain during the war. The German military placed a large order chambered in both calibers. (6.35 x 16mm). Find the Value of your Astra Pistols. The barrels of these early pistols were stamped PIST PATR 08. As WWII pistols escalated in value, unscrupulous vendors began to fake Nazi markings. The Astra trademark was adopted on November 25, 1914. I can post pictures if you are interested. The 600 was basically a variant of the 9mm Largo Model 400. Chambered for the .380 ACP (9mm Kurz) or the .32 ACP (7.65mm), The result was the MP 38, a revolutionary submachine gun design which . Spotted this at the gun auction from hell and decided to take a chance on it due to the condition. Only 19 Model 700 prototypes were made, as the Spanish military did not approve the pistol for use. What is the likely scenario for multiple WaAD20 marked Astra 600s to also find their way into use post-war and also get LBPN marked. If you think Im missing something, let me know. I thought it looked hideous, so I added the wood grips. Sales of the Model 4000 were never robust in the U.S., and Ive taken to collecting Astra 600s the past couple of years. We buy and sell collectible firearms and militaria ranging from the Civil War to Desert Storm, specializing in WW1 & WW2. frame, a grip safety operated by a flat spring, and a Browning-designed Colt-style disconnector. These were exported to Nazi Germany and were also sold on the civilian market. 10/1/18 - This is an original WW2 era production Astra model 600 holster. Illustrated catalogue, Pistols and guns, the property of B. Skou, Esq. The new big bore pistols feature industry-first capacity, with a standard 15-round capacity and 22+1 rounds of 10mm or 18+1 rounds of .45 ACP from the extended magazines. longer than the Model 300, but the barrel length is the same. Have you entertained the thought that an inspector from the German procurement offices could have been stationed in Spain looking after both Star and Astra contracts, the Germans had a hand in the 600 design. RJK. Upon receipt by Germany, the guns were acceptance stamped with an E/WaAD20 on the right tang and issued with black leather holsters, stitched with white cotton thread, that held an extra unnumbered magazine. No visible import markings.Manufacturer: AstraModel / Generation: 600/43Date of Mfg: VintageCaliber: 9mmType of Action: S What might be surprising is the accuracy of the Astra 600. ZEV Technologies Launches Core Combat Rifle Series, Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner and a lifelong firearms enthusiast. This pistol was delivered on July 16 of 1944 in the last batch of Nazi ordered Astra 600s, and it retains about 95-97% of the original blue with minor edge wear, and a couple small areas of finish loss on the trigger guard and front strap. The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. The major drawbacks of the Model 400 are its heavy recoil spring which makes retracting the slide difficult, and a heavy trigger pull. The Best of both worlds: After nearly 4 years of waiting, Dan Wesson's DWX is here. I assume by the serial number that this was a post WWII German Police Pistol although there are no markings on the holster or the gun other then printed in ink on the inside flap of the holster is the name Menzel which sure sounds German to me. LPN and LBPN marked Astra 600s are not uncommon, but one like 8901 that is also WaAD20 proofed, is, in my observation, quite unusual. The 600 was a 9x19mm version of the Spanish Army's Astra 400, which was chambered in 9x23mm Largo. The 300 was a smaller "pocket" version chambered in 9 mm Corto (.380 A.C.P. Company commanders share the company marking but are not part of a platoon, so, A00. Firac, Sterling, Colorado: In 1941, Astra sold 6000 Model 400 pistols to the German military (along with the first order of 6000 Model 300s). The Judge has been promoted! 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. I dont believe that there are any known examples of serial numbers above 10500 with genuine WaAD20 stampings. They work, at least for shooting at a square range. Our goal is to encourage collectors by providing honest descriptions, fair prices, and the best customer service. I'm glad the plastic ones were broken.I don't feel bad about changing them! Manufacturing of the 600 started in 1943. As you may know, Franco didn't capture complete power until, with the help of German and Italian intervention, 1939. Copyright 2008 by Ed Buffaloe. ultimately sold commercially. Later Model 600 pistols did not have the Astra logo at all, and were marked on the rear of the slide The pistol developed quite a reputation for this capability, and in France, it was given the nickname mange-tout, meaning "eats everything." The condition doesn't suggest much to me. It's not inexpensive, but the value of the book is extremely high. Finally, about 7 or 8 years ago Hansen Cartridge Company imported a group of Astra 600s from Portugal - these were Portuguese Navy marked. As you note, this explains why most are not import marked; all pre 68. The first shipments were sent between October and November 1941 and consisted of 6,000 M400 (1921) pistols in 9mm Largo (Bergmann) and 6,000 M300 pistols in 9mm Corto (.380ACP). Maybe the simplest answer is the most likely; someone built an Astra from otherwise unserviceable parts. The tubular design certainly stands out among the squarish 1911s, Hi-Powers, and revolvers of the day. Your 31XXX frame was most certainly sold to West Germany in the early 1950s, so with very high certainly, your mismatched frame and slide were not together for the first five or six years of their existence, and maybe much longer. At 8.1-inches overall with a very distinctive 5.3-inch barrel, the 600 was a chunky gun,. Approximately 59,400 Astra 600s were manufactured before production ceased.