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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.

1. Astra Pistol Serial Numbers
2. Astra Pistols For Sale - Guns International

Welcome to my overview due to the variety of pistols for the German Wehrmacht. The Astra 300 was procured in the calibers 7,65 mm and 9 mm short by the Wehrmacht in France. Only the 9 mm variation has an German military acceptance stamp. Serial number: 6-digit number right on frame. 6-digit number right on slide. According to the Astra production figures, serial 34319 was probably made in 1951. In the world of Astra, that counts as pretty solid confirmation. That would be consistent with the serial number of this gun, 12713 (maybe), which would make us suspect that she was made in 1928. The proof stamps are all on the left side of this gun.

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).

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The Astra 600 was a Spanish semi-automatic pistol used during World War II by the Wehrmacht. Designed by Unceta y Cia, it was a shortened version of the Astra 400 manufactured to fire 9×19mm Parabellum, which was the standard pistol ammunition for Germany at the time. The Astra 600 was designated the Pistole Astra 600/43 when used by the German Military during World War II. Approximately 59,400 Astra 600s were manufactured before production ceased.

History[edit]

In 1943 the German government requested Unceta y Cia redesign the Astra 400 to fire the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. In late 1943, fifty examples of the newly designed Astra 600 were sent to Germany and were approved for issue to German armed forces,^[3] receiving the designation Pistole Astra 600/43.^[4] Approximately 50,000 were ordered by Germany, with the first delivery of 2,950 pistols taking place on 16 May 1944. A second shipment of 5,000 pistols reached Germany on 23 June, and a final shipment of 2,500 pistols were shipped to Germany on 16 July 1944.^[3] Supply to Germany stopped when German occupation of the border between Spain and France ceased and supply lines were cut.^[5] The Astra 600s that could not be delivered to the German government during World War II were then stored by the Spanish government.^[6] Small quantities of pistols were sold to Turkey, Portugal, Chile, and Costa Rica until 1951,^[7] when the remaining Astra 600s were sold to West Germany. Those pistols were extensively used by West German police forces until the late 1960s when Interarms purchased the remaining pistols for export to the United States civilian market.^[6]

Design[edit]

Modeled off the Astra 400, the Astra 600 had a similar design and internal mechanism to its predecessor. The Model 600 had a hammerless design and fired with an unlocked breech, blowback mechanism. It had an unusually strong recoil spring that caused a stiff trigger pull.^[6] The strong spring could make it difficult for individuals with weak hands to retract the slide making disassembly and cleaning difficult.^[6] Around fifteen pistols were manufactured to fire .32 ACP.^[7]

Markings[edit]

The Astra 600s that were sold to the German military during World War II are commonly referred to as 'first contract' Astra 600s. They can be identified by a Waffenamt stamping on the right rear grip. The colloquially known 'second contract' pistols were the batch sold to West Germany and can be identified by having a serial number 31,350 and above.^[7] Pistols sold to the Portuguese Navy were marked with the abbreviation 'MRP' on the upper left part of the slide.^[8]

Users[edit]

• Nazi Germany
• Portugal
• Turkey
• West Germany^[7]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

Astra Pistol Serial Numbers

1. ^Gangarosa Jr, GeneSpanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers (2001) pp.148
2. ^ ^abcdeHogg, Ian Pistols of the World (2004) pp.412
3. ^ ^abGangarosa Jr, GeneSpanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers (2001) pp.139
4. ^Kinard, JeffPistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact (2003) pp.250
5. ^Hogg, Ian Pistols of the World (2004) pp.355
6. ^ ^abcdGangarosa Jr, GeneSpanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers (2001) pp.140
7. ^ ^abcdGangarosa Jr, GeneSpanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers (2001) pp.148
8. ^Gangarosa Jr, GeneSpanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers (2001) pp.149

Astra Pistols For Sale - Guns International

References[edit]

• Hogg, Ian; Walter, John (2004). Pistols of the World (4th ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. ISBN0-87349-460-1.
• Kinard, Jeff (2003). Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN1-85109-470-9.
• Gangarosa Jr., Gene (2001). Spanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers. Accokeek, Maryland: Stoeger Publishing Company. ISBN0-88317-223-2.