Many will have German acceptance marks. If it's a 9mm Parabellum, then it's an Astra 600. The rear sight is dovetailed in, making it adjustable for windage. Currently, all production consists of rifles for law enforcement and military use. 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. The used value of an ASTRA 600 pistol has risen $7.73 dollars over the past 12 months to a price of $707.08 . Astra 600s were already being deployed extensively and perhaps the WaAD20 marked pistols were just another needed Astra 600, perhaps a no cost to them (pure speculation). The magazine release was a button located in the lower rear corner of E-mail Webmaster This group of pistols is sometime referred to by collectors as the First Contract.. 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. The Nazi Wehrmacht needed more pistols. 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. In 1943 the Nazis ordered and paid for 50,000 guns, and deliveries started in 1944. They endedup being cached by the Spanish who peddled them to West Germany where they saw a degree of police use. The earliest Model 400s (Type I) had the original E/U logo atop the slide and were marked on the rear slide ESPERANZA Y UNCETA, GUERNICA ESPAA, PISTOLA DE 9 m/m, MODELO 1921. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, SOLD - Excellent Astra 600 - Nazi Contract, 73 Plank Ave Paoli, It probably no coincident that the Spanish were interested in unloading the 30,000+ pistols made for the Germans in 1944. No visible import markings.Manufacturer: AstraModel / Generation: 600/43Date of Mfg: VintageCaliber: 9mmType of Action: S How much military service it saw is anybodys guess. All Rights Reserved. The "O" means 1944 manufacture. Some Second Contract Astra 600s carry only original factory markings, while others have more extensive additional numbering. A final caveat, as mentioned above, none of the magazines were numbered. on the slide. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. Two Spanish firms (perhaps more, but only two responded) were invited by the government to submit self-loading pistols for Astra has gone through several iterations, and the name still survives with a company based in Switzerland. Astra-Unceta y Cia S.A., more commonly referred to as Astra, got its start in July of 1908 as a company to sell all types of machinery. Now that his days of working a 240B like Charlie Parker on the sax are over he's a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. The "O" is the year code. Spotted this at the gun auction from hell and decided to take a chance on it due to the condition. Military Service Gun Digest, 1974Astra Models 400, 600, & 300, by Robert T. Shimek. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=207222954. The Astra 600, for example, is one of the best surplus handguns you can still get for a reasonable price. Check out our holster collection with over 50 styles, models, colors and markings to choose from! 600s were brought into the US in the 1960s. This is very rear pistol in good condition. Due to its grip tang and widened lower grip, the Model 4000 is about 2/10 inch Cultivate your knowledge of firearms with books in the WorthPoint Library. However, my Model 300 only has the serial number digits in this location. Small, simple, and not the fastest sights for combat shooting. it may not be original to the gun, but the magazine is an original Astra magazine. I kept all the special and heavy weapons teams different (so they can be moved around and subbed into any squad): HM1-HM3 for the mortar teams, SP1-SP8 for the 8 . At 8.1-inches overall with a very distinctive 5.3-inch barrel, the 600 was a chunky gun,. In all likelihood, post-war, it was carried by a German veteran of WWII doing his service in the LBPN. . 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. Spanish Astra 600/43 9mm Pistol w Import Marks in Good Working Condition. MOD. I picked up this very nice condition Astra model 600/43 West German police contract pistol & holster rig last weekend. Either not all Astra 600s made it into police use or not all were marked. German: Foreign Mfg. The Model 400 magazine has no such tab on the side (s). The left grip cracked from the screw The company was founded as Esperanza y Unceta by Juan Esperanza and Pedro Unceta. The Astra 600 was a Spanish semi-automatic pistol used during World War II by the Wehrmacht. The Astra I have is a civilian model, and it originally came with white plastic grips, with the Astra logo. At some point, presumably before the Gun Control Act of 1968 due to lack of an import mark, the unique Astra 600/43 found its way to the U.S. 2019 RJK Ventures LLC. Personally, it provides a more memorable experience at the range than your standard handgun. rigorous testing to become Spains standard military handgun. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. The 600 was a 9x19mm version of the Spanish Army's Astra 400, which was chambered in 9x23mm Largo. Serial number 33925. It works with a simple blowback system, which is as simple as it gets. Sharp markings. In addition, they are extremely reliable. The bomb with the P is the Eibar proof for semiautomatic pistols. The recoil spring was long and stiff and the slide was made thick and heavy to handle recoil from the powerful cartridge. strafing of Guernica on April 26, 1937 destroyed three-quarters of the city but spared the Astra factory. About 8000 were delivered (and Nazi marked) before the Nazi retreat from France so Astra built the rest of the guns and stored them. Now if you find one with a serial number below 10,500, that was a Nazi issue piece. Company commanders share the company marking but are not part of a platoon, so, A00. Meet the all-new Taurus Judge Executive Grade, a revolver featuring a hand-polished satin finish, presentation-grade wood grips, a brass rod front sight and an exceptional hand-tuned trigger. The Astra 600 was a Spanish semi-automatic pistol used during World War II by the Wehrmacht. The s/n falls in with the batch that was sold to the West German Police after WW II. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. and fire in it, including the 9mm Steyr, the 9mm Parabellum, the .38 Auto, and even the semi-rimmed 9mm Browning Long. SS1908-137 . I call that the High Point way. The first 10500 were delivered over a period of a couple of months, putting the last deliveries right on top of the invasion of France. The majority of these holsters were made by Freidrich Offerman and Soehne of Bensberg, whose military code, dkk, was marked on the obverse side along with the last two digits of the issue year. 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 Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. It was later struck with fraudulent Nazi police proofs on the right tang and left trigger guard web. Thanks Roger, that makes sense! Amongst todays collectors, the Astra M600, in the Nazi serial range, is one of the more desirable of the military procurement pistols. WOW! black checkered plastic. Its a single-action design thats quite effective. I understand that serial numbers up to 10500 were delivered to the Germans and WaAD20 accepted on the right tang. With the Astra 600, the barrel was trimmed to 5.3-inches and obviously chambered to the round of choice. In short order, Astra introduced the M600, a single-action, internal hammer blowback pistol that was a scaled-down M400 (1921) fitted with an M300/M400 (1921) Navy magazine release. This pistol had an external hammer, no grip safety, and plastic grips. Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. I once owned a Star B that was LPN marked and had the remnants of the WaAD20 on the tang. This is about an Astra 600/43 with an unusual history. They were put together and you have your mismatch. Ruger's multi-role small frame autoloading rifle - Sear - combines AR-10 power with AR-15 Portability. A community dedicated to Lugers, Central Powers, Axis, Allied and related WW-I and WW-II pistols by their scholars, collectors, owners and enthusiasts. They can be identified by a Waffenamt stamping on the right rear grip. I Have This Old Gun: Astra Model 300 www.americanrifleman.com. external hammer and the elimination of the grip safety. The range places the piece in a batch that was intended for the Nazis, but never delivered. Technically a First Contract firearm, 8901 also lived the life of a Second Contract firearm being used by the LBPN for many years following the war. Co., Harrisburg, PA: 1946.Spanish Handguns, by Gene Gangarosa Jr. Stoeger, Accokeek, Maryland: 2001.Model 400 Manual. The Astra 600 uses an internal hammer thats not evident by the weapons appearance. Here is what I have learned and why it is likely that dual WaAD20 / LBPN markings occurred. New . The pistol is chambered for 9mm Largo but was designed to interchangeably fire 9mm Luger, 9mm Steyr, 9mm Browning Long, and .380 A.C.P. Copyright 2008 by Ed Buffaloe. Co.: 1998.The Evolution of Military Automatic Pistols, by Gordon Bruce. The new company was known as A.S.T.A.R., but it ended operations by the end of 1988. Overall, it looks good; my guess is85 to 90 percent for the condition and bluing. The early Astra logo consisted of the word ASTRA with the suns rays at Buy Astra 600/43 9mm Luger 5.25" Single-Action Pistol 1945 Waffenamt C&R: GunBroker is the largest seller of Semi Auto Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 984381531 . 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). 04-07-2021, 10:48 AM #5. Mine is a 24000 block of number so not an issued number. The 600 was basically a variant of the 9mm Largo Model 400. Due to the number of government orders for the firearm, the company moved to a new factory in Guernica. General Firearms Forum. Produced by Unceta y Compania S.A. Guernica Espana in 1945 as indicated by the Spanish date code "p". UNCETA Y COMPAIA S.A., GUERNICA ESPAA, ASTRA MOD. When the WaAD20 marked Astras were used by the LBPN, they were so marked and thus the dual-markings. I would have thought that most of the WaAD20 pistols were war trophies or destroyed. I'll get back to that. Well, most of them are still reasonable. The grips seem to be made of a hard black plastic. 600/43. Serial 8XXX (slide) was a part of a matched Astra 600 when it was delivered to the Germans in 1944 and received its WaAD20 acceptance mark. Of these, 800 were sent to Portugal, 450 to Chile, 200 to Jordan and 200 to Turkey. E/U abbreviated the company name, Esperanza y Unceta. . 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). marked 765 m/m. I dont think the question I was posing is clear; I'll try again. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. I have one myself. Manufacturing of the 600 started in 1943. Various Types Of 12 Gauge Buckshot: The Buck Stops Here! Smith. Model: ASTRA Model 600/43. Wish now that I hadn't sold itif memory serves me correctly, the small parts were numbered, I suppose by a police armory. I will post pics tonight. That supports the belief that the pistols were stamped by the Germans upon receipt, not at the factory. Serial numbers were stamped on frame, slide, and barrel. Spain was ostensibly neutral in World War II, but favored the Axis powers. Condition: Original, New Old Stock . 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. Otherwise, the gun is nearly identical to its larger predecessor. Theproof on the right tang was applied by the Germans after acceptance of the guns in France. | WWII German Army procurement M600 #10133. AN ASTRA 600 pistol is currently worth an average price of $707.08 used . The manual safety sits in front of the grip and rotates upwards. Beginning in 1929, Type II pistols bear the Astra U/C logo atop the slide and are marked UNCETA Y COMPAIA S.A., GUERNICA ESPAA. Here are some photos of it: Holster Astra Logo Astra 600 Proofmarks Barrel Stamp Here's my Astra . $10.00 RETAIL. Our example has no such markings. Total production of the Model 300 was 153,085. These pistols were delivered to German Army via the Spanish-French border before it was closed by the Allies. Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical Optic-Ready Autoloading Shotgun: First Look, Silencer Central Streamlined Suppressor-Purchasing Process Shakes Up Industry, 7mm Remington Magnum vs. .270 Winchester: Tested and Compared, Revic Optics BR4 Ballistic Rangefinder: Review, Wilson Combat SFX9 5-Inch Solid Frame 9mm Pistol: First Look. The serial number is 14331. 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. View more in our Astra Pistols Price Guide. If so, let me know below. Excellent bore. Pinch the release and pull it out. The Astra Tubular Slide PistolsModel 400, 300, 600, Etc. Now, the mystery. 1933-1945: Mauser Lugers. The left rear of the frame is marked with 3 proofs: a shield with "X", a . TJ. Always wondered how it got to the states? It would seem the same is true for the Star you once owned. . The grip height on the 4000 is a slightly greater than the 300 (by Impressed with the quality of Astras arms, Germany soon made substantial purchases. Go . Model 300s were made in 7.65 and 9mm Kurz (.380) It looks to have the Royal Spanish coat of arms on the grip (s). Any ideas on where to get an extra magazine? Camp Guns: Sometimes Perfect, Other Times Not But Often Essential! The numbered magazine, barrel bushing and barrel bushing lock were numbered post-war, presumably by the LBPN armorer. providing a loaded chamber indicator pin beneath the removable rear sight. Very cool indeed. In 1951, then West Germany purchased post-war, what they couldnt take delivery of during the war, and then some, paying for them a second time. I think this is LBPN practice. Year of Manufacture: 1945 ("* / P" date code) Caliber: 9mm Parabellum. The left side of the slide features a Spanish proof. Unlike the test pistols, the production guns had their slide marked with the Astra U/C logo. If so, can you jump in with a serial number, or at least a partial, and thoughts on this topic? The Waffenamt markings and serial number ranges for Nazi-associated Astra pistols is well known and documented, and pistols falling into these ranges are worth 3-4 times what the unmarked specimens go for. This pistol was taken off a Dead German officer by my uncle in WWII. 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. These pistols were delivered to German Army via the Spanish-French border before it was closed by the Allies. This late M600 was made for the German Police and marked LBPN on the frontstrap. Shortly after Nazi Germany occupied France in July 1941, contacts were established between the German Armed Forces and the Spanish armament industry. ultimately sold commercially. THIRD REICH Proofed Spanish ASTRA Model 600 Semi-Auto 9x19mm GERMAN Pistol 1 of 10,500 WORLD WAR . Designed by Unceta y Cia, it was a shortened version of the Astra 400 manufactured to fire 919mm Parabellum, which was the standard pistol ammunition for Germany at the time. Platoon commanders share the company and platoon markings but are not part of a squad, so, A20. Answer:I also happen to be a fan of the 300/400/600 family of Spanish blowback Astras. Chambered for the .380 ACP (9mm Kurz) or the .32 ACP (7.65mm), The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Francos Spain was officially neutral in the WWII, but provided military support to the Axisin several ways, including the sale of arms. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. This group of pistols with serial numbers greater than 10,500, is sometime referred to by collectors as the Second Contract.. hole down to the bottom of the grip--the single grip screw is obviously set too close to the edge of the grip--this may be the one design flaw on the Model 300. It looked similar, had the same hefty recoil spring surrounding the barrel, but was slightly smaller and chambered in 9mm Parabellum due to an order by the Germans in 1943 who called it the Pistole Astra 600/43. The numbers on your gun should be the same, so somewhere along the line the frame and slide became mismatched. (6.35 x 16mm). Give a Gift The new Dr. Antaris book also has some specifics on the importation of M1921s (400). The safety lever was moved to the tang behind the left grip plate. In 1945 the Astra company updated the Model 400 by lightening the slide, giving it a curved backstrap, moving the magazine release to the left side grip (as on the Models 300 and 600), and Astra designed military holsters. I don't believe that the Astra 600s delivered to the Germans had matching magazines. My own Model 300, which was one of the first 6000 shipped to the Nazis, is beautifully finished and reasonably accurate, with a relatively light trigger pull. The Allied D-Day invasion of Normandy June 6th 1944, over 400 miles to the North of Hendaye, and other Allied actions forced the Germans to retreat from France. While I like enigmas, I think this mismatch is easily explained and doesnt seem all that mysterious to me. 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. As you may know, Franco didn't capture complete power until, with the help of German and Italian intervention, 1939. It works beautifully and only costs about $20. This pistol was very popular and was quickly adopted by the Spanish prison system and the Spanish navy. models. prison service, and the navy. Left side frame under grip marked Unceta y Compania logo and last four digits. I'm guessing that different police armories did things differently. Once WWII was over, the undelivered pistols were forwarded to the Spanish government. The top left rear of the slide is marked ""ASTRA . AN ASTRA 600 pistol is currently worth an average price of $707.08 used . This left Astra holding almost 30,000 finished but undelivered Astra 600/43s. There are a multitude of minor variations of the Model 400, with many different proof and acceptance stamps--for details on these please refer to Mr. Antaris book Astra Automatic Pistols. [1] A smaller variant for both domestic and export sales, the Astra 300, was offered in .32 ACP and .380 ACP. The undelivered pistols were turned over to the Spanish government and later sold in the early 1950s to then West Germany for police use. All the waffenamt procurement pistols, serialed between 51-10500, were stamped WaAD20 on the right tang. No specifics on quantities, except the photos show a freighter and crates stacked 30 feet high on docks and a warehouse. The P date code places manufacture in 1945. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Original finish. Ive taken to collecting Astra 600s the past couple of years. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. [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. The 12 month average price is $707.08 used. Have Astra 600 pistol collected by my grandfather from a dead German soldier during the latter part of WWII. Gun #: 997900301. Picked up an unusual, but solid Astra 600 9mm :) Jump to Latest Follow Follow The demand of new ASTRA 600 pistol's has not changed over the past 12 months. Pictures would sure help in a question like this. New PM! For reasons we made unclear, many of the reworked and redipped guns had their magazines struck with a matching serial number. In 1946 Astra began making this updated version of the Model 300, with a grip that swelled near the bottom, a pushbutton magazine release just behind the trigger on the left side, and a All Rights Reserved. Only 19 Model 700 prototypes were made, as the Spanish military did not approve the pistol for use. Model 300, which differed from the one on the base of the Model 400 grip. I can post pictures if you are interested. Do Pistols Benefit From Popular Aftermarket Modifications? Gun #: 925524428. Afterward, the company was known as Unceta y Compaia, and the logo was changed to have a U at the top and a C at the bottom. OR GRIPS. The WaAD20 pistols were delivered during the war in mid-1944 (~10500 of them). The black leather is completely in tact - as is the original stitching. While it is robust, reliable, and simple, it also has some serious downsidesprimarily the recoil, which well cover a bit later. They do pop up from time to time! The post-war numbered parts beyond what was done in the Astra factory is somewhat unique and presumably done by the LBPN. Tools . Markings: The top right rear of the slide is marked "UNCETA & COMPANIA S.A. / GUERNICA ESPANA". Ejecting the magazine is interesting. It was replaced with the Model 4000. Due to the Allied forces invasion of Southern France, the second order was never delivered, and the remaining production of the Model 600 was lugerlou, I believe I understand your thinking, but Im not sure it really solves the mystery. Tell me if this list is good lol. Pub. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Growing up in the 60s, I remember them on TV shows being used by spies and villains. Excellent bore, bright and rifled. The result was the Astra 600/43, basically a model 400 rechambered for 9x19mm. Early grips were made of horn, hard rubber, or mottled brown plastic, with the Astra logo on the upper half. Subsequently, nearly half They also shipped larged quantities of 9mm Largo ammunition with the pistols. (non-P08) Pistols & Holsters. The Astra had crisp recoil. Serial numbers are stamped on the right slide and frame. Markings: The left side of the slide behind the serrations is marked with a "P" in a bomb, a Spanish proof mark, indicating the gun passed inspection. The postwar German-used Astras sometimes have additional parts numbered to the gun that were not numbered by the Spanish Astra factory, most commonly magazines, and sometimes the barrel bushing and barrel bushing lock. I'm thinking they were brought over sometime in the early 60's? The weapon has a grip safety, a magazine safety, and a manual safety. M600 #21872, that was never delivered to the German military, should only have had the usual post war markings. The sale of pistols by Spain to Germany for police use occurred in the early 50s, at least 5-6 years later. 5x Tempestus Scion 5x Frag & Krak grenades, 5x Hot-shot Lasgun. shape and magazine release of the Model 3000. Designed by Unceta y Cia, it was a shortened version of the Astra 400 manufactured to fire 919mm Parabellum, which was the standard pistol ammunition for Germany at the time. Germany designated the new pistol the Pistole Astra 600/43. The first fifty guns, serial numbered 1-50, were submitted for testing to the Oberkommando des Heeres, the German High Command, and soon accepted. In any event, the Spanish made Astra 600 was used extensively by post-war West German police forces. Apparently a gentleman by the name of Samual Cummings (Interarms) made two major purchases from the Spanish, one in 1956/57 timeframe and the second in 1964/65 timeframe. However, I rocked and rolled with a modern, super tactical two-handed stance and had no major ergonomic issues. 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. 2023 - WorthPoint Corporation | 5 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 2900. Firac, Sterling, Colorado: The Astra 400 had a 5.9-inch barrel and was chambered in the underappreciated 9mm Largo. There's also some light areas of white mold growing - but this . The Bomb with "P" means the pistol was fired 4 times with the correct loading for the gun. These are serial number 44,501 to 45,300. (some coarsely checked and some finely checked) with no logo. The top of the slide . Only about 10,000 waffen marked Astra 600s were delivered before this point. Chambered for the 9mm Largo, this gun was based on the Campo-Giro with its tubular slide moving in frame grooves and blowback action, but had an internal Click Here to view our Gunbroker page! Ive yet to fire it. The E/L police stamp on the right tang and barrel hood were counterfeit, applied to deceive the uninformed collector. Its a tack driver that makes tiny groups and rings steel quite easily. Observando o valor de ASTRA Protocol volume negociado, podemos ver que no primeiro dia do perodo 1M, R$26,400,366 no valor de ASTR foram negociados. Notify . The Big Book of Surplus Firearms, The amount of information is almost overwhelming; more like an encyclopedia than the typical gun book. This is the infamous force whose craven bombing and longer than the Model 300, but the barrel length is the same. 600/43, 9mm PARABELLUM. Catalogue of the choice and valuable collection of Rare Antique Guns and Pistols, Edge Weapons, Accessories, Etc. Astra 600, Spanish, Nazi, early German contract, Military.
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