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

1. The Astra Model 600/43 started production in the 1940’s and was a Spanish made handgun for Nazi Germany during WW2. Known for their extreme durability.
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I inherited an Astra Unceta & Cia. CUB or 2000 cal.22 short. What is important to me is to find out the year of manufacture. Serial number is: 723xx with matching numbers in barrel and disconnector. More info: It shows signs of being refurbished or reblued in nickel white color. Originally it was blue before but worn out. Model 1921 was marketed commercially as Astra 400. After Spanish Civil War, Unceta was one of only four handgun companies permitted to resume manufacturing operations. An interesting and informative side note is that pistols with 1000 to 5000 model numbers were made after 1945. Astra merged with Star before going out of business in 2006.

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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Astra A-60 Pistol Serial Numbers

Astra Modelo 400 (1921) - 9mm Largo

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. The Astra Modelo 400 (1921) was one of these pistols and was selected in August 1921 to be the new standard issue sidearm of the Spanish Armed Forces. It remained the standard issue sidearm until 1946 when it was replaced by the Star Model A.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) both sides utilized the Astra 400. Realizing that the Astra factory would not be able to keep up with demand, the Republican government authorized two additional factories to produce Modelo 400 pistols. The Tarrasa arsenal produced approximately 8,000 pistols under the name F. Ascaso and a private firm in Valencia produced approximately 15,000 pistols under the name Republica Española. Both of these variants can be identified by their different crest atop the slide and distinctive grip panels; F. Ascaso grips marked F. Ascaso, and Republica Española grips marked RE.

Astra 400 Proof Marks

Total production of genuine Astra 400 pistols was just over 105,000 covering sales to the Spanish Government (Republican/Loyalist), Spanish Government (Nationalist/Rebel), Chilean Navy, Euzkadian Government, Nazi German Government, and individual sales. The year of production for 400s can be determined by both the serial number and Year of Proof markings. Production of the Astra 400 ceased in 1946 and there are no known sources of new parts for them. However, used parts are available from several sources. Mr. Steven Para of Para's Polishing has recently completed a Cutaway Astra Modelo 400 (1921). If you are or are not familiar with Mr. Para's work, please take a look at the photos. Mr. Para does very good work.

Disassembly of the Modelo 400 is like that of the other pistols in the 'tubular' Astra series. Detailed field stripping instructions with illustrations are available. An exploded parts diagram is also available. An Adobe PDF file of the original Spanish owner's Manual is available for download (4.5Mb).

The Astra 400 pistol is designed to fire the 9mm Largo cartridge; with a few experimental models made in 7.63mm (Mannlicher), 7.65mm (.32 ACP), and .30 Luger. There also exists a 4mm subcaliber training device insert. It is unlikely that you will encounter any of these experimental chamberings. Some pistol barrels are marked '9mm/38' indicating pistols that were made with/converted to a compromise bolt face that will accept either the 9mm Largo cartridge or the .38 ACP (not Super) cartridge.

When 9mm Largo ammunition was hard to find in quantity shooters regularly fired other cartridges such as the 9mm Luger, 9mm Steyr, 9mm Browning Long, etc in their 9mm Largo firearms. Many dealers and distributors also claimed the firearms would fire all of these and more. This however is not a prudent practice to engage in. The Astra 400, like all pistols firing straight walled cartridges, headspaces on the mouth of the cartridge. When a cartridge shorter than the 23mm of the 9mm Largo is used, the cartridge case cannot headspace against the end of the chamber. This leaves only the extractor to hold the cartridge case against the breechface allowing the firing pin to impact the primer. This causes excessive wear and stress on the extractor, too much freebore (the distance from the bullet to the beginning of the rifling), and scoring of the chamber walls. The result of these abnormalities can result in broken/misshapen extractors, poor accuracy, and the inability to chamber and extract correct size cases.

The use of cartridges that produce too much chamber pressure is also discouraged. Yes, the .38 Super and 9x23mm Winchester will chamber in most 9mm Largo firearms, and if they will chamber they will fire. However these rounds produce too much pressure for the metallurgy and design of the Astra 400. The Astra 400 is a straight blowback design The only thing keeping the chamber closed during firing is the recoil spring, the only thing to retard and stop rearward movement of the slide during recoil is the recoil spring, weight of the slide, and the momentary gripping of the chamber walls by the expanding cartridge case. Use of these type cartridges in the Astra 400 risks damage to the pistol and possibly yourself through a ruptured chamber, fractured slide, or fractured frame.

Ammunition in 9mm Largo is now available from a number of sources. Surplus ammunition is now coming into the country in shootable quantities and is available at some gunshops, many gunshows, and via mailorder. Factory new 9mm Largo ammunition is being made by CCI in their Blazer line (product number 3513) with a 124g Gold Dot Hollow Point bullet. If you reload RCBS makes dies in 9mm Largo (product number 56665), these are not a normally stocked item and require special order. You can also utilize 9x23mm Winchester dies to reload 9mm Largo, the exterior case dimensions are almost identical. Starline also produces virgin 9mm Largo brass for reloading. Gone are the days of manufacturing cases out of .223 Remington (done that, not fun), 9mm Winchester Magnum (done that, much easier) or other cases.