• Astra 600 Pistol Serial Numbers

I'm trying to figure out what year and model of a colt serial number 188609 on barrel has.38 SPC. Single action that's all so far. Trevor Morse on April 06, 2020: What kind of gun is this serial number 13J185 and when made. Franklin Spencer on April 02, 2020: Does anyone really answer any of these questions? Joe on April 01, 2020. I recenlty purchased an Astra 400 in very good condition and with all matching numbers in the 10,000 block which should place its manufacture in 1923. It has a Spanish Army acceptance stamp. It appears to have 95% original black/blue finish with gold numbers, lettering and the Astra logo on the top of the barrell is also gold. Astra Modelo 400 (1921) A brief history of the Astra Modelo 400 (1921) 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 early 7.65 mm. Astra was identical to the Victoria of the same caliber. Just when the name Astra was introduced for this model is not known but a specimen bearing the Serial No. 925 and marked „Model 1911' seems to indicate that the new name and numbering were adopted at about that time. Specimen No. 1727 is also marked 1911, No. 4169 is marked Mod. 1915 and Nos. 70,211 and 75,140 are marked Mod. 1916. The date 1911 and the absence of the word GUERNICA indicate manufacture in Eibar, as the word Guernica appears on pistols made after the factory was moved to that city. From the facts cited, it is concluded that the name Astra was actually used before 1914.

Soon after World War I broke out, a shortage of pistols developed in France and several manufacturers in Spain, including Esperanza y Unceta, were given orders for pistols of 7.65 mm. caliber. Specimens marked 7.65 mm. 1915 MODEL AUTOMATIC PISTOL - ASTRA PATENT (Serial No. 4169) and two others marked 7.65 mm. 1916 MODEL AUTOMATIC PISTOL - ASTRA PATENT (Serial Nos. 70,211 and 75,140) have been measured and photographed. These are all of the same type and general appearance as the 1911 specimen but have different dimensions and clearly were not made on the same set of tools. For example, the 1911 Astra is 145 mm. long and 98 mm. high, whereas the 1915 version is 160 mm. long and 125 mm. high, with an increased magazine capacity of 8 rounds. The 1916 Model has about the same dimensions. All of these are in the same numbering series.

The manufacturer states that these pistols were furnished not only to France but also to Italy (after the latter came into the war on the allied side) and that the total production of the wartime type was about 150,000 pieces. Manufacture of this model was discontinued at the close of the war as it was superseded by Model 400, which became the official weapon.

Model 100- This seems to have been a factory designation for the 7.65 mm. pistol that started out as the Victoria, but when this particular designation first came into use is not known. The manufacturer says that it applies to the pistols of the Victoria type made up to the year 1915 when the war type, with enlarged magazine capacity, was introduced. This wartime model appears to have been given the nomenclature „Mod. 100 Special' at a later date, as it is so designated in factory literature of ca. 1925. No figures as to total production are extant, as all of the Eibar and many of the early Guernica records have been destroyed. Furthermore the 7.65 and 6.35 mm. pistols were in the same numbering series, and the ratio in which they were produced is not known.

The tabulation of calibers, serial numbers, and remarks in Table 20 may be of value to those interested in the relationships of the early models of pistols of 6.35 and 7.65 mm. caliber made by Esperanza y Unceta.

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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.

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).

Astra 600 Pistol Serial Numbers

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