Astras

[AR22]

Picked up three Astra Pistols today at the local show from a guy in a trade deal.

Top one is a 400 and is kinda strange as it is a chrome or Nickel finish..Serial number
110xx I have not been able to find a chrome or nickel finish one anywhere,,So maybe it was done after production?

Bottom one is a 400 too I think, and serial number 567xx and it has a import mark..

Middle one is a 600 I believe and has serial number 40092 and has a matching number mag and a spare mag too..

All three have very nice bores..And are all in great condition....I may only keep the 600, as it shoots regular 9mm Luger as I have that ammo..Other two, unsure as of yet..

Anyway just looking for general info, who may have used them, civilian, Military, and about what time frame..Thanks for any input, I appreciate it..

I have quite a few other Spanish pistols, Llama 22s, Stars, but the only other Asra I have is a early Astra Constable 22 so these are new to my realm..

[echo1]

Nice trio. I was looking at an Astra 600 last September. PAX

[Capybara]

I have a 600. What would you like to know? Your 600 looks a lot nicer condition than mine, although mine is decent but your looks like it saw little to no service and mine did. The plated 400 is likely a Bubba job, none of the purchasing factions from Astra ever plated them to my knowledge.

They are cool guns. PITA to break down and assemble for cleaning. They are pure blowback, you'll be surprised at how snappy shooting the 600 is for a 9mm, even though it's a heavy, all-metal pistol. IMHO, they are over-engineered in that German way that their cars and many other things are, even though the Spanish designed them. Does your 600 have a Waffenamt (Nazi Eagle Proof Mark)? Also you can look up if yours could have been in the first batch actually delivered to the Nazis or if it's post. I think it was the first 12k (serial numbers) that were actually delivered? Can't recall, I just read up on this a few months ago. Paris fell after that first batch and the Spanish were stuck with them until well into the late 40s/early 50s before they sold them all off in batches to various countries. Interesting that the 600 was basically designed for the Nazis, but built by the Spanish.

If yours is after a certain serial number, it was more likely sold to the Portuguese Navy or any of the few dozen other customers in South America. Also, if it's helpful, the 600 is often referred to as "The Pipe Wrench", it is a funky looking pistol but I dig it, just like the CZ52, very unique looking pistol
with an interesting sense of lines and design.

[AR22]

No Nazi markings..The 600 in way too late for the ones delivered to the Germans..40,000 range puts it way out of that..It is in excellent condition though..

I read that the later ones like mine the Germans ordered, were unable to be delivered after things were failing apart for the Nazis..Just looking for the kind of general info you have provided.

I too like them..They seem to be very well made.I did take one down and reassemble it..It was not bad at all after I figured it out..I can do it subsequently pretty easy now...

I wander on the nickel, it is very well done..I do not know if they ever did such things, just speculation..But maybe the Nickel one was made special to present to someone..Who knows..It definitely shows no buffing or anything in the markings to indicate a refinish though...Thanks alot..

[smle-man]

The German border police used the 600 after the war. Does yours have German proofs?

[morrcarr67]

Picked up three Astra Pistols today at the local show from a guy in a trade deal.

Top one is a 400 and is kinda strange as it is a chrome or Nickel finish..Serial number
110xx I have not been able to find a chrome or nickel finish one anywhere,,So maybe it was done after production?

Bottom one is a 400 too I think, and serial number 567xx and it has a import mark..

Middle one is a 600 I believe and has serial number 40092 and has a matching number mag and a spare mag too..

All three have very nice bores..And are all in great condition....I may only keep the 600, as it shoots regular 9mm Luger as I have that ammo..Other two, unsure as of yet..

Anyway just looking for general info, who may have used them, civilian, Military, and about what time frame..Thanks for any input, I appreciate it..

I have quite a few other Spanish pistols, Llama 22s, Stars, but the only other Asra I have is a early Astra Constable 22 so these are new to my realm..

I'm wondering if that top gun has a finish on it at all. I have seen people remove a finish from a carbon steel gun and just polish the raw steel to look like it's been chromed plated.

Read this and try to determine by color: https://goneoutdoors.com/tell-date-m...d-8166585.html

[Spyder]

I had one years ago and got all the stuff to load for it. Never got around to it and got rid of it before ever shooting it. I know I've got a couple hundred pieces of starline Largo brass around here somewhere.

[AR22]

The top one is no doubt plated...Thanks

[DanGunner]

I have two Astras, a .22 short Cub and a .25 Firecat. Fun shooters

[AR22]

I have always wanted to find a Cub in 22...I found one at the show this last weekend in .25..It was a nice one and I would bought it..If in .22

I do have a near mint 1974 Astra Constable .22..Early all steel one..Very well made and shoots and functions fantastic..It is of course the one on the left,LOL

[GunDog]

I had a stainless Astra .357 revolver at one time in the early 80s. Very nice revolver; similar to a S&W Model 66. Ultimately traded it off for a Walther PP.

[therealnickb]

[AR22]

You get bit by the hammer on the .380? I am a good size fella, not fat, just good sized,LOL, with pretty stout hands..I do not have that problem..Maybe something slightly different between the .22 and 380s..?

I have heard other say that about Browning High Powers too..Again I never had the problem..

[therealnickb]

Not the hammer. Not the slide. The back strap I guess. My grip ?? IDK.

I have quite a few pistols. None of them treat me like the astra. I never tried to figure it out. Bigger fish to fry. Maybe someday when I’m bored or feeling masochistic.

[AR22]

The German border police used the 600 after the war. Does yours have German proofs?

Sorry I missed your reply..What would the German Police markings be and where at? I think the 600 would have been one of the Nazi Contract pistols that were never delivered..