- Star Pistol Serial Number Dates
- Star Pistol Serial Numbers
- Star Pistol Serial Numbers
- Star Bm Pistol Serial Numbers
- Star B Pistol Serial Numbers
- Look Up Pistol Serial Number
Star Model A Carbine - Shoulder Stock 1920s 7.63mm GI#: 101552342 This is a very scarce Spanish Star Model A carbine pistol, made in the late 1920s, chambered in hard hitting Mauser 7.63mm Broomhandle cartridge and equipped with an extended factory barrel and a shou.Click for more info. Bonifacio Echeverria Star 9MM Largo caliber pistol. This is the model A produced around 1922. It was adopted by the Spanish Guardia Civil. It has been arsenal refurbished at some point. Matching serial numbers except for the magazine. The left grip shows a repaired crack. The bore has strong rifling and shows frosting. The pistol on the civilian market as the 'A', these were numbered in a separate serial number range from the 1921. Star next removed the grip safety from the 1921 and redesignated it as the 1922. The grip safety was also removed from the civilian 'A', but the model designation was.
Star Pistol Serial Number Dates
The Star Model BM is a
History
A total of 217,682 Star BM pistols were made between 1972 and 1992. BM serial numbers ranged from 1,226,501 to somewhere around 1,900,000. The pistols were made without mechanical variation throughout that period, but there may be a lot of different cosmetic variations depending on agency issue and commercial sales. In general, earlier pieces were more highly polished and later ones were more of a matte finish. After serial number 1,560,901 in 1981, all BM pistols were fitted with a ramped and serrated front sight. At approximately this same serial number a few other shortcuts were used to expedite production – a shorter rollmark/slide legend, coarser polish limited to side of the slide and frame, and all the small parts were given a bead blast matte finish. The slide cocking serrations are also reduced in number on these later pistols.
There have been three importers of ex-Spanish BMs to the United States; Garcia Sporting Arms, Interarms, and most recently Century (CAI). Most of what we see in the US are arms that were traded back in by various Spanish military branches to Star for exchange for newer model 28/30M and 28/30PK pistols. For the Interarms imports, Star reworked all these trade-ins prior to selling them to Interarms. Spain's Guardia Civil used BM's up through about 1990 or so as did many other police agencies in Europe and Latin America. Importers like Interarms got a hold of them when the agencies traded up to more modern designs.
Specifications
Action: Single-action w/locked breech
Barrel: 3.77' long w/1:10 rifling twist, swinging link with single lug
Weight: 2.14 lbs.
Length (From muzzle to rear of butt): 7.25'
Slide Width: 0.84'
Frame Width: 0.70'
Width across grips: 1.23'
Height (From bottom of grip to top of rear sight): 5.063'
Grips: Checkered brown or black plastic
Finish: Blue
Magazine disconnect: Yes (can be removed)
Sights: Notched rear blade and front ramp (serrated on some later models)
Extractor: External
Magazine Capacity: 8
Beveled magazine well: Yes
Trigger: Vertically serrated, pivoting
Description and Markings
LEFT SIDE:The rollmark on the side of the slide indicates the manufacturer “STAR B Echeverria”, and the town in which the company is located, “Eibar, Espana”. 'SA' is simply the Spanish abbreviation for 'Inc.'
The 7-digit number on the left side of the frame (oriented vertically in front of the grips) is the actual serial number from the Star factory. This number was moved to the right side and placed horizontally above the trigger on later series pistols.
Some Century imports may have “MADE IN SPAIN” or “C.A.I., GEORGIA, VT” engraved on the left side of the slide or frame.
RIGHT SIDE:1970s and 1980s pistols will have a diamond-shape stamp followed by a 5-digit number on both the frame and slide. The stamp is the proof mark showing acceptance by the are the Spanish Military Police (Guardia Civil), and the 5-digit number is the Guardia Civil inventory number.
On the right side of the trigger guard, there is a two digit number that signifies the year of manufacture. Star stamped the numbers under request from the Spanish military/police when they were initially supplied under contract.
“CG”, usually found on the right side of the frame, means “Guardia Civil”, and is the Spanish Military Police.
'CSP', usually found on the right side of the slide, means “Cuerpo Superior de Policia”. The CSP is responsible for criminal investigations and political control. Usually non-uniformed, especially in rural areas, and referred to as 'Le Secreta.'
Some Century imports may have “STAR BM 9MM SPAIN” or “C.A.I., GEORGIA, VT” engraved on the right side of the slide or frame. Century then stuck their import sequence number on it - which is the serial number to be booked and track the firearm here in the US.
Interarms imported pistols will carry the “Interarms, Arlington, VA” mark just below the ejection port.
BARREL:Later series pistols (reportedly ones actually issued to the military) had the pistol’s Star serial number on the side of the barrel, visible through the ejection port.
UNDER GRIPS:'X in a box'.. Armas cortas - Admisión Short guns - Admission; from Eibar Test Facilities Proofmarks from Aug. 24th, 1921 to Dec. 14th, 1929
The 'bomb with P' is for a nitro pistol test. All the Eibar handguns proofed for commercial sales (including police) are proofed with this mark. The Spanish military guns were proofed with an 'I' inside the bomb.
'P inside a Circle'... Armas cortas del grupo 2 - Prueba única Short guns from group 2 - Only test; from the Eibar Test Facilities Proofmarks from Jul. 9th, 1931
Year of manufacture/proof marks; The numbers on the left side under the grip toward the back of the frame are the Eibar Test Facilities proofmarks showing the Year of proof.
1972 = Q1
1973 = R1
1974 = S1
1975 = T1
1976 = U1
1977 = V1
1978 = X1
1979 = Y1
1980 = Z1
1981 = A2
1983 = B2
1984 = C2
1985 = D2
1986 = E2
1987 = F2
1988 = G2
1989 = H2
1990 = I2
1991 = J2
1992 = K2
HEEL:Under the heel is the model name, “BM”
Star Pistol Serial Numbers
External links
* [http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Critical%20Look%20at%20Star%20Model%20BM.htm A Critical Look at the Star Model BM]
A brief history of the Star Modelo A pistol.
First a brief note on Star model designations for the Modelo 1920, 1921, 1922, 1931, 1940, and 'A' family of pistols. The 1920 was produced solely for the Guadia Civil. After making changes to the 1920 recommended by the Guardia Civil the pistol was redesignated the 1921. Once Star caught up with the Guardia Civil orders they began offering the pistol on the civilian market as the 'A', these were numbered in a separate serial number range from the 1921. Star next removed the grip safety from the 1921 and redesignated it as the 1922. The grip safety was also removed from the civilian 'A', but the model designation was not changed. Sometime between 1928 and 1931 the pistol underwent continued improvements (mostnoticeablyy an arched and checkered backstrap) and redesignated the 1931, the civilian version was notredesignatedd. In 1934 the rear sight and method of retaining the firing pin were changed, model designation remained the 1931 and 'A'. After a production hiatus for the Spanish Civil War, production was continued. At this time the government pistol became known as the 1940, the civilianversionn was still the 'A'. Both the government and civilian versions underwent several design changes, but only the government version was redesignated. Therefore serial numbers and proof marks must be used to correctly determine the model designation of the 1921, 1922, 1931, 1940, and 'A' pistols. To further confuse the issue, as pistols were returned to Star by the Spanish Government as surplus they would be refurbished and if necessary a new serial number applied. It was at this time that the mystery 9mm/.38 markings were applied to the pistols if they were reworked to handle the semi-rimmed .38ACP cartridge.
The Star Modelo A was produced by the arms maker Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A. firm from 1924 until 1983, in about 1931 an M1911 style backstrap was added to the pistol without a model designation change.
The design of the Modelo A has its history intertwined with three other Star pistols, the Modelos Militar 1920, 1921, and 1922. In 1920 the Guardia Civil was looking for a new standard sidearm. Senior Bonifacio Echeverria looked to the Sam Browning designed M1911 pistol as a starting point a developed the Modelo Militar 1920 chambered in 9mm Largo. This design was selected by the Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) as it's new standard sidearm and production commenced. After using the Modelo Militar 1920, the Guardia Civil wanted a change made to the pistol. They were unhappy with the slide mounted safety and requested that it be moved to the traditional place on the frame. In 1921 Echeverria made this change to the pistol; and added a grip safety while they were at it. This became the Modelo Militar 1921. The Guardia Civil quickly decided that the grip safety wasn't a feature they wanted on a combat arm. The engineers responded by removing the grip safety and changing the model designation to Modelo Militar 1922. Production of the Modelo Militar 1922 continued until 1931, when it was discontinued. In 1924 Star began to market the Model A, which is basically the Modelo Militar 1922 with a new name, production continued until 1983 with changes and improvements made along the way. In 1931 the biggest apparent change to the Modelo A took place when an M1911 style 'humped' backstrap was added.
Outwardly the Modelo A looks almost identical to the M1911 pistol with the lack of a grip safety. Disassembly is much like an M1911 style pistol. The Star Modelo A has been out of production for some time now and there are no known remaining stocks of new parts. Used parts are available from a variety of sources, an exploded parts diagram is provided for identifying the various parts. An Adobe PDF of the original owner's manual in English is available for download (5.3Mb).
Many people mistake the 'S.A.' in the Star name and stamped on the slide of Star pistols to be a model designation. I constantly see Star pistols listed on online auction sites as 'Star Model S.A. 9mm pistol.' These normally turn out to be Star Modelo A, B, and Super pistols. The 'S.A.' is actually a Spanish abbreviation for 'Sociedad Anónima', the English equivalent would be 'corporation' or 'incorporated.' Determining the correct model of later Star pistols is achieved by looking at the bottom of the butt. The model designation and serial number are stamped there. Other numbers on the pistols are actually importers serial numbers and/or military rack numbers. This pistol actually has two serial numbers on it, the one on the butt and a different number on the frame and slide that were used by the distributor as the serial number.Star Pistol Serial Numbers
The year of production on Star firearms can be approximated by the Year of Proof Codes. The pistol should have been proofed shortly after manufacture, and surely not before. This is normally located on the left side of the frame forward of the slide stop.Star Bm Pistol Serial Numbers
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 Star Modelo A, 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. The metallurgy and design of the Modelo A were not developed to handle the pressure of these rounds. Use of these type cartridges in the Modelo A 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.
Federal Arms Corp. Aftermarket Barrel | Guardia Civil Model A Magazine | Model A 7.63 Barrel | Model A 7.63 Left |
Model A 7.63 Left Detail | Model A 7.63 Proof | Model A 7.63 Right | Model A 7.63 Serial Number |
Star B Pistol Serial Numbers
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