German
Guns
Astra Model 1921 Pistol
Thanks to Kyrie Ellis / Moderator - Cruffler_Forum on Yahoo Groups for his contribution for this page ...
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M1921_L.jpg Left side of an early Astra Model 1921 (commercial designation, Model 400), chambered for the 9x23 mm Largo. This is a Spanish Army pistol, as denoted by the Spanish Army acceptance stamp on the left front of the trigger guard. |
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M1921_Accept.jpg Extreme close up of the Spanish Army acceptance stamp. Military and police pistols were exempt from Spanish Proof Law, and this pistol is not proofed commercially. |
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M1921_EarlyCrest.jpg Close up of the Esperanza era Astra barrel crest. The firm we now know as Astra was founded in as "Esperanza y Unceta" on July 17, 1908 in the town of Eibar by Don Juan Esperanza and Don Pedro Unceta. During the period of the partnership the Astra crest contained the company initials of "E C". Collectors reference this crest as the "Early Astra crest." This original company changed to Unceta y Cia in 1926 when Sr, Esperanza dissolved the partnership and moved on to found his own company. Thereafter the company crest was changed to display the company's new initials, "U C", and this crest is called by collectors the "Late Astra crest." As this pistol was produced during the partnership of Don Juan Esperanza and Don Pedro Unceta, it displays the early Astra crest. |
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M1921_grip.jpg Close up of the grip panel crest - note again the "E-C" rather than the "U-C" marking. |
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M1921_maker.JPG This is a photo of the Esperanza era slide manufacturer marking. |
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M1921_Model.jpg This is a photo of the military "Modelo 1921" slide marking. Note the absence of the "/38" marking found on latter pistols. The blemish in the middle of the marking is a ding in the steel. |
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M400_R.jpg Right side of the same Astra Model 1921, showing the frame and slide serial number placement. |
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M1921_R_CU.jpg Close up of the frame and serial numbers on the right side of the pistol. |
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M1921_Mag_crest.jpg This is an extreme close-up of the Esperanza ear crest on the toe of the magazine. |