[bobf]

Star Model B 9mm, from what I can find on the internet the proof mark is from 1945. Are they safe and reliable?
This one doesn’t appear to have been used much at all. In a trade I’ve got in the upper $200s in it. Is it worth that?

Thanks
Bob

 

[MOONDAWG]

Last year Star Model BM's were selling by the box car load here for $189-$250 depending on their shape.

They are all steel and a bit heavy for their size, but reliable and fairly accurate.

In today's economy finding a nice one under $300 isn't a bad deal.

 

[jimg11]

I usta have a Star model 1922 in 9MM B&B that had the modification and marking .38 so that it would chamber .38 ACP and .38 Super. I fired maybe close to 1000 rounds of factory .38 acp and .38 super (mostly super) with out any problem before I got tired of it and swapped it. I was impressed with the full sized gun by Star.

 

[xtimberman]

Yep, they're heavy for their size, but good servicable autos with little recoil in 9mm. I like them better than similar Llamas because of the over-engineering.

Many Star autopistols were used by Banana Republic dictators and their thug armies for compliance and back-alley "justice". I believe that they took a 9mm Star off of Che Guevara when that fellow met his end.

xtm

 

[bobf]

If it checks out good it will probably find a permanent home as a spare in the car trunk.

Bob

 

[cxm]

The Germans bought a lot of Star (and Astra) pistols from Spain during WWII and used them as substitute standard pistols.

When the allies landed in France in June of 1944, they cut off lines of communications with Spain. As a result, Star and Astra pistols that had been ordered and paid for could not be delivered...so they sat in Spain.

Fast forward to 1955 and the German's get political control back and the allied occupation ends... The German police were mostly armed with S&W 38/200 revolvers that had been lend leased to allies... Because the German police were not at all familiar with revolvers then were not happy with the guns and wanted replacements.

The Germans were able to arrange delivery of the Spanish guns they had paid for in 1944 so the police got some 9mm autos at almost no cost... The Astras were used for quite a while... while the Stars background is not well known. In Military service a lot of Stars were used by German allies during the war.

Ultimately the Star B guns came on the surplus market, most recently in the form of Star B pistols imported a year or so ago. The top grade guns were sold for $249 IIRC.

The Star is a decent gun derived from the 1911, but not identical by any means.

FWIW

Chuck