Need info on a foreign handgun

[RangerJoe]

Hello - I have a 9mm pistol made in Spain. It is made to look/feel very much like a 1911 .45, but it is definitely a 9mm. I'd like to see if anyone out there could tell me something about it.

It is inscribed on the slide with the following: STAR B. ECHEVERRIA EIBAR-ESPANA S.A. CAL. 9mm. On the trigger guard, right where it joins the frame, it says SPAIN. On the handle, in the front in between the grips, are the letters LPN. I suspect that this may have been a military or police pistol at some point as well, because there are three places where a "P" inside what looks like a little bomb is stamped - looks like an arsenal stamp. The numbers 039 are stamped in several places all over the piece - on the slide catch, the thumb safety, the magazine bottom, and the bolt. The bolt is also stamped "Cal. 08" in a sort of script, and it may not say that; it's hard to read.

It has a single stack mag which holds I'd guess 10 rounds. It's DEFINITELY a very old piece, but it is still in good condition. The letters LPN stamped on the handle give me the feel of a monogram; like someone personalized the gun. I have never fired it. I'm concerned about the quality of manufacture. I'm also concerned that possibly the spring that drives the hammer may be weakened by having been stored in a "cocked" position for a very long time. Also, the magazine spring may be weak, because sometimes with the mag empty, if you push the slide back, the mag follower doesn't push up the slide catch enough to jam it open, like it would after you fire the last shot. I may want to replace these parts before it sees any use.

[dbriannelson]

It is probably a Star B.  The picture below is courtesy of www.world.guns.ru :


(Per Mr. Fielder, this is a Modelo Super and not a Model B.  I stand corrected.)

Star is out of business now, but they built a lot of quality stuff, along with a few things that were only adequate.  They've made several different 9mms, so if this isn't it, describe the differences and maybe we can narrow it down some.

I've never owned the B, but have owned several other models and have never had a complaint.

-Don

[dbriannelson]

This picture of the other side of a different pistol is courtesy of www.tague.at and shows some of the markings you mention.  There are some other configuration differences as well:



-Don

[RangerJoe]

Yes, with a few small cosmetic differences, this is what it looks like. (From the picture, I can see that the little "Star" logo stamped into the steel is on the wrong side in this picture - my Star is to the left of the type.)

When they talk about 9mm "9x19", the 19 is 19mm, the length of the brass casing, correct? Reading around on the internet it seems slightly difficult to determine exactly which bullet this would take - the 9x19 9mm or the 9x23 9mm.

[dbriannelson]

Right, the "19" would be case length and it would be 9mm Parabellum or 9mm Luger.  Those are the same, and I believe the B was only chambered for that round.

Just before that time there were some oddball 9mms floating around that Star chambered pistols for like the 9mm Largo and such.  Because these rimless cartridges all seat on the front edge of the case, dropping a round into the chamber would tell you if it fits, even without closing the slide on it.  You can see where the extractor would go, and the back of the rim should line up with the top lug of the barrel I think.

I've never heard that this large and modern (by the standards of the day) pistol ever had any safety issues.  I'd buy a box of 9mm Para and see how it works.  Then, if the mag spring is weak for example, I would address that.  You will have trouble finding parts for a Star though.  You might be able to find complete magazines from an aftermarket source or maybe a spring from a 1911 magazine would work.  But first see if you really need to fix things by shooting it.

Enjoy it.

-Don

[Czech_too]

As to a source of replacement springs, check out Wolff Gunsprings. 
http://www.gunsprings.com/1ndex.html
I've used their product without complaint.

Brian, in Ohio

[Mikey]

Rangerjoe - Don is right, the 9x19 caliber designation identifies the pistol as being in the 9mm Luger or 9mm Parabellum caliber.  If the caliber was the longer 9x23mm it would be indicated as such as either '9x23', '9mm Largo', or even '9mm Bergman/Bayard'.  Some were even designated '9mm Largo/38ACP or 9mm/38'.

The 9x23 calbiers indicated, and the Largo or Bergman or Bergman/Bayard cartridges are/were all 23mm long but they are not the same cartridge as the 9x23mm Winchester (which is much more powerful).  They also used the 38 designation as the pistol could handle the 38 ACP round which is dimentionally identical to the 38 Super but at a lower pressure and power level.  

These are pretty solid pistols and when used with the proper ammo have no problems.  40 years ago we would load up and shoot 38 Supers in these guns until the extractor busted or they locked up and froze on us because we had literally beat them to death by shooting the wrong ammo in them.  

If you are using the ammunition (9mm Luger) the pistol was made for it should be a fun gun to play with for a long time and 9mm Luger suprlus ammo is very available (at least for now) and very inexpensive.  

If your springs are tired and they may be, Wolff Springs in Ardmore, Pennsylvania can supply new springs and probably even new magazine springs.  One of the major supply houses, Like Gun Parts, SAMCO, SARCO may even carry extra magazines.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Lee N. Fielder]

There are model "A" and model "B" Star pistols.  The model A's are typically in 9mm Largo (also known as 9mm Bergmann-Bayard and 9x23) and the model B's are typically in 9mm Parabellum (9x19).  The standard A's and B's have a Colt 1911 style barrel lockup that uses a swinging link.

To complicate matters Star also produced a Modelo Super in both 9mm Largo and 9mm Parabellum.  These guns look similar, externally, but use a barrel cam that looks more like that on the Browning Hi-Power and they have a simplified takedown procedure.

Drbriannelson's first photo shows a Modelo Super.  Note the swell at the bottom of the front strap on the frame that is a key identifier of a Super.  His second photo is a standard Model A or B without the front strap swell.

If you turn the pistol upside down and look just to the rear of the magazine well the letter "A" or "B" should be stamped and this will tell you which model you have.  However, it is important to note that some people have taken model A's and put a model B barrel in them to take advantage of the cheaper and more readily available 9mm Parabellum ammo.

The "LPN" stamping in conjunction with the .08 marking indicates that your gun is most likely a standard Star Model B produced for the Nazis, but never delivered to them, and used after the war by post-war German police.  These are what collectors call the "Fifth variation" guns.  The Fifth Variation guns were made for the Nazis but were never actually delivered to the Wehrmacht due to blockades by Allied troops. They were allegedly in the Serial number ranges of  256251-258000, and 260001-260250. They were sold after the war to the West German Police and many marked "LPN", for Landespolizei Niedersachsen .  I think this is probably what you have.

-Lee

[RangerJoe]

Wow, that is very interesting information, guys - thanks very much! Interesting about the LPN stamp. Very neat! I am a HUGE history buff and it would be very intriguing to me if this is correct. I'm a little suspicious though because my serial number starts with a 408XXX. Seems to be way out of the specified range, unless somehow it was refitted or something.