Show us your Guns!

[Atticus Finch]

Can't quite read it. Does it say Interarms on the slide..??
HD

Yessir..."Interarms Alexandria Virginia", and "Star Eibar Spain" on the other side. Also, there's a Star logo on the grips. Gotta be an import of some kind.

AF

 

[HoosierDaddy]

So it was made in Spain by Star and imported by Interarms.
HD

 

[Atticus Finch]

And this little proof mark is on the bolt.

AF

 

[Kirk H.]

And this little proof mark is on the bolt.

AF

AF, it looks like a Star Model S in .380 ACP. They were manufactured between 1941 to 1965. From what I have read about them they were manufactured for the European Police Marcket and were imported by Interarms to the US. Importation of these models to the US stopped around 1991. Also from what I understand Star closed down in 1997.

The marking in this photo is a proof mark indicating a passing of a proof test at the Spanish factory.

Hope this helps.

Kirk H.

 

[Atticus Finch]

Thank you, Kirk. Was there an "SS" model? I ask because this is on the butt. I hope it has nothing to do with that infamous "SS" from WWII.

AF

 

[Kirk H.]

Thank you, Kirk. Was there an "SS" model? I ask because this is on the butt. I hope it has nothing to do with that infamous "SS" from WWII.

AF

No not the infamous SS. The SS on that indicates that it is a Model S. Just another proof mark indicating that it was a commercial weapon and not part of a military contract. The Spanish Airforce also were issued these. If it was a military issue weapon the first proof mark you posted with the circle with the crown on top with a P in the center of the circle would have had an I in the circle instead of a P.

24 years ago when I was a young rookie I had a Star 9mm that I carried off-duty. It was a great shooter and I wish I still had it.

Kirk

 

[Atticus Finch]

Thanks, Kirk! Glad to hear it had nothing to do with the Waffen SS. With production of these little pistols beginning in 1941...and Spain leaning toward the Axis nations during the war...I was a little concerned.

AF

 

[DeaconKC]

Spain and Star [and any other arms maker that wasn't already] produced weapons for one side or the other during WW2. Stars were popular as they were well made and reliable. A Nazi SS mark would have also been styled differently and had the "dirty bird" stamp as well. CDNN has magazines in stock for it.

 

[jamespowers]

AF, it looks like a Star Model S in .380 ACP. They were manufactured between 1941 to 1965. From what I have read about them they were manufactured for the European Police Marcket and were imported by Interarms to the US. Importation of these models to the US stopped around 1991. Also from what I understand Star closed down in 1997.

The marking in this photo is a proof mark indicating a passing of a proof test at the Spanish factory.

Hope this helps.

Kirk H.

Good information here. ^

 

[rjb1]

From a value standpoint, having SS or other Nazi marks would increase the value substantially. If you didn't want to have one with those yourself, you could sell it for enough to get another gun and have some money besides. My feeling is that having a Nazi-marked gun, or other war trophy that was taken from the Nazis as a result of defeating them in warfare, is not a bad thing. (Not the same as buying a modern Nazi flag because you agree with them.)

 

[Kirk H.]

Spain and Star [and any other arms maker that wasn't already] produced weapons for one side or the other during WW2. Stars were popular as they were well made and reliable. A Nazi SS mark would have also been styled differently and had the "dirty bird" stamp as well. CDNN has magazines in stock for it.

Good point about the "dirty bird" stamp. Also from what I understand that the firearms issued to the Waffen SS were the same weapons that were used to supply the regular German army forces. Due to the SS being considered an elite corps, they frequently received the most recent weapons before they were issued to the regular army. I also remember seing a photo of a Waffen SS soldier holding a Browning Hi Power. So I do not beleive many were marked with the distinctive SS markings.

Kirk H.

 

[Atticus Finch]

I found this information about Star pistols, specifically the S and SI models and the later SS and SIS models. Seems that these S series pistols were scaled down versions of Star's larger A and B models. The S and SS were chambered in .380 and the SI and SIS were in .32 Auto.


Models S & SI

By the time the S series was introduced, in 1940, the basic series (A/B) had already undergone four major updates. For this reason, there are fewer unusual and early variants of the model S pistol. The basic versions, S and SI, are fully-realized designs, with arched backstraps and no apparent safety or manufacturing defects. This basic series remained in production until 1983, when the entire classic line was discontinued.

The model S pistols are identical to the larger A and B series, even to the degree that they all are shipped with the same manual (they even have tiny, removable barrel bushings!). Though the tipping barrel locked breech seems un-necessary, it allows the gun to be much lighter than most competing straight-blowback designs. The front sight remained a relatively useless half-circle throughout its life.

Four years after the introduction of the model S, a .32 caliber version was released, with the I suffix. This also remained in production until 1983. I find this to be somewhat odd for a European manufacturer. Among pocket pistols, .32 has been most popular in most of the world, inclund Europe, and .380 is more popular in the US. I have no idea what the reasoning was behind introducing the .380 version first.


Models SS & SIS

In 1957, in lockstep with the basic A/B series, an improved safety variant of both calibers was introduced. This version remained in production alongside the basic model S and SI until 1983. All safety variants are denoted with an S suffix (following the caliber suffix in the case of the .32 gun, the SIS).

These weapons should all have a drop safety as well as a magazine safety, that makes the gun incapable of firing when the magazine is removed.

AF

 

[Kirk H.]

I found this information about Star pistols, specifically the S and SI models and the later SS and SIS models. Seems that these S series pistols were scaled down versions of Star's larger A and B models. The S and SS were chambered in .380 and the SI and SIS were in .32 Auto.


Models S & SI

By the time the S series was introduced, in 1940, the basic series (A/B) had already undergone four major updates. For this reason, there are fewer unusual and early variants of the model S pistol. The basic versions, S and SI, are fully-realized designs, with arched backstraps and no apparent safety or manufacturing defects. This basic series remained in production until 1983, when the entire classic line was discontinued.

The model S pistols are identical to the larger A and B series, even to the degree that they all are shipped with the same manual (they even have tiny, removable barrel bushings!). Though the tipping barrel locked breech seems un-necessary, it allows the gun to be much lighter than most competing straight-blowback designs. The front sight remained a relatively useless half-circle throughout its life.

Four years after the introduction of the model S, a .32 caliber version was released, with the I suffix. This also remained in production until 1983. I find this to be somewhat odd for a European manufacturer. Among pocket pistols, .32 has been most popular in most of the world, inclund Europe, and .380 is more popular in the US. I have no idea what the reasoning was behind introducing the .380 version first.


Models SS & SIS

In 1957, in lockstep with the basic A/B series, an improved safety variant of both calibers was introduced. This version remained in production alongside the basic model S and SI until 1983. All safety variants are denoted with an S suffix (following the caliber suffix in the case of the .32 gun, the SIS).

These weapons should all have a drop safety as well as a magazine safety, that makes the gun incapable of firing when the magazine is removed.

AF

That is some good information. So the does that mean that yours will not fire if the magazine is removed?

Kirk

 

[Atticus Finch]

That is some good information. So the does that mean that yours will not fire if the magazine is removed?

Kirk

It won't. Got to put the mag in to get the hammer to drop.

I'm still confused as to when my pistol was made. I've found several places on the 'net that reproduce the Spanish code for marking the manufacture date of firearms. My pistol is stamped under the left grip with "I 2" which should translate to 1989. Problem is, S and SS models weren't made in 1989. They were discontinued in 1983.

And the plot thickens. I've also read that all SS Stars that were imported by Interarms were actually remanufactured .32 SI and SIS models. Seems they were police weapons that were taken in trade by Star in exchange for newer model 30s. The pistols were completely remade into .380s and assigned new serial numbers and reproofed. So maybe the 1989 proof mark on my pistol is correct as to the date of "remanufacture"...but my Star began its former life as a .32 SIS sometime before 1983.

AF

 

[Kirk H.]

It won't. Got to put the mag in to get the hammer to drop.

I'm still confused as to when my pistol was made. I've found several places on the 'net that reproduce the Spanish code for marking the manufacture date of firearms. My pistol is stamped under the left grip with "I 2" which should translate to 1989. Problem is, S and SS models weren't made in 1989. They were discontinued in 1983.

And the plot thickens. I've also read that all SS Stars that were imported by Interarms were actually remanufactured .32 SI and SIS models. Seems they were police weapons that were taken in trade by Star in exchange for newer model 30s. The pistols were completely remade into .380s and assigned new serial numbers and reproofed. So maybe the 1989 proof mark on my pistol is correct as to the date of "remanufacture"...but my Star began its former life as a .32 SIS sometime before 1983.

AF

Wow. Maybe they should have marketed them in the U.S. as the Star Enigma model.....

 

[MikePotts]

If you ever run across a Star 'PD' .45acp you should give it a serious look - nice lightweight 1911 style compact,

 

[DeaconKC]

Also, many manufacturers will have extra parts left over from a particular run and will then use them later as needed. That could explain the discrepancy in apparent manufacture dates. S&W is well known to have done this with tested and approved 1917 frames, using them into the late 20s.

 

[Hatter4]

I have been looking to bye a pepperbox by allen & thurber

 

[MikePotts]

I have been looking to bye a pepperbox by allen & thurber

Just gotta know where to look Hatter4

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=390962062

u

 

[DeaconKC]

Hatter4, those are really neat guns.

One more thing about nazi marked guns, there has been so much faking of stamps that unless you can document that it was a Nazi firearm, don't pay extra for it.