"Spanish Colts" - pistols "STAR"
Repetition is the mother of learning, but also a refuge for lazy people.
Old Latin proverb
Old Latin proverb
History firearms weapons. We often say that “ours” is better than someone else’s. Like, it is closer, more familiar and always at hand. But in technology, both "one's own" and "someone else's" concepts are very, very conditional. And even more so in the arms business. Everything that is good is copied without a twinge of conscience. However, not only in technology. This article, for example, will undoubtedly appear not only on VO, but will also be copied by many bloggers and site owners, because otherwise they would have to strain their heads and look for a replacement. That is - yes, any repetition is a real find for lazy and dumb people. Here are the Spanish pistols manufactured by Bonifacio Echeverria SA from Eibar, which has been producing weapons since 1908 - the best confirmation of this.
And it so happened that at the end of the XNUMXth century in the Spanish, or rather even the Basque city of Eibar, the gunsmith Jose Cruz Echeverria lived and worked, who was engaged in the production of muzzle-loading hunting weapons. Eibar, like the entire region, has long been a center for the production of weapons and such an occupation was traditional for its inhabitants. It is quite natural that his sons, Juan and Bonifacio, followed in the footsteps of their father.
Juan Echeverria, after leaving school in 1891, worked at the local arms factories, gaining experience. So, while working for Garate, Anitua y company, he participated in the development and production of the La Lira pistol, which was, in fact, a Mannlicher 1901 pistol, but chambered for 7,65 mm Browning. He also participated in the development of the Campo Giro pistol at the firm of Juan Victor Mendizabal.
Around 1905, Juan Echeverria decided that he was quite ripe for an independent business and, together with his younger brother, created the company Bonifacio Echeverria SA.
Quite naturally, the experience gained was used and the first pistols of the newly created company were based on the Mannlicher design. However, they were copied wisely, so the Austrian gunsmith failed to sue his Spanish colleague. That is, yes, they were similar, but ... not identical. Bonifacio Echeverria registered the "Star" trademark only in 1919, but still, pistols with this name appeared in Spain. And the emblem on them was appropriate - a star with diverging rays.
Pistol Star Model B chambered for 9mm Parabellum cartridges. Photo by the author
In 1912, Juan Echeverria left the family business and became director of the Guernica Armory School.
Bonifacio Echeverria remained the owner of the company and at the same time its chief designer. And as the chief designer and owner, he did what he wanted, and he was primarily engaged in copying successful samples of pistols that he personally liked, albeit with some additions from himself. So in 1920, another "star" was born on the model of the American "Colt" М1911. After that the company "Echeverría and Kº" became a very famous company, one of four that operated in Spain both during and after the civil war. Star Bonifacio Echeverria, SA existed until 1997. The end of the 90s was far from the best for the Spanish arms industry, so many firms, including the small arms manufacturers Star, Astra and CETME, ceased to exist. Star and Astra merged and created the ASTAR company, which still exists today. But back to history.
This is how it all began. Steyr-Mannlicher pistol, commercial model 1905. Photo www.littlegun.be
We will begin to get acquainted with Star pistols from 1908, although this pistol itself appeared at the end of 1907. His barrel was motionless, the casing-bolt had ribbed washers for the fingers: that's why they say about him that it is a copy of a Mannlicher pistol.
The open trigger added a little more resemblance, but it ended there, because the "Mannlicher" had a thin curved handle, and the "Star" received a thick "chopped" and differently shaped trigger. Only the Austrian pistol was loaded with a cartridge pack, and the "star" had a replaceable magazine with a spring and an ammunition load of eight 6,35 mm rounds. The inscription on the casing AUTOMATIC PISTOL STAR PATENT indicates the presence of a patent, and the cheeks of the handle made of solid rubber have a checkered notch. The length of the pistol was 115 mm. Empty weight: 445 g.
Model 1914. As you can see, this is essentially half of the Mannlicher, but with a new handle! Photo www.littlegun.be
In 1914, two models of the Star pistol of 6,35 and 7,65 mm caliber appeared at once, differing from the previous model only in details. It was then that a six-pointed star with diverging rays appeared on it, which became the trademark of the company. The pistol was 175 mm long. Weight 850 g without cartridges. The barrel was 112 mm long. Magazine capacity is eight rounds.
And this is his disassembly. Photo www.littlegun.be
The pistol "Star" of 1919 was disassembled in a slightly different way. In the first pistols, the shutter-casing could be separated by pressing on the notched pin in front of the trigger guard, but this one was held by a special latch in the same place.
Pistol "Star" 1919, caliber 7,65 mm. Photo www.littlegun.be
Pistols of 1919 were produced for the use of 6,35 and 7,65 mm "auto" cartridges, and also under 9 mm "short" cartridge, and all the barrels had different lengths to choose from. The inscription on the bolt cover was also different: B. ECHEVERRIA EI BAR (ESPANA).
In 1920, the company released a specially military pistol, which was called the Model Militar - something transitional from the Mannlicher to the Colt Browning pistols. Made on the basis of the American "Colt" М1911 caliber .45, it had the same "Browning earring", that is, the same barrel locking system with it. Although there was no frame safety on the Spanish pistol. And the handle is more chopped up.
The design of the casing-shutter was noticeably different in that the back of it was slightly raised and had two corrugated "pills" for the fingers. The fuse box was traditionally located on the left, and a recess was provided for its downward movement on the shutter casing.
The cartridges were to be used in the 9mm Largo (Bergman Bayard) caliber, since they were used in the Spanish army. However, the military chose not this pistol, but the "astra", and Echeverria decided to put this model on commercial sale, respectively supplementing with modifications chambered for .38 "super" and .45 ACP calibers. The pistol turned out to be 200 mm long and 122 mm long. Empty weight 1100 g. The magazine could load eight rounds.
Well, the model of the pistol "Star" model MMC ("military civilian model"), which appeared a year later, was designed for firing cartridges 7,63 × 25 Mauser, but looked almost like a real Colt: with the same casing on which there were vertical notches for the fingers.
MMC model chambered for 7,63 × 25 Mauser cartridges. Photo www.littlegun.be
Valve body markings. Photo www.littlegun.be
Type of pistol "Star" MMC model with a holster-butt. Photo www.littlegun.be
The same pistol when the bolt is pulled back. Photo www.littlegun.be
In addition to the Mauser cartridges "Model 1921", it was produced under the 9-mm cartridge "Largo" and .45 ACP. Some pistols had grooves on the rear end of the grip for attaching the butt holster. At first, there was no handle guard, but it was decided to install it on later samples, moreover, of a large length, almost equal to the length of the entire rear of the handle.
It is interesting that for some reason this model became very popular with the so-called "Seville Guard", where it entered service in October 1922. On the casing-bolt of such pistols there is a mark: BONIFACIO ECHEVERRIA above the words EIBAR (ESPANA), then a six-pointed star and the name "STAR" CAL .9M / M. Belonging to the Seville Guard was indicated by the letters GC under the royal crown. It is desirable to remember this for everyone who either makes a movie about the Spanish Civil War, or writes a novel where their heroes use a pistol. It would be best then to take the "Star", especially if the guardsman from the "Guard Seville" should shoot in the course of action.
Pistol model "Star" (Model B). Perhaps he was the most convenient in the family of "old". In addition, he had a magazine for nine rounds, not eight or seven. This pistol appeared after 1926 and looked even more like a Colt, especially in the shape of its grip, and in general appearance. The pistol was supposed to use powerful 9mm Parabellum cartridges. Photo by the author
All the time while the Spanish Civil War was going on, it was produced continuously, and in 1941-1944. more than 35 units were also bought by the Wehrmacht, their own pistols were not enough throughout the war. So outside of Spain, this pistol fought. Possibly met on the Eastern Front. They stopped producing this model only around 000. Overall length 1984 mm, barrel length 215 mm. Empty weight: 122 g.
Model "Super-B" chambered for the 9-mm cartridge "Largo". Photo www.littlegun.be
Its designation is on the shutter casing. Photo www.littlegun.be
In 1946, another model was born: the Model Super B, in which the Browning earring was replaced by the Browning protrusion. And - about joy! In the same year, this pistol was finally adopted by the Spanish army. Which is not surprising at all. After all, it was lighter, but had a magazine for nine rounds, and thanks to the "Parabellum" cartridge, albeit with a smaller caliber, it had an excellent stopping effect. The fact that their pistols are similar to American ones, like twin brothers, did not bother the Spanish military personnel at all - after all, the main thing in a weapon is that it is comfortable and fired well. And is it a copy or an original ... but who cares ?!
Then a commercial model BM appeared - one of the smallest pistols with a coupled bolt chambered for the 9-mm Parabellum cartridge.
Pistol "Star" caliber 6,35 mm. Along with the 7,63-mm caliber samples, the favorite pistol of the anarcho-syndicalists of Barcelona and Zaragoza. Photo www.littlegun.be
Disassembled pistol "Star" of 6,35 mm caliber. Photo www.littlegun.be
The frame of this pistol. Photo www.littlegun.be
And this is how the "Star" Model B looks in the hand of ... a left-hander. And its dimensions are quite acceptable, as are the weight and coverage. A rectangular cutout is visible on the trigger, but you don't need to pay attention to it: it was made exclusively to bring the pistol into a non-combat state. The combat samples do not have such a cutout. Photo by the author
The frame of the BCS model was made of light alloy, so it turned out to be the lightest among the "old". Then the BKM model appeared, differing in finish. She had notches for fingers on the casing of the shutter were inclined, while the previous one was vertical. But, be that as it may, models A and B are considered to be the main success of the company "Echeverria". No wonder they have become very widespread, and not only in Spain. Experts note their reliability, high quality workmanship and coating, and, which is very important for short-barreled weapons, high accuracy. The 9mm pistol fits comfortably in the hand, unlike its American counterpart, which is not suitable for every hand! So although this is a copy, it is very good!
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