[rambob]

I am new to this forum but have been collecting WWII and WWI pistols for almost 30 years. I have an Astra 400 #98901 that a bought many moons ago. According to Jan Stills excellent book Axis Pistols, this pistol is 51 numbers later than the end of the Nazi contract, last number being #98850. My copy of the book is pretty old and I am curious if any new information has come to light lately that could expand that serial range a bit. Say by at least 51 numbers as I cross my fingers!! I was lucky in that I originally bought the gun without paying any premium on the serial number. Regardless I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the big, ugly thing.

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[cj029]

rambob,

I have the third printing of Jan's book: "Axis Pistols", dated 1989, and in Table 4, on page 114 he does list the German serial number range on the Model 400 as you have it: 92851-98850.

In Leonardo Antaris book: "Astra Automatic Pistols", on page 69, he says in part: "...while a second group of 5950 guns were authorized by Franco to be delivered to Nazi Germany in 1941 (encompassing serial range #92851-98800)".

HOWEVER, on page 75 he states: 92851-98850 in a shipment of 6000 pistols to the German Army in 1941, and 98851-99050 in a shipment of 200 to the Army Armory in Seville, in 1942. ???

Could the first statement in Mr. Antaris' book be a mis-print???

I don't guess that this really helps you much, but it's all the information I could find. And you're right, the Astra 300, 400, and 600 sure are ugly! But they are well made!

Charles

 

[rambob]

Charles, Thanks so much for the information!!! I also have Axis Pistols from 1989 and except for that reference, I had no other serial number ranges. It is interesting that my pistol, worst case appears to be part of a very small lot of pistols immediately after the Nazi contract. I was just hoping that maybe something new had come to light in the 15 years since 1989 with the Nazi serial range.