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The yard work can wait until later, on to more important matters! This past week in my wanderings I found this nazi contract Astra 400 rig. I suppose these would be considered somewhat rare as only 6,000 were manufactured for this contract order and it was fairly early in the war (4,500 Oct. and 1,500 Nov. 1941). This particular specimen is serial number 93,333. The contract serial range is 92,851--98,850 ("Astra Automatic Pistols" Leonardo M. Antaris pg. 75 & pg. 239). If you are interested in Astra pistols I would highly recommend the just mentioned book by Dr. Antaris.
This particular specimen is somewhat rough on the right side frame and slide. It has scattered patches of freckling/frosting probably from being holstered wet. It is however very nice internally where most surfaces and metal to metal contact points are prisitine. The barrel bore looks new with prominent and crisp definition between the lands and grooves and also very smooth and shiny. Probably carried a lot and used very little.
These Astra 400s for German procurement are not waffenampt stamped or proofed and bear only what Dr. Antaris calls the Type II late Eibar proofs. Consequently, this Astra 400 German contract order can only be identified by the serial number range. Apparently, the Heereswaffenamt (Army weapons office) had considerable confidence in the Spanish proofing process and thus no other German/Nazi marks are present. This sample is all matching with the serial number (or last few digits) on the right rear frame, right rear slide, left frame under left hand grip, barrel, & bottom rear of slide--see attached pictures.
The pistol came with two (2) magazines with the Astra logo on the magazine base plate and a very nice condition brown period correct holster. The holster in not maker marked or waffenamt stamped as is correct. The exact holster is pictured in Bender's book "Military Holsters of World War II" page 160. This is a well made holster patterned after other German holsters of the period but probably of Spanish origin.
Well onto the pictures and I hope you enjoy them:
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Right Side.jpg
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Left Side.jpg
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Rig.jpg
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Holster.jpg
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Slide detail.jpg
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Barrel Hood Marks.jpg
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Slide rail serial.jpg
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Nazi Contract Astra 400 Left frame serial.jpg
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Left frame serial marking under left wood grip.
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Astra 600, 300 & 400.jpg
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From the top Astra 600, 300 and 400 for comparison.
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Astras in their holsters.jpg
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Same pistols in their correct holsters.
This particular specimen is somewhat rough on the right side frame and slide. It has scattered patches of freckling/frosting probably from being holstered wet. It is however very nice internally where most surfaces and metal to metal contact points are prisitine. The barrel bore looks new with prominent and crisp definition between the lands and grooves and also very smooth and shiny. Probably carried a lot and used very little.
These Astra 400s for German procurement are not waffenampt stamped or proofed and bear only what Dr. Antaris calls the Type II late Eibar proofs. Consequently, this Astra 400 German contract order can only be identified by the serial number range. Apparently, the Heereswaffenamt (Army weapons office) had considerable confidence in the Spanish proofing process and thus no other German/Nazi marks are present. This sample is all matching with the serial number (or last few digits) on the right rear frame, right rear slide, left frame under left hand grip, barrel, & bottom rear of slide--see attached pictures.
The pistol came with two (2) magazines with the Astra logo on the magazine base plate and a very nice condition brown period correct holster. The holster in not maker marked or waffenamt stamped as is correct. The exact holster is pictured in Bender's book "Military Holsters of World War II" page 160. This is a well made holster patterned after other German holsters of the period but probably of Spanish origin.
Well onto the pictures and I hope you enjoy them:
Download Attachment:

72.12KB
Download Attachment:

67.94KB
Download Attachment:

86.35KB
Download Attachment:

86.14KB
Download Attachment:

27.21KB
Download Attachment:

51.6KB
Download Attachment:

74.76KB
Download Attachment:

66.96KB
Left frame serial marking under left wood grip.
Download Attachment:

100.6KB
From the top Astra 600, 300 and 400 for comparison.
Download Attachment:

90.57KB
Same pistols in their correct holsters.