somd_mustangs
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- Jul 1, 2012
- 5,739
Hasn't been much pistol stuff lately so here's an interesting one.
This is a Star Model B in 9x19mm, delivered in the first shipment as part of the first WW2 German contract in May 1942.
There were two "Lots" of 2000 pistols each (Lot 7, shipped 5/15/42 and Lot 10, shipped 5/29/42) in the first contract. None of these 1st contract pistols received any German proofs, and the pistols were in a block of consecutive serial numbers (210951-214950). A 2-pistol shipment was sent 6/5/1942 probably to replace damaged/lost pistols (214951 and 214952).
A total of 6 lots (shipments) for 20,500 Star B pistols went to the Army and 2 lots totaling 6500 pistols went to the Kriegsmarine (Navy).
The 1943 deliveries received WaA251 Waffenamts (although some didn't), and the 1944 deliveries received WaAD20 Waffenamts. The final 1944 shipment was never delivered, so they were not marked by the Germans in WW2. Most of the pistols from that shipment (Lot 20) wound up being sold back to the West German police in the early 1950's and have an LPN stamp (or similar) on the front frame strap.
Note that there are a number of faked WaA251 pistols out there, that were originally Bulgarian contract guns.
This non-Waffenamt Model B has been a tough one to find. Partly because there weren't many made compared to the WaA251 and WaAD20's, partly because of an extra year of attrition, and mostly because the only way to tell is by the actual serial number. Fortunately for the collector, the valid serial numbers for all the German shipments are well-documented.
This pistol came with the relatively uncommon Star magazine with the factory spacer to accommodate the shorter Parabellum round. Star quickly dropped that in favor of the much simpler longer feed lips.
One interesting note is that the slide has the same "9 m/m" marking as the Star A, which is 9x23 Largo. At some point, the Model B barrels were marked with "Cal. 08" to denote the 9mm Parabellum chambering, but these very first guns didn't have that. The slide marking also changed later to include "F. Patr 08" to denote the Parabellum.
This is a Star Model B in 9x19mm, delivered in the first shipment as part of the first WW2 German contract in May 1942.
There were two "Lots" of 2000 pistols each (Lot 7, shipped 5/15/42 and Lot 10, shipped 5/29/42) in the first contract. None of these 1st contract pistols received any German proofs, and the pistols were in a block of consecutive serial numbers (210951-214950). A 2-pistol shipment was sent 6/5/1942 probably to replace damaged/lost pistols (214951 and 214952).
A total of 6 lots (shipments) for 20,500 Star B pistols went to the Army and 2 lots totaling 6500 pistols went to the Kriegsmarine (Navy).
The 1943 deliveries received WaA251 Waffenamts (although some didn't), and the 1944 deliveries received WaAD20 Waffenamts. The final 1944 shipment was never delivered, so they were not marked by the Germans in WW2. Most of the pistols from that shipment (Lot 20) wound up being sold back to the West German police in the early 1950's and have an LPN stamp (or similar) on the front frame strap.
Note that there are a number of faked WaA251 pistols out there, that were originally Bulgarian contract guns.
This non-Waffenamt Model B has been a tough one to find. Partly because there weren't many made compared to the WaA251 and WaAD20's, partly because of an extra year of attrition, and mostly because the only way to tell is by the actual serial number. Fortunately for the collector, the valid serial numbers for all the German shipments are well-documented.
This pistol came with the relatively uncommon Star magazine with the factory spacer to accommodate the shorter Parabellum round. Star quickly dropped that in favor of the much simpler longer feed lips.
One interesting note is that the slide has the same "9 m/m" marking as the Star A, which is 9x23 Largo. At some point, the Model B barrels were marked with "Cal. 08" to denote the 9mm Parabellum chambering, but these very first guns didn't have that. The slide marking also changed later to include "F. Patr 08" to denote the Parabellum.