Interesting Star Model 1921 / Model A

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  • Jul 1, 2012
    5,711
    This Star appears at first glance to be a Model 1921 (aka Modelo Militar 1921).
    The 1921 is unique as it is the only Star with a grip safety.
    These were contracted and sold exclusively to the Spanish Guardia Civil, but at some point there was enough extra production that Star decided to offer these commercially.

    This is a pretty rare and relatively unknown example of one of these commercial pistols, designated as a Model A.
    The Model A was produced in 9x23 Largo from the 1920's on up and had the same features as its corresponding "military" model.

    Anyway, around 1800 of these early A's with the grip safety were made (highest known is A1810).
    The only way to tell it apart from the M1921 is the S/N has an "A" prefix and the slide will not have the Guardia Civil crest.
    (although apparently some did slip through with a GC marking that was subsequently scrubbed).
    Also these early A's start at S/N A1 and go thru ~A1800, while the 1921 S/N runs from 3851 to 13500.

    This one retains all of its original parts, each has an assembly number of 92 unrelated to the S/N.
    That's pretty unusual in and of itself, very often an early Star of any model will have had parts lost and/or replaced, usually the barrel bushing, barrel and/or slide stop.

    What makes this pistol even more interesting is the rollmark on the right side, which consists of:
    Mexican crest (?) - actual crest is a golden eagle grasping a snake in it's mouth (meant to represent Quetzalcoatl I believe),
    "Modelo de Guerra adoptado por la Guardia Civil de Espana. Presentado en Mexico por la <Destroyer Trademark>"
    "Model of war <Military Model> adopted by the civil guard of Spain. Presented in Mexico by the <Destroyer Trademark>"

    It's also unusual to find an early Star that wasn't part of the massive Interarms purchase in the 1950's and 1960's, with associated "Made in Spain" and ".38" hand stamps, or other import marks.
    This one is free of those marks, which makes sense if it went to Mexico and then eventually into the US.

    Factory records show this was one of 100 pistols sent to Isidro Gaztanaga, Feb 10-11, 1922.
    Another block of 100 was sent in early March, and again in early April 1922.
    So conceivably this is one of 100, or one of 300 with this rollmark.

    Gaztanaga was the holder of the Destroyer trademark; they manufactured Ruby-style pistols and later may have been the first manufacturer of the Destroyer carbine.
    As far as I can tell the same oval trademark is found on the Destroyer carbine so this pistol actually supports that theory.

    Notably, not long after this Mexico ordered a large batch of Star Model P (.45) so this may have been a "gift" to get the wheels turning so to speak.

    (Data extracted from "Star Firearms" by Len Antaris, speculations purely mine :))
     

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    mawkie

    C&R Whisperer
    Sep 28, 2007
    4,337
    Catonsville
    Never seen one of these, just a bit of a write up in Len's book. And nothing about the Mexican heritage. Hell, they didn't make many of the military 1921, let alone commercial. The definition of rare. Cool find!
     

    freehouse

    Member
    Aug 26, 2020
    1
    I think what was happening here was that Isidro Gaztañaga was trying to secure orders for their new Destroyer Carbine chambered in 9 mm Largo. They made pistols also but nothing chambered in that round. One of the selling points for their rifle was that the Destroyer fired the large pistol round and a soldier carrying a pistol and a carbine chambered in the same round would help with logistics. Isidro Gaztañaga probably helped the Mexican government secure the pistols as part of a trial for their carbine. The year before Gaztañaga softened up the Mexican President, Obergon, by presenting him one of their Model 1919 pistols with a customized damascened finish.
     
    Jul 1, 2012
    5,711
    I think that's a pretty reasonable scenario, especially with the Destroyer trademark on the slide.
    A nod and a wink, a gift here, a gift there :)
     

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