1972 Star Super B

[Bafflingbs]

Anyone have one of these? I’ve never shot it. I bought it with my C&R license, when I had one, and never got around to shooting it. It’s been sitting in my safe, ever since. Are they worth holding onto? This one seems to be in beautiful shape, for being 52 years old. Almost looks like it’s never been shot.

 

[mawkie]

I would hold onto that one if it was in my safe. Will only go up in value, especially with that high level of finish. Probably the nicest Super B I've seen.

 

[rifelman]

I have a couple and like them. If you aren’t in love with it, I am interested and close

 

[calicojack]

I have read lots of positive comments about them but heave never seen one.

 

[calicojack]

Yeah, I would have been happy that purchase.

 

[Worsley]

That is a super cool pistol!

 

[basscat]

Not sure of the super B but it they are anything like the "b", don't dry fire it. The Star b has a tendency to break firing pins when dry fired.

 

[Neutron]

Looks like a very nice one. A friend of mine bought one a few months ago and it broke after one magazine through it. Broken firing pin. Parts for the Star B can be difficult to find depending on the version/vintage. He was lucky to find the correct firing pin for his. Runs great now.

 

[Mark75H]

I have one, they are good shooters. As above, the only drawback is they are a little uncommon and there aren't a whole lot of spare parts for them. As long as you don't get unlucky, wear it out or abuse it, it should be a useful keeper.

 

[Bafflingbs]

Thanks guys! Will definitely hold onto it then.

 

[Mark75H]

Mine is a Spanish National Police trade-in. Looks almost as nice as yours. Has the government marking milled off.
Remember:

Francisco Franco is still dead.

 

[TwinTurbskis]

Very cool pistol. I have a soft spot for Spanish pistols.

 

[Bafflingbs]

Mine is a Spanish National Police trade-in. Looks almost as nice as yours. Has the government marking milled off.
Remember:

How would I know if mine was? It has all the roll marks intact. I think it also has a holster

 

[Mark75H]

 

[Threeband]

Don't those benefit from a spacer in the back of the magazine to increase reliability?

They were chambered for 9x23mm Largo.

 

[Mark75H]

Not all. IDK how many were 9mm and how many were other

 

[somd_mustangs]

Don't those benefit from a spacer in the back of the magazine to increase reliability?

They were chambered for 9x23mm Largo.

The Model B series are 9x19 Parabellum. The Model A and just plain "Modelo Super" are the Largo chambering. Star did use a spacer in the magazine at first for the 9x19 but quickly dropped that and went to longer feed lips. So a Model A and Model B magazine look almost identical but the feed lips are a wee bit different. Not sure about the Super "A" and the Super B mags, which are different than the original A and B.

One thing to watch out for with the Super series is the takedown latch. It's really weak and the lever on the right side can break off - don't pry on it. Finding another one is pretty much impossible unless someone (JackFirst maybe?) has reproduced them recently.

from guns.com, (Photo: Francis Borek)

 

[somd_mustangs]

BTW if you take the left grip panel off, the Spanish date proofs should be on the frame. That "72" may or may not be the actual date.

Star Firearms: Dating your Star Pistol with Proofmarks

 

[Bafflingbs]

BTW if you take the left grip panel off, the Spanish date proofs should be on the frame. That "72" may or may not be the actual date.

Star Firearms: Dating your Star Pistol with Proofmarks

 

[somd_mustangs]

Cool... Q1 is the 1972 date code so that works out. I think the number on right side of frame and slide (45xxx) is a military property/rack number. The long number on left of frame is the actual S/N. IMHO PW ARMS wins the prize for the all-around worst import marks - at least this one is a clean, nicely-aligned rollmark/stamp and not one of their horrid dot-prick drunk monkey versions