Or, as the auctioneer announced it, 7 and, uhhh, point 65 caliber, causing just enough confusion in the country crowd that the gavel fell at $60, tickling the buyer to no end. At least it looks something like the Browning that inspired it.
It's a Model 1916 Astra patent, made by Esperanza y Unceta in Guernica, up in the Basque country, probably prior to the first great depression, the one before this one. Nine in the magazine. The barrel is marked "Hope," creating a certain insecurity about the confidence of the makers in its objective utility.
The apprehension was unfounded. The new owner might even have gone up to $100 on pure speculation that it was one of the good Spanish pocket pistols, and he would have won the bet. Frittering away a remarkable sum of money running factory ammunition through the new toy, he experienced no malfunctions and minute-of-thug accuracy over the length of an average living room. Or, as he remembers the session that cold afternoon, groups of about four inches at about 25 feet from an F150 hood rest.
It hasn't been shot since, not so much because he agrees the .32 is a little light for heavy situations, but because of the reloading hassle. It tosses brass to Hell and gone, making the tinies hard to find. And he can never get used to placing the bullets over the neck with a pair of tweezers.
But it's nice enough to keep, and he'll probably pop for more practice ammo. Who knows when he'll need something small enough to slip under his cummerbund?
8 comments:
Top of frame and slide bear a strong resemblance to my '03 Colt--the handle/grip not so much. But, for $60, a heck of a buy. JAGSC
The grip is clunky -- like something the French or Brits might have built-- and I can't imagine why they didn't carry the Colt lines all the way through. Maybe something to do with the internals. If I ever have to bench strip it, I'll look for differences.
I still covet a 1903.
32 ACP? Tweezers? Hey, you should reload 25 ACP (And I useta, for my Astra 200, until I found a lifetime supply of old stock).
I collect Spanish handguns, they're neat.
The Spanish were good at simplifying and cheapifying. Some day I'll post pics showing the Star M disconnector compared to the 1911, for example.
Anyway, thanks, nice pr0n :-)
I keep meaning to pick up a "Ruby". One could have a sizable collection of nothing but those, with no two from the same village 'smithy.
If the picture's any justice at all, that thing's in remarkable condition for its age. For $60, I'd have certainly taken the gamble!
tweaker
Where can I buy an extra mag or two for this model Astra 1916 in 32 caliber? Or the 7.62x17!!! LOL! thanks
Where can I buy an extra mag or two for this model Astra 1916 in 32 caliber? Or the 7.62x17!!! LOL! thanks
Boy, you did dig deep in the archives, didn't you?:) Thanks for reading.
If you strike out checking the usual mail-order sources - available through listings on gunbroker.com -- I suggest hitting large gun shows. Over the past few years a number of makers have found it profitable to offer magazines for obscure pistols, and some dealers specialize in them. Look for the guy with about three tables full of nothing but magazines.
Post a Comment