Astra 400
| Unceta Astra 400 Pistol | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Service Pistol |
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1921-1950s |
| Wars |
Rif War, Spanish Civil War, World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1920s |
| Manufacturer | Astra-Unceta y Cia SA |
| Produced | 1921-1950 |
| No. built | approx 106,000 |
| Variants | Astra Model 300, Astra Model 600 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1.14 kg (2.5 lb) |
| Length | 225 mm (8.9 in) |
| Barrel length | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
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|
|
| Cartridge | 9mm Largo |
| Action | Blowback/Single |
| Muzzle velocity | 335 m/s (1,100 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 8 rounds Box |
| Sights | Front Blade, Rear Notch |
The Astra modelo 400 was a Spanish service pistol produced by weapons manufacturer Astra-Unceta y Cia SA. as a replacement for the Campo-Giro 1913/1916, which had also been chambered in 9mm Largo. It was the standard issue sidearm in the Spanish Army during the Spanish Civil War and also saw service in Germany during World War II.
The pistol was mass-produced and many examples still exist today. The Spanish Navy, along with the German Luftwaffe and the Chilean Navy primarily use the smaller variant Astra 300 and the Wehrmacht later altered the Astra 400 into the Astra 600 to better handle the 9mm Luger. The 400 was considered heavy as in order to handle the power of the 9mm Largo round in a blowback action the 400 had a reinforced slide and tough spring.
The Spanish War Ministry of King Alfonso XIII began tests in 1919 to replace the Campo Giro pistol as the standard military sidearm. The 9mm Largo Astra modelo 400, patented by Pedro Careaga, was selected for the Spanish Army in August 1921, and was also adopted by other Spanish Armed forces. Astra pistols were supplied to Republican Spain and to the Basque government which controlled the plant until the Bombing of Guernica in April, 1937. Astra pistols were subsequently produced for Nationalist troops, while Republican forces made approximately 22,000 copies of the pistol in Terrassa (marked F. Ascaso) and Valencia (marked RE for Republica Espanola). Astra production after the civil war was for Nationalist troops except serial numbers 92851 to 98850 for Nazi Germany. Astra continued private production until 1950 even though in 1946 the Spanish military adopted the Star Model A as the standard sidearm. Spanish military inventories were sold to civilian wholesalers between 1956 and 1965. A total of around 106,175 pistols were produced.
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Wikipedia