Now here is a question that some eagle eyed forum members might know the answer to...I don't this one...Why did Star and Astra go out of business? They were mainstay's of the Spanish military for many, many years and then one day they were gone. Seems like the Firestar .45 was even Gun of the Year just a few years ago. Don't even know what year they closed up shop. What happened here? I own 4 Firestars and 3 Astra and think that they are quite under-rated. Just was wondering.....
Randy

Found this. Ironically , Llama , which IMO were the worst of the Spanish arms makers , lives on.

The end
The 1990s were bad for defense companies all over the world. For the most part, companies in smaller markets either found their niche and flourished (Diemaco), or slowly perished. In Spain Star, Astra and CETME met their end.

While Star introducted modern technology and manufacturing methods, including aluminum frames, plastics, and a selective double-action, double-column series of pistols, management crises and poor understanding of the new EU open markets led to reduced sales and profitability.

The final years at Star saw a relative flurry of new models, and court challenges over restructuring plans and massive layoffs.

Much of the descent was too slow to have perhaps noticed at the time. In 1975 the factory employed 411 workers, but this had slowly decended to to 141 in 1993. A plan was forumlated which would have cut half of those workers immediately, but this fell through.

Star filed for bankruptcy protection in late 1993 after taking out loans to invest in new CNC machinery. They were indirectly affected by the Asian economic crisis; Spanish banks tried to cover Asian investment losses by turning the screws on those nearby companies owing them money, like Star. Star and Astra began cooperative investment and discussions of mergers in the mid 90s, but Astra was not in much better shape, so this eventually dragged both companies down.

I heard numerous rumours around this time that a large foreign cooperative, like Beretta, would snap them up, as they did with Sako. This was not to be however (and really doesn't make sense from a product line point of view).

Employees of both companies, through their unions I believe, tried to set up a cooperative to take control of the companies. They planned to upgrade operations again, but also ran into trouble overextending themselves financially, and eventually these organizations also sought protection under bankruptcy laws.

On May 27, 1997 both Star and Astra closed their doors, and were placed in the Spanish equivalent of Chapter Seven bankruptcy, under the control of a Basque regional judge. Eventually, an agreement was reached that settled sufficient outstanding debt, and allowed some of the machinery and the intellectual property to be resurrected in two new companies. Much machinery was also sold at auction to pay debtors. Apparently all unassembled or unsold barrels and frames were destroyed by government order when the company closed. Unregistered parts were retained and seem to still be available thru Ipar (see below).

Star and Astra combined into one company under the ASTAR name, with a new factory, which manufactures a range of new firearms. For their part of the story, read on.

Another facet of the company was allowed to continue under the name Ipar Guns. They make a small number of custom weapons, conduct DEWATS on others, and provide a range of parts and gunsmithing services on Star and Astra pistols. The parts page has current contact information and other details on their operations.

Llama is one of the few Spanish gunmakers to exist "intact," though actually under new management, as Fabinor (supposedly at Welcome to fabrinor-llama.com - Search Results for "fabrinor-llama.com" but that's not working right now). They do make some firearms, but are primary focused on contract forging, casting and machine work.

That is the best information I have seen. Thank You!! Didn't know about the ASTAR thing...will research that as well.
Randy

I found an Astra "Terminator" 2 5/8" .44 Mag a few months back for a pretty low price. I wasn't sure about it but decide to give it a try... and boy am I glad I did!

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- The Federalist #46 -

Had a Star PD 45 once wish I still had it.

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Stan

I have an Astra A-80 in .45 ACP. Probably the best gun, in terms of value for $, that I ever bought.

imjin138...
There is a very nice condition Star PD with three magazines in a local shop here in Billings. I think he was asking $350.00....if you want more info. PM me and I will get you the store contact information.
Randy

i have a llama c/f 45 that im quite fond of ,so far everyone who have bad mouth it before shooting it have changed their mind . im no fool i know that all llamas are not created equal

I had a Star PD and an Astra A-75 at one time. Had a lot of problems with both. Wasn't impressed by either one of them. Guess I'm just not a fan of Spanish pistols.

+1 I have one of the Star PD .45's in my gun safe and it is probably the most reliable auto pistol I have ever owned. It digests anything I've ever stuffed in it from handloads to esoteric factory loads. It is a heavy little bugger but it sure shoots well.

I got a Star BM on a great deal last year.It has the best trigger of any handgun that I have ever shot.Other than being on the heavy side,it is a great handgun.The problem is that the wife likes it better and now claims it as her own since it is perfect for small hands.

A college and Army friend bought one from the Cavalry Store near Ft. Knox during the brief time in which they sold firearms. It was a very nice gun, albeit with significantly more recoil than my M1911.

Never had any of the newer production from any of the companys but for quite a while I accumulated alot of Star & Astra semiautos.
The newest one was made in the 50's except for the Star Model PS.

Sold everything off except a Star Model 1920, three Star Model F .22 auto pistols inclu one target model and an Astra 4000 in .22lr (in rebuild mode!)
The most recent to go was a pre war Star CO 25auto w/ the box and papers. Neat little external hammer auto.
My Astra 400 & 600 were very well made pistols. The 600 was a favorite 9mm shooter. Would have kept them but I couldn't shoot them anymore.

Still got my Astra 600. First 9mm pistol I ever owned. Previous owner bought it for $19.95 back in the 60s , mail-order.

Got 2 Stars , a 9mm M-43 Firestar , which is often carried , and a 30-M. That thing is built like a tank , and weighs about as much. Still , it's a very accurate and reliable pistol. I use it to train new shooters because the weight steadys it and soaks up recoil.

I remember the Astra Constables and Star M30s as well-reputed guns back in the 90s. I hate seeing the smaller companies vanish.

The gun industry in America and elsewhere is rather small, and it takes less to topple small industries. Remington and other companies have sought to broaden their industrial base (and ensure their financial survival) by accumulating smaller gun companies via buy-outs. It is leaving fewer small manufacturers in place and a handful of larger ones. If this trend persists, the two-edged sword of reduced competition means the industry survivors will be strong, but monopolies, "with their customers over a gun barrel," aren't afraid to pull the trigger on price-gouging.

We need small gun companies, not only for the price advantage they can offer but also for the innovations they bring which larger companies, with a lethargic corporate culture, are sometimes incapable of.

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Southern Conservative

About the only segment of the market that has a plethora of small gunmakers is the AR style market.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Back in days of yore, bought a Llama .45 ACP because I didn't have the vig for a Colt. Salesman assured me it was "just as good as a Colt and the parts interchanged". I don't think any of the parts would interchange with USGI including the magazines, which, if you could find them, were terribly expensive. Was a jammo-matic to boot! Once I could afford a 1911-A1, I traded that *** in on it and let some other sucker worry about care and feeding. Think I did get about what I paid for it on allowance for the Colt. Still have the Colt and will until they close the lid on the box!

i recently purchased a Astra A-80 .45 in pretty good shape, but i like the round spur hammer that came on the A-90 7 A-100 model. Does anyone know if the parts r interchangeable?

That was a nice little gun.

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Pray for Gridlock

When I had my FFL, I sold a ton of new or like new military/police model B's and also BM. IIRC I was selling the B's at $89.00 each and some were brand new and unfired in the box. IIRC the B was a Navy model.

An Army friend had the same gun. He loved it. He bought it from the Cavalry Store outside Ft. Knox in the brief period in which they sold guns.

I always liked the Astra and Stars. Wish I had some of them back.

I had a 1970s manufactured Astra Constable .380 as my first CCW. The Constable was very well made, nicely finished and accurate. Alas, I traded to a friend many years ago.

Astra is again a new company in switzerland now. They produce an all forged steel 1911. Astra and Star guns are very well known in europe like S&W and Colt here in the usa.

My LLama Extra in 9mm largo/38 auto is the full sized 1911 clone. Star, LLama and astra pistols its all good.