WWII collectors may like a rare and desirable Star

I picked this Spanish Star (German WWII contract) this past weekend along with the 4inch Colt PP Target (what a contrast). This is one hard gun to find because less than 20,000 were acquired by the German army and navy (Mine was shipped to a German depot in May 1944). You have to be careful because of a Bulgarian purchase around the same time, and in the early 50s they put German markings on them so they would sell. The Star B is a well built 9mm. that looks very much like a 1911AI...nice grips and bluing.
thanks for looking,
Joe

english said:

.....This is one hard gun to find because less than 20,000 were acquired by the German army and navy (Mine was shipped to a German depot in May 1944)......

Click to expand...

Cool. How do you date and place it so accurately? Unfortunately, the detail of the back part is out of focus; is that a Waffenamt stamp?

Here's what info I have on the ser# ranges for both the Bulgarian and the German/Nazi contract STAR Model B pistols.
I still see many of the Bulgarian Model B pistols around at shows with the faked WaA marking on them. Don't pay a premium for it.
They are the same pistol made about the same time as the German contract and if you just want a shooter, there you are.



Bulgarian Contract Star Model B:
Date Ser# range
9/9/43: 225007 to 225775; 226101 to 230331
12/2/43: 230332 to 230375; 230826 to 231756; 231758 to 235782
3/23/44: 235901 to 240900

These are the pistols that flooded the USA surplus market in the 90's. MAny were remarked WaA251 in attempts to cash in on the higher value of the German contract pistols of the same model.
The Bulgarian Contract guns were standard Commercial Model B STAR pistols. Nothing special on them as far as markings to indicate property of or issue by Bulgaria.

******************************************
Nazi/German contract STAR Model B pistols:

May 15 and 28, 1942. Serials 210951-214950 (No Waffenampt on these IIRC)

July 26, 1943. Waffenampt WaA251. Patr. 08 added to slide inscription(?)
Army: 214953-216200; 216251-217502; 222457-222675; 222701-222750; 223776-225006.
Navy: 217503-218042;218044-218048; 218050-218123; 218125-219400; 219501-219530; 219532-219950; 220026-220942; 220944-221200; 221976-222456,

May 29, 1944,
Army: 244503-247002, Navy 242003-244502. Patr. 08 added to slide inscription. Waffenampt WaAD20.
June 6, 1944 248001-254300, and 254551-256250.

Last Shipment - never made it to Germans.
256251-258000, and 260001-260250.
These went to West German Police after WW2


Some of the numbers and dates may be challenged by finding other listings of the ser# range for both contracts. I've come to expect that but when dealing with old records. But these seem to line up for comparison purposes.
The faked Waffenamp marking is generally easy to spot on the Bulgarian pistols as it's not quite 'correct' looking. looks like it was applied earlier that same day, and in many cases it's a sharp and raised stamping but under the bluing on otherwise heavily refinished guns.

The waffenamt stamps on the Bulgarian ones look nothing like a real one.

I own one of the late serial numbered Star B pistols. A Century import from years back. It's date coded to 1944 but the serial number is a bit higher than any of the listed numbers for the German or Bulgarian contracts.

My Star B doesn't have a lanyard ring...no 'LPN' West German stamp...nothing but normal Star/Spanish markings. I've always guessed it's probably a West German police pistol...but then it may have stayed in Spain. Really no way to tell...well used where ever it's been.

The magazines for these are weird and deep enough to hold long 9mm Largo/.38 acp/.38 Super length cartridges. Seem to work well enough with the shorter 9mm Luger. My pistol just has 9mm on the slide and 'Cal 08' on barrel.

More pictures of Sar B

The Star pictured was shipped May 29, 1944 serial # range was established by 2152hq mine falls in between the numbers for that that range. (You, 2152hq, put a lot of research into your thread, amazing and very much appreciated!) A hard German contract to find and very expensive when you do! Waffenampt is out of focus but WaAD20.
Thanks for looking,
Joe........ May I add.....This is a very well rounded Forum and not just with S&Ws!

Nazi Contract Lot 14 delivered July 26 1943, WaA251 marked.



The additional "B" marking on the tang still has unknown meaning.


Nazi Contract Lot 20 delivered June 7 1944, not marked, returned back to Star. These were later used by the West German Police and are marked LPN on the gripstrap(Landes-Polizei-Niedersachsen). Small parts were serialed to the pistol and I believe the grips were replaced at the same time.

"Last Shipment - never made it to Germans.
256251-258000, and 260001-260250.
These went to West German Police after WW2"

Yes they did!

I have one of these, SN 25770?, honestly don't recall the last digit. Bought many years ago with 2 magazines and the policy clamshell holster for $250 as I recall. Condition slightly better than CSU's with the plain stocks and is L.P.N. marked. For those who don't know, the Landes Polizei Nedersachsen translates roughly "National Police of Lower Saxony"

Sort of silly reason I bought it, the hammer has the most beautiful color case-hardening you have ever seen, puts most S&W work to shame! No, I probably would have bought it anyway. The only problem is I get hammer-bite with it even worse than a 1911.

Yes...Star back in the day had superb color-case on some parts. My Star B has been used a lot..however the color-case on the hammer is nice...take the right grip off and the trigger-bar case colors are magnificent!!

The Star bluing is pretty tough too. Although my 1944 Star B has seen much use and has a few rust spots and scratches/abrasions all over the blue finish...the blue appears original and amazingly intact. I bought a surplus Star 30M a few years ago and it is still wearing a good blue finish. My recent Star BM has the most worn blue with the finish worn on the front and back-strap...but really looks nice otherwise.

Star was capable of a superb finish!