Page 218 - 88-BOOK3

LOT 3368
Rare Early Production, 1924
Dated Star Model P Semi-
Automatic Pistol in .45 ACP -
Serial no. 224, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch
round bbl., blue finish, plastic
grips. Manufactured from 1923 to 1931, these Model P pistols were based heavily on John Browning’s design for the Model 1911 pistol and were intended for use by the Spanish
military. This is one of only approximately
11,168 Model P pistols manufactured. With
many being exported to South America or
seeing hard use during the Spanish Civil War, these pistols very rarely come up on the American collector’s market. This example is marked with
LOT 3370
Excellent French Manufrance St.
Etienne Model 1928 Armee Type
Le Francais Semi-Automatic Pistol
- Serial no. 9597, 9mm Browning Long cal., 5 inch
ribbed bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Introduced in
1928 and manufactured until 1939, the Model 1928 Armee is a
straight blowback double action only semi-automatic pistol in
9mm Browning Long. While using a spring loaded slide like most
20th century automatic pistols, the 28’s slide was not meant to be pulled back by
the operator; instead a lever on the right side operates the flip-up barrel to either hand-load the first round or manually extract the cartridge to clear the weapon, with
a spring-loaded carrier mounted to the magazine floor plate to store said cartridge. Fixed sights, with a smooth ribbed barrel, the one-line Saint-Etienne address on the
left of the slide, “FRANCO” on top, and “FABRICATION FRANCAISE” on the right. The barrel latch and trigger are casehardened, with a set of smooth brass medallions on the checkered grips and a full blue magazine equipped with a cartridge loop.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% original blue finish with some scattered minor
freckling. 60% plus vivid original case colors remain, mostly concentrated on the sides of the
trigger. Grips are very fine with one cracked/absent section on the bottom rear of the left panel and otherwise minimal handling evidence. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3371
Star Model MMS Semi-
Automatic Pistol - Serial no.
1197639, 7.63 mm Mauser auto
cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish,
plastic grips. Manufactured as one of only 1,174 built, and one
of only 325 in 1972, per page 431 of “Star Pistols” by Leonardo M.
Antaris. The Star MMS was produced as a way to circumvent the
pricing freeze set in place by the Spanish government to combat
inflation in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The MMS was the same as the standard
MM pistol both with a magazine safety added in order to legally count as a new
model. These pistols found favor in Pakistan, which allowed Star to produce the pistol until 1985. This example features fixed blade front and notch rear sights as well as a set of checkered brown and black mottled plastic grips. The left side of the frame has the Star address and caliber marking, and the butt is marked with the model. The checkered arched backstrap is cut for a now absent shoulder stock.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% original blue finish with some handling marks, a
couple small dings, and crisp backstrap checkering. The slightly age shrunken grips are
very fine with a few light handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 3372
World War I Imperial German Mauser C96
Broomhandle “Red 9” Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial
no. 46915, 9 mm Luger cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. This is a standard World War I contract
Mauser Model 1896 “Red 9” Broomhandle pistol. The
right of the frame and top of the chamber have standard
Mauser Oberndorf manufacturer markings, and “crown/
crown/U” proofs and German military acceptance marks are located on the barrel, barrel
extension and bolt. It has a standard fixed front sight, rear sight marked “50-500”, and the
hammer marked with the intertwined “NS” for new safety. Matching visible serial numbers
on various components including the inside of the floorplate and locking block. Fitted with
standard grooved grips with the large number “9” on each side filled with red paint.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% plus original blue finish with smooth gray and brown patina
on the balance, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Grips are also very fine with
crisp serrations, some light handling marks and half of the original red paint visible in the defined red 9’s. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
its “1924” manufacture date on the top rear of the
slide. The left side of the slide is marked “BONAFACIO
ECHEVERRIA EIBAR <ESPANA> STAR CAL. 45” with a
Spanish rampant lion proof
behind the serrations. The left
of the frame has “crown/shield”,
rampant lion, and “PV” proofs.
The early three-digit serial number
is marked on the butt. It is fitted with blade and windage adjustable notch sights, long smooth trigger, serrated slide stop, Second Model pattern thumb safety, and hammer, First Model smooth flat back strap, a lanyard ring on the lower left, and checkered grips with the Star trademark.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original high polish blue finish with the balance thinning to mostly a smooth grey patina, a brown patina on the grip straps and a few scattered patches of light surface pitting. The grips
are good with a repaired crack in the right panel, a hairline crack at the top of the right panel, and some minor handling marks throughout, with well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Writer cannot recall another example at our auction!
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
LOT 3369
SERIAL NUMBER 224
Scarce Spanish Campo-Giro Model 1913-16 Semi- Automatic Pistol with Holster - Serial no. 11565, 9 mm largo
cal., 6 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Reportedly, 13,000 of these pistols were manufactured. The left of the frame is marked “<Pist.a aut.a mod. 1913-16>/11565” ahead of an early Spanish military acceptance mark of a circle divided into three equal parts, and the top of the slide is
marked “CAMPO-GIRO/PAT. 34798-54214/1904-1913/five pointed star inside a wreath/ESPERANZA/Y/UNCETA/ GUERNICA”. The star and wreath logo is also stamped on the left side of the magazine, which has a matching serial number located on the follower. Fitted with two piece checkered walnut grips. Lanyard loop at the base of the back strap. Complete with an unmarked Spanish military leather flap holster with a magazine pouch on the flap, leather strap, and a pouch on the back containing a brass cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very fine as professionally restored, with 95% blue finish. Grips are also very fine with crisp
checkering and some light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Holster is fine. 216 Estimate: 2,500 - 4,500