Astra-Unceta Y CIA SA - Mod.900, M 400, Mod.600

Mod.900, M 400, Mod.600

In 1927, begin the series production of Mod.900 largely inspired by famous Mauser C96 and intended for the Nationalist Chinese. Some of these models (Mod.903) were found in the hands of German soldiers during the second world war while the model F equipped the Guardia Civil.

Although the series production of this model ceased in 1937, small quantities continued to be assembled later from remaining stocks.

Astra mod.400, or Model 1921, a weapon of legend. In France, the Model 400 was called the “French-bean”, because its principal characteristic drawn from the ammunition as varied as 9mm Largo (the original caliber), 9mm Steyr, 9mm Short, 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Browning Long, 9mm Glisenti, and .38 ACP.

The success of this weapon was such that it was produced until 1941. The weapon was exported to Chile, Germany, Colombia, Ecuador and France. 106,175 units were manufactured, the majority in 9 mm Largo. One also notes the production of parts in the following calibers: 7.63 Mauser, 7.65 mm Parabellum or .30 Luger as well as 9 mm Parabellum.

M 400, model 1921/Spanish

• Republic destination approximately 35.000 units
• Guardia Civil approximately 10.300 units
• customs Agents approximately 1.400 units
• Corps of safety 227 units
• Republic Spanish Navy 1.650 units
• Chilean Marines 842 units exported
• Gouvernement Basque 14.800 units
• Troupe Nationalist 825 units (unknown destination)
• Armée Nationalist (Free) 27.125 units
• Armée III Reich (Hitler) 6.000 units exported

M 400, model F.ASCASO (characteristic)

During the Civil War, the employees of Astra alined with the Republicans while the owner, Mr. Uncetta, a Nationalist, annoyed with some of the new authorities of the Basque government which resulted from the elections of 1936, left the company, and over to the Nationalists.

In April 1937, the town of Guernica was bombed by the aircraft of the Condor Legion. Nationalist troops seized the city later a few days and manufactures it, redirected by Uncetta, started to produce in an intensive way for the troops of Free and the armies of Third Reich.

With this completely unforeseen situation, the Republican camp decided on the creation of two military arsenals. The first was established in the suburbs of Barcelona. It produced the M 400 model 1921 called “el puro”, which was renamed F.ASCASO in the honor of a famous anarchistic leader, friend of Buenaventura Durruti, killed in the first battle of Barcelona. The weapon manufactured in this new republican arsenal, whose workmen were in their immense majority of the anarchist-trade unionists of powerful federation CNT, was of an about equal quality and a precision identical to that of its counterpart of the Basque Country in spite of particular dimensions, and difficulties of obvious provisioning and organization. The total production was approximately 8.000 parts. Machine pistols were also produced in this factory; they are easily identifiable by the gravage of three letters CNT on the side of the cylinder head.

Another copy of the M 400 was carried out by another arsenal in the area of Valencia. It is recognizable by the presence of logo R.E. (Spanish Republic) on the plates of the gun. 15.000 units were produced in this firm throughout conflict. No marking of a bench test is present on all these copies. The completion is different compared to the original because of the great diversity from the treatments of surface whose each arsenal used a clean formula. Another copy of Astra M400 (less known) named ORPHAN exists. It was manufactured in the 1930s when ASTRA exported and manufactured on the Asian continent, its exact origin to date remains obscure and unknown.

Caliber: 9x23 mm Largo, also called 9 mm Bergmann-Bayard & 9mm Mars, a ctg. very similar to the 9mmx23mm Steyr, all rimless versions of the earlier Colt .38acp Overall length: 220 mm Length gun: 150 mm Height: 120 mm Weight: Magazine: 8 round simple column

F.ASCASO TARRASA 9 LARGO

Safety is on the left side of the weapon, and is plastic Grips are black, marked with a circle name F.ASCASO Cylinder head steel the logo in a circle marked F.ASCASO, TARRASA, CATALUNA

1930

a gun of indication gauges 12 for a military use of them and others was adopted by the army and the Spanish navy. Other governments adopted it too; it will be named ASTRA 500.

ASTRA model 600

Whereas the government, resulting from the civil war, carries out the closing of many arms factories, Unceta y Compañia, in company of rare firms such Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A. and Gabilondo y Compañia are authorized to continue their activities. During the Second World War, in spite of the official neutrality of Spain, the firm takes part in the German effort of war by the means of the Astra 600. According to the schedule of conditions of the German Army, it will be confined in 9mm Parabellum, manufacture will begin in 1943, and 10,450 copies of the 600 were delivered in May and June 1944. The deliveries ceased vis-a-vis the military situation on France. The contract will be honoured well later in 1950 and 1951. The German Federal Republic, to arm its police officers will require of allied the possibility of being made deliver the balance of the weapons paid in 1944. In 1950, a first delivery of 3.500 units will take place, followed, in 1951, of the balance of the contract initiated during the conflict and correspondent with 31,350 more 600s delivered.

The other nations which imported the Astra 600 are:

• Portugal, 800 specimens;
• Chile, 450 specimens;
• Jordan, 200 specimens;
• Turkey, 200 specimens;
• The Philippines, Costa-Rica, and Egypt all ordered small quantities, also

The Astra 600/43, as is true with the vast majority of handgun designs, continues to be carried to a very limited degree by civilians. Many were imported into the USA and sold to the general public, where they still see some use. The design is generally considered ugly and antiquated in its appearance and its method of disassembly and re-assembly for cleaning is often intimidating. Despite this, the weapon has remarkable design strengths in terms of safety, durability, reliability, accuracy and (surprisingly to many due to its awkward appearance), ergonomics. The cartridge it fires is reasonably powerful and widely available globally, and as is the case with many early 20th Century guns, production costs to manufacture faithful new copies of the design would be prohibitively expensive due to machine time and the use of large amounts of expensive steel.