Post-war Period
The Spanish Army, faced with growing complaints that the Campo Giro was proving to be less durable than expected, and that disssembly was too difficult, began to search for a new service weapon. The response was swift, with Esperanza y Unceta submitting their newly designed Model 400, and Star their Model A. The Model 400 was designed by Pedro Careaga. Trials took place in 1920 and 1921 and included a 800 round endurance test and harsh condition testing. Under- and over-loaded ammunition was also used, and the pistols measured for wear after 1000 rounds had been fired. In September 1921, the Astra was adopted as the Pistola de 9mm Modelo 1921
They had a long career and stayed into production until 1967 and 1946 respectively.
Two versions were envisaged: The 400 intended for the army as well as the carabineros or frontier troops and the 300, a slightly smaller version, intended for naval and air force officers. The Model 300 would be emblematic of the firm.
Caliber for the 400 was the 9mm Bergman-Bayard, named after the first semi-automatic pistol in use with the Spanish Army. The caliber is known in Spain as the 9mm Largo (Long). During the Spanish Civil War, it was found it chambered the 9mm Parabellum cartridges supplied by Germany.
Offered in .32 ACP, 9mmP, or .380 ACP, 153,085 copies were produced; 63,000 of these in .380 delivered to Germany, 22,390 in .32 ACP. The final destination of this large quantity of weapons remains an enigma.
The Astra 200, a clone of FN Model 1906, was produced with 234.105 specimens in several versions and calibers .25 ACP and .22 Short primarily. Manufacture ceased in 1967, mainly because of new customs rules in the United States.
In 1926 Juan Esperanza left the consortium and created his own company. The company changed name and became Unceta y Compania.
The following year, the Spanish Army launched a new program aiming at modernizing its armaments and it is once again Unceta which won the contract.
Read more about this topic: Astra-Unceta Y Cia SA
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