Way off topic Star B
 

I see advertised Star Model B with WWII German markings. Were these issued to the military? Are they cool?

Thanks Jan, I'm waiting on my C&R license. Hope they're still available when it comes.

Hi Mark!

Be very careful with these Star Model B pistols with â??Naziâ?� markings - their waffenamt may well be faked. Hereâ??s the problem.

According to Jan Stillâ??s wonderful â??AXIS Pistolsâ?� (Thank you, Jan!), the Third Reich Germany Army purchased 16,500 Star Model B pistols. There were an additional 10,500 Star Model B pistols procured for the German Navy.

Star Factory records indicate the Bulgarians also purchased 15,000 Star model B pistols. These pistols were shipped on three different dates, and the dates and serial numbers were:

Shipping Serial Number Range
Date
Sept. 1943 225007 - 225775 & 226101 - 230331
Dec. 1943 230332 - 230375 & 230826 - 231756 & 231758 - 237782
Mar. 1944 235901 - 240900

A relatively large number of these Bulgarian contract Star Model B pistols were recently imported by Cole Distributors, and lo and behold many of these Bulgarian contract pistols now have Third Reich waffenamt. The chances that the waffenamt on these Bulgarian contract pistols is authentic is small to vanishing. If you are offered a â??Nazi marked Star Model Bâ?� check the serial number and look for the import marking - and avoid paying for what is likely a recently added marking.

Warm regards,

Kyrie

Been thinking about getting one of these Stars myself. Price looks good, $180-250.

Stevie

Thanks to all. Kyrie, those are indeed the ones I'm looking at. I'll call them & check numbers
before I order. Others have them cheaper but don't advertise WWII markings.

I think I have just bought a Star B. Don't think it has any German markings. Hope she's a good one,{accurate, reliable, etc}. I'll let you know when I get it.

Wish me luck, Stevie.

Luck Stevie

Stevie and Mark A, for what it's worth!! I recently (about a year ago) bought a Star B from SOG for about $160. It is a pretty nice little 9mm. Shoots well and is a bunch of fun to make smoke and noise. I would take note of Terry Foley's suggestion, not to shoot "hot" ammo. The price of Waffenamt Star Bs is quite a bit higher that The $160 I paid. Waffenamt Star Bs in the 80% category have sold for about $450 and those in the high 90% go for $900 to $1400. As Kyrie suggests, make sure the serial number range is correct. Good Hunting!! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Critique of the Star B and Super B.

Not to put a damper on all of these favorable posts but lets take an in depth look at what this pistol will and will not do.

I have owned several and test fired several more.

The Good Points:

Unlike most modern pistols this one is made of quality materials and has some very good workmanship.

Accuracy is generally quite good.

Trigger pulls are good but a little on the heavy side.

The Bad Points:

This gun was originally designed for the 9mm Largo not the 9mm Luger and this is where the problems begin.

Both the Model B and the Model Super B were never really perfected. The first 3 rounds out of a loaded magazine will generally take a nose dive. If you are using FMJ ammo most of these pistols will work while some will not. Hollow points and cast bullets will give you fits. The magazine feed lips can be ajusted slightly which does help to a small degree but you will still have bullet nose down for the first 3 rounds out of the magazine.

I personally do not feel comfortable shooting this pistol because if a round would have the bullet set back as it fed into the magazine it could result in a blown up pistol.

I have personally seen the solid pin that holds in the extractor work its way out of its hole in the slide which results in an extractor going airborn. Make sure you constantly check the pin and restake it if it appears to be working itself out.

Never carry this gun with a round in the chamber because it does not have the inertia type firing pin. In other words if you lower the hammer on a chambered round the firing pin will be resting right smack dab against the live primer. Drop the weapon and it will probably fire.

I recently had mint example (non-import) that even had a matching serial numbered holster. It was not waffen proofed. Reluctantly I got rid of it for all of the above reasons. Perhaps I made a gross mistake because it certainly was a beautiful and well made pistol.

Got my Star B Wednesday. Looks good, shoots good. The letter code indicates 1944,cal.08 on barrel, no lanyard loop, diamond checkerd grips, 80% + original finsh with lots of small scratchs, excellent markings. Also bought a good Colt 1917 .45 revolver, good mechanical, no finish. Has good walnut grips all U.S.markings, and lanyard loop intact. Have not had a chance to shoot this gun, but did find my fullmoon clips and got her ready to go.

Stevie.

I've been shooting the heck out of my "new" Star B. No problems till last weekend, when it started jamming with both an empty case and a new round trying to get into the chamber. I looked it over, and found the hook gone off the end of the extracter. Strangly, the gun would still work about half the time. I spent last week looking for a new part, but no luck. It looked like a fairly simple part, so I spent Friday evening laborously die-grinding and filing a new one out of hardened 3/8 keystock. Works good, I fired a full 50 round box of shells this morning with no jams. New part looks better than the original one. Only took about ten manhours,and half a liter of cheap whiskey to make ( also ruined a new file). If anyone knows where to get an original part I'm going to be pissed.

Stevie.

well, I don't have the part, so you did the smart thing and made your own! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Good job, laborious but well worth it? [img]smile.gif[/img]

Stevie,
Did you try Numrich and Marstar? They both list the parts. I bought two of these pistols with phoney waffenamps. It still seemed like the best deal because they are in excellent condition with two magazines and cleaning rod. I wonder now if I should track down some extractors for spares. (mine are both good so far).

I'll be darned, Numerich does list the star B extractor. I must have missed it. I'll have to order me a spare. It may not be a bad idea to get a new extractor pin also, as my pistols pin moves up and down easy now (after I drove it in and out a dozen times). SOG has used(good)mags for less than $10, Numerich Has cz52 holsters for $14, which fit the star fairly good. I bought 2mags and A holster, makes an interesting kit. I hope to post pictures of my Lugers soon, maybe I'll try sneak the Star into the background.

Thanx, Stevie.

Hey Guys, my uncle gave me his Star 7.65/.32 auto
which he purchased in 1952. Its in mint cond with original box and papers. He said he paid about $40.00 for it back in 1952. Is it work much today?
No matter cause its not for sale. Any clue as to its value will be a plus to me.

Thanks Bob
rskovacs3376@yahoo.com

Bob, if you start your own thread it makes it a bit easier. Plus pictures help a lot in a rough value, plus an exact model of what you are looking for?
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Ed