My modest collection of German Handguns

[Jason L]

Not to correct you in any way (I swear I am not being sarcastic) but for the sake of being correct, the pistols were made under the occupation, except in the case of Spain, which was not occupied by the Germans. The Astra 600 was sold to the germans by the spanish government.

Regards,

Gus

And you would Know my friend,thanks for the correction.

[Jason L]

Sweeney your examples dont disappoint.How did you find the P.38s with serial #s so close?The Astra is great.Can you elaborate on the "captured".I collect Astras as well(Gus might be surprised).

Quoting Stills Axis Pistols vol 2 pg 115 -The Allied landings and subsequent battles resulted in the sealing of this border by the French Army and an additional completed lot of 28,000 Astra 600's went undelivered. These are in the 10501 to 38500 serial range and are dated 43,but are not waffen stamped.This undelivered range is known as the "second contract".

I am enjoying this thread and researching as we communicate.You mentioned you have a holster for the Astra,I would be very interested in seeing the leather.
Thanks Von

[guscanoesp]

Sweeney your examples dont disappoint.How did you find the P.38s with serial #s so close?The Astra is great.Can you elaborate on the "captured".I collect Astras as well(Gus might be surprised).

Quoting Stills Axis Pistols vol 2 pg 115 -The Allied landings and subsequent battles resulted in the sealing of this border by the French Army and an additional completed lot of 28,000 Astra 600's went undelivered. These are in the 10501 to 38500 serial range and are dated 43,but are not waffen stamped.This undelivered range is known as the "second contract".

I am enjoying this thread and researching as we communicate.You mentioned you have a holster for the Astra,I would be very interested in seeing the leather.
Thanks Von

Von,

I am sure you know much more about Astras than I do. I don´t even own one, though I am about to get my hands on a 9mm short Astra 300. My field of weapons collecting is rifles and sub-machineguns.

Anyway, there is a funny epilogue to the Astra 600s being sold to Germany. It seems that Spain kept producing the 600s and sold them to West Germany in the early fifties to equip the Bundeswehr. Quite ironic, Isn´t it?


Regards,

Gus

[bsweeney]

I ask myself that all the time I just got lucky with two very near New P38's with serial numbers that are 22 units apart, it's nuts! As for the explanation on captured Astras Von is on the money! This is my cyq P38