| Astra Model 900 | |
|---|---|
 An Astra 903 pistol. | |
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol Machine pistol (Astra Model 902 and Astra Model 904) |
| Place of origin | Kingdom of Spain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1927–1945 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Astra-Unceta y Cia SA |
| No. built | 35,076 (all versions) |
| Variants | 900, 901, 902, 903, 904 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1.275 kg (Astra 903) |
| Length | 308 mm (Astra 903) |
| Barrel length | 160 mm (Astra 903) |
| Height | 150 mm (Astra 903) |
| Cartridge | 7.63×25mm Mauser 9mm Largo |
| Caliber | 7.63mm 9mm |
| Muzzle velocity | 461.28 m/s (1,513.4 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 1,000 m (1,100 yd) |
| Feed system | 10, 20 round box magazine |
| Sights | Iron |
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The Astra Model 900 is one of many Spanish copies of the German Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol. It shares the same caliber, magazine capacity, and holster type and is generally very similar to the German handgun.
History
The Spanish gunmaker Astra-Unceta y Cia began producing a copy of the Mauser C.96 in 1927 that was externally similar to the C96 (including the presence of a detachable shoulder stock/holster) but with non-interlocking internal parts. It was produced until 1941, with a production hiatus in 1937 and 1938, and a final batch assembled from spare parts in 1951.
The Spanish copies of the C96 were generally intended for export to China, but after the commencement of the Sino-Japanese war, the remaining Astra 900s were used in the Spanish Civil War, and numbers were also sold to Germany in the period 1940–1943.
Design
The Basque-manufactured Astra-Unceta y Cia SA Astra 901 is a compact machine pistol, with a magazine capacity of 10 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridges, which is a considerably smaller capacity than is standard for a machine pistol. The next model, the Astra 902, was provided with a fixed magazine of 20 cartridges and a lengthened barrel, and Astra 903 had a removable magazine instead of the usual fixed one. Astra later added a mechanism to slow the rate of fire and make the gun more manageable (to an extent) when being fired on full-auto or burst modes, calling this the Model 904.
The Model 904 is comparable to the German Mauser M712 'Schnellfeuer' Broomhandle pistols, having a detachable magazine, automatic fire capabilities, and general appearance.
The Astra Model 904 was produced in a 9mm Largo variant, the Astra Model 904E, which was identical to the Model 904 in all other respects.
Production and distribution
The following models were made by Astra:
- Astra 900: 21,000 weapons from 1927 to 1941 for China, Latin America, Spanish Republicans, and the Wehrmacht (1,050 delivered in 1943).
- Astra 901: 1,655 weapons in 1928, destined mainly for China.
- Astra 902: 7,075 weapons in 1928 to 1933. Some delivered to China, others delivered to the Wehrmacht in 1943.
- Astra 903: 3,082 weapons in 1932 to 1934. Same users as the 902.
- Astra 904: 90+ weapons in 1934.
- Astra F: 1,126 weapons in 1936. Issued to the Guardia Civil during Spanish Civil War.
- Astra E: 548 weapons assembled between 1949, 1951 and 1961 from stored parts. Reserved for export to Egypt, India, Iraq and Pakistan.
- 8 × Astra 900, 12 × Astra 902, and 9 × Astra 400, all richly engraved, were presented to Joseph Stalin during the Spanish Civil War in 1937.
Users
Republic of China (1912–1949)
Empire of Japan
Nazi Germany
Second Spanish Republic: Astra Fs known to be issued to the Guardia Civil.
References
- ^ "Astra automatic pistols: Astra 900, Astra 901, Astra 902, Astra 903, Astra F (Spain)". 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Spanish Guns". 1896mauser.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
- "Astra Model 900". 28 September 2016.
- Philip Jowett (2005). The Chinese Army 1937–49: World War II and Civil War. Osprey Publishing. pp. 22, 43. ISBN 978-1841769042.
- Antaris, Leonardo (1988). Astra Automatic Pistols (1st ed.). FIRAC Pub. Co. p. 150. ISBN 0962076708.
- "The Armoury".
- "Astra Model F (Video)". 4 November 2016.