Astra 400 (Pistola de 9 mm Modelo 1921/Astrona/Puro), 9 mm Largo (9x23 mm/9 mm Bergmann-Bayard)

Type: Semiautomatic pistol
Produced: 1921-1950
Caliber: 9 mm Largo (9x23 mm/9 mm Bergmann–Bayard/DWM 456B)
Action: Blowback
Trigger: Single action
Safety: Thumb lever (frame), grip safety, magazine safety (trigger block)
Magazine: 8 rounds
Sights: Rear, open sight fixed, square notch; Front, blade shape fixed
Grooves: 6 grooves, left-hand twist, one turn in 9.45" (240 mm)
Barrel length: 5.9" (150 mm)
Overall length: 8.86" (225 mm)
Muzzle energy: 463 ft-lb (628 J)
Muzzle velocity: 1,297 ft/s (395 m/s)

The Astra 400 is a straight blow-back pistol. It shares other characteristics of the Campo-Giro, such as a cylindrical slide moving within frame grooves and a barrel-mounted recoil spring. It has a grip safety operated by a flat spring. The hammer is located internally, the barrel secured to the frame by a series of lugs. The breechblock is an integral section of the slide forging, and a removable barrel bushing is fitted to the slide’s forward end. Other features, such as the sliding sear located at the rear of the hammer, the clever grip-safety ratchet that locks the sear, the vertically-moving slide stop, and the desirable “L” shaped pins, may have been Astra developments. The trigger bar cannot recapture the sear until the trigger is released and the disconnector again rises into the slide notch. Therefore the pistol cannot be fi red unless the slide is fully closed. The independent slide stop signals that the pistol is empty. It is operated by a step on the magazine follower. The Astra’s heavy gauge steel magazine is of seamless construction. Its long, heavy slide is not entirely a liability, the weight and its distribution promotes steady holding and good muzzle control; the massiveness offers a great margin of safety; the length permits a long sighting radius.
This pistol was technically able to shoot with 9 mm Steyr, 9 mm Parabellum, 9x17 mm, 9 mm Glisenti and .38 Super.
It was the standard auxiliary weapon of the Army since 1921 to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and was also used by Germany during WW II.
It was also the official pistol of El Cuerpo de Carabineros del Reyno/Regular Police (1921), Cuerpo de Prisioneros/Jail officers (1922), Armada/Navy (1923), Cuerpo de Vigilancia y Seguridad de la Zona del Protectorado de Marruecos/Surveillance and Security Corps of Morocco Protectorate (1931), Aviácion/Airforce (1931), Inspectores de Vigilancia del Ministerio de Marina/Surveillance agents of Navy Department (1933) and Guardia Presidencial/Presidencial Guard (1936).
The pistol served in other forces as the Chilean Navy in 1930 (842 units) and the German Army during WW II (6,000 units, called P.642), primarily used the smaller variant Astra 300 and the Wehrmacht later altered the Astra 400 into the Astra 600 to better handle the 9 mm Parabellum.
The Astra 400 remained the standard Spanish military pistol until after WW II, when it was finally replaced by the Super Star from Echeverria of Eibar. The Star is also in 9 mm Largo, but has a fully locked breech and is externally similar to the 1911 Colt .45.
A few was made in 7,65 mm Parabellum and 7,63 mm Mauser.
106,175 pistols had been produced.
Replaced in 1946 by Super-Star (Star model A in version Super).
Designed by Don Pedro Careaga Garagarza (1884-1964) and Juan Esperanza Salvador (1860-1951) and also patented by Don Pedro Careaga Garagarza under number 68209, modified in 1921.

Credits:
Author's knowledge;
SHIDELER, Dan - Greatest Guns of Gun Digest. Iola, Wisconsin: F+,W Media Inc., 2010. ISBN 978-1-4402-1414-1;
https://play.google.com/books/reader?...
https://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Astr...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astra_400

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