My First Spanish C&R - Astra 600

[Capybara]

Finally took delivery of my first Spanish gun, a 1945 Astra 600. I scored a very good deal that I couldn't pass up on Gunboards. This model has a very interesting history, the Spanish manufactured them for the Nazis after the success of the Astra 400. Astra was able to ship the first 10,450 to the Nazis, but as soon as they manufactured the next run, France fell and all of the dynamics of the war relegated most of these to sitting in a warehouse. They were later sold to the West German police as well as the Portuguese Navy. This sample is well used but my gosh does the action feel precise and it is a heavy beast. I have not weighed it yet but it feels heavier than my SA 1911-A1. The magazine is serial number matched to the frame and the frame and slide serials match. Bore is nice and shiny with minimal debris in the grooves.

I have not cleaned it or shot it yet but I am looking forward to doing so and will post a range report.

[Longcolt44]

We got one of these in the shop Friday. A most interesting pistol to say the least. These fire a 9mm Kurtz, similar to our 38 super.

[Junk Yard Dog]

[Capybara]

We got one of these in the shop Friday. A most interesting pistol to say the least. These fire a 9mm Kurtz, similar to our 38 super.

Are you sure you received a 600? This one is chambered in regular 9x19 Luger. The Astra 400 was chambered in 9x23mm Largo. I have not heard of an Astra variant that is chambered in 9x17mm Kurz? (.380 to us Yanks)

[Mosinhope]

The Astra 600 German Contract pistols were indeed manufactured in 9mm parabellum. The Astra 300 was manufacture in both 9mm Kurtz ( .380 ) and 7.65.

[Capybara]

I've never seen a 300 in real life but I assume it is proportionally smaller in size?

[Mosinhope]

Indeed. Think of the Astra 300 as a "baby" Astra 600. Over the years (about 40 years) I have seen only two Astra 300's, over those same years I have seen dozens of Astra 600's and maybe 8-10 individual Astra 400's.

[catcracker]

Nice looking pistol.

[Capybara]

Indeed. Think of the Astra 300 as a "baby" Astra 600. Over the years (about 40 years) I have seen only two Astra 300's, over those same years I have seen dozens of Astra 600's and maybe 8-10 individual Astra 400's.

I would definitely be interested in seeing one. It would be cool to have a 300, 400 and a 600 in the collection.

[Capybara]

Nice looking pistol.

Thank you sir! It has a nice "well used" look that I kind of like. I see a lot of them on Gunbroker that look better but I am okay with a well used pistol for 20-30% less money. As long as the bore is good (this one has a great bore) and rust is minimal or non existent (this one has just a little surface corrosion on the trigger and chamber of the barrel).

[Capybara]

Just looked up the Astra 300 on Gunbroker. There four listed, from $450.00 to $1,095.00 so they are fairly rare. The $450.00 has a shot out bore and the $995.00 and $1,095.00 ones have intact Waffenamts. Maybe someday.

[Longcolt44]

I'll get some pictures tomorrow of the one we have tomorrow.

[Jolly Green Chopper]

Very cool Astra 600.I remember reading about them in a pistol history book and because of the smaller size of the 300 they were very popular with underworld criminal women in the early years . The Mafia seemed to like them because they were European and not easily traced by numbers. Some bring back models wound up in the Pawn shops after WWll which gave many kinds of people access to a really reliable hand gun.Thanks for the pictures. I think I saw one in the movie with Tom Hanks THE ROAD TO PERDITION. JGC