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Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A. was a manufacturer of small arms (principally handguns and sub-machineguns) in the Basque region of Spain from about 1905 until 1997. Bonifacio Echeverria and the ancestry of Star. The Eibar region has been a center of weapons development and manufacture for centuries, with "Spanish Steel" historically being a selling point with its reputation for quality and durability. When firearms came into being, Eibar retained its edge as a weapons manufacturing center. The oldest known ancestor of the Star lineage is José Cruz Echeverria, who made muzzle-loading firearms in the 19th century. His two sons, Julián and Bonifacio, entered the firearms business about 1905. They produced the model 1908 pistol, substantially a Mannlicher Model 1900 in 6.35 mm (.25 ACP) caliber. Around 1910 Julián left the business and Bonifacio expanded and began improving their current offering. The model 1914 was released with much the same mechanism as the 1908, but with further improvements to the ergonomics, Gabilondo Ruby Pistol As is often the case with weapons makers, a government contract secured the success of the company. The firm was a sub-contractor to Gabilondo y Urresti in producing a version of the Gabilondo Ruby pistol for the French military during World War I. Additionally, Bonifacio Echeverria was directly contracted for a version of the 1914 Model pistol. The "Model 1 Militar" was a 7.65 mm (.32) caliber version of the Model 1914 designed for the French military, who referred to them as the Pistolet automatique, type Star. The beginnings of Star as a brand In 1919, Bonifacio formally registered the Star trade name, and all subsequent weapons were marked as such. Note that although some references say that the Basque and Spanish equivalents of Star are also registered (Izarra and Estrella), they seem to have never been marketed as such. The classic era Originally, Bonifaco had planned on producing a still more improved version of the model 1914, initially to meet a French follow-on contract for 50,000 pistols. However, the end of World War I led to the cancellation of the contract, and Echeverria decided that clones of the Colt M1911 were more commercially viable. Development moved rapidly from pistols that looked like Colts to ones that operated on the Browning tilting breech method. The line was rapidly expanded to cover a broad range of pistols in all popular western calibers, as well as the almost uniquely Spanish 9 mm Largo. Additionally, a line of .25 ACP caliber vest pocket pistols were developed, including a series of popular .22 Long Rifle target pistols. These are all straight blowback models. The modern era In 1983 production of the classic models was largely ceased in favor of a new series of pistols taking most of their features from the Charles Petter SACM style of pistols (also seen in the SIG P210 and CZ-75). Namely, these all had inverted slide rails and closed cam path locking. Many also had modular (removable) trigger assemblies. Most were double-action, though some retained the classic style single-action lockwork. The end The 1990s were bad for defense companies all over the world. For the most part, companies in smaller markets either found their niche and flourished, or slowly perished. In Spain alone Star, Astra and CETME met their end. The final years at Star saw a relative flurry of new models, and court challenges over restructuring plans and massive layoffs. Star filed for bankruptcy protection in late 1993 after taking out loans to invest in new CNC machinery. They were indirectly affected by the Asian economic crisis; Spanish banks tried to cover Asian investment losses by more aggressively collecting outstanding debt and renewing loans with less favorable terms for domestic companies. Star and Astra began cooperative investment and discussions of mergers in the mid 90s, but Astra was not in much better shape, so this eventually dragged both companies down. Although rumours abounded that a large foreign company, like Beretta, would snap them up (as they indeed did with Sako) this was not to be. Employees of both companies, through their unions, tried to set up a cooperative to take control of the companies. They planned to upgrade operations again, but also ran into trouble overextending themselves financially, and eventually these organizations also sought protection under bankruptcy laws. On May 27, 1997 both Star and Astra closed their doors, and were placed in the Spanish equivalent of Chapter Seven bankruptcy, under the control of a Basque regional judge. Eventually, an agreement was reached that settled sufficient outstanding debt, and allowed some of the machinery and the intellectual property to be resurrected in two new companies. Much machinery was also sold at auction to pay debtors. Apparently all unassembled or unsold barrels and frames were destroyed by government order when the company closed. Unregistered parts were retained and purchased by a custom smithing operation known as Ipar Guns. Star and Astra combined into one company under the ASTAR name, with a new factory, which manufactures a range of new firearms with distribution in Spain and some South American countries. Star Pistol model 1919. "Sindicalista" Model In 1919 Bonifacio Echeverria was interested in the patent of the Belgian Fabrique Nationale on the Colt 1911 pistol. The intention of Echeverria was to design a pistol more to the taste of Eibar. Echeverria created a 6.35mm caliber pistol that served as base for other models. With a frame clearly inspired by Colt and a slide similar to that of the Italian Beretta. By 1929 models with calibers of 6.35mm, 7.65mm and 9mm corto had been developed. The 7.65mm caliber model, denominated the "Model Polícia", allegedly began to be used by the gunmen of the C.N.T in Barcelona and Zaragoza. Supposedly the pistol was carried hung by a string from the belt which went through a pocket with the bottom cut out of it, thus suspended down the inside of the trouser leg, to avoid detection by Police patrols. The D series is a compact, .380 ACP (9 mm Browning Short) caliber variants of the model A/B series of 1911-inspired Star pistols. It is apparently designed for commercial sales as a self-defense weapon. All D-series weapons seem to be of approximately the exact same external configuration, with the same length slide and gripframe, a semi-circular front sight and so on. The alloy-framed DKI was in .32 (7.65 mm) caliber. Star's intentions with its compact pistols are not entirely clear when you compare the D and S series. The D seems to be simply a slightly smaller gun, but it is actually slightly heavier in weight and bulk, despite its reduced length. Also, the D has a full-legth guide rod, and a different (but still removable) barrel bushing. There are other detail differences in the design that would seem to have led to it being dropped at some point, but instead it was retained for reasons I cannot yet fathom. Since .32 was more common for European compact issue and defense weapons, it may have been intended for a specific export market. The only visible variations I have seen are in grips, which could be wood, wood with medallions or checkered plastic with the Star logo. All pistols also have a sturdy lanyard loop integral with the frame. This is another unusual feature, for no apparent specific reason. Frames were made in alloy as well as steel, and As dates of manufacture and other details are quite unclear, any information that you can share with me about your own model D pistol would be welcome. Date codes especially would be nice to gather, so I can determine when it was really made. First Model D A number of early Star compact pistols, even when derived from the A/B series, seem to have been produced for brief periods with a pocket pistol control layout before they moved to adopting the Colt style safety at the rear. A model D of this type was apparently made from 1922-32. While most of these models also had no slide lock, at the least a first model D produced around 1931 did have this, as well as the vest-pocket style safety lever. The safety lever is behind the trigger, with a hinge under the left grip panel. Unlike on the other, smaller guns, with just a red dot to fire, this has F & S marks for each position. There is also a lanyard protruding from the left side, in the nature of many service pistols of this era. Note that the photo accompanying this description did not have the slide lock, safety lever or lanyard ring. I added these via photoshop, so take these details with a grain of salt. I am particularly suspicous of the safety lever, as the conventional style leaves a detent hole exposed. All other features, however, are accurate. Also note the frame shape is more akin to other, older pistols, with a straight frontstrap (no bulge at the bottom) and a straight backstrap, without the bulge seen later. Sights are different with the round pin for retention, the slide lacks the takedown notches as there is no safety lever to engage them, and the hammer is of the two-piece style with the riveted center portion. Second model D In 1928 the more conventional control configuration was re-introduced, with a rear-mounted thumb safety on the left side. This gun remained in production until probably 1983. See the "rebranded variants" section for more information on ways to encounter a model D pistol. Other changes generally brought the pistol up to current standards, with an arched backstrap, one-piece hammer, conventionally mounted sights, and so forth. There appear to be two slight variations on this pistol, apparently without a suffix to indicate them. What I believe are the older guns had a slide with a rounded, smooth top, and a conventional butt where a flat magazine floorplate protruded slightly past the end of the butt. The later models, including all rebranded US imports had a slide with a stepped top and a sort of wide, flat rib, and the magazine interfaced with the butt of the pistol differently. The frame encompasses the magazine, and only a small portion is available for grabbing to remove, via protruding, grooved panels. Model D Super Reported by only one source is a Model D Super, made in 1950, or maybe from 1950 onward. If these exist, I suspect they are exactly as other Super series pistols, identical in most details to the others in the series, but with closed cam path unlocking and a takedown lever on the right side. DK, DKL and DKI The DK version was an obvious step to take with the compact pistol when aluminum alloys became a real possibility in the 1950s. However, the rebranded versions discussed below all have steel frames, even when alternatively referred to as the "DK." This is not something I clearly understand just yet. The DKL and DKI have some internal modification from the basic DK, but L in this context means nothing I am aware of. I suffixes indicate a .32 caliber variant, as it does here. Rebranded versions: Colt Pony, Iver Johnson .380 and FI model D Colt In the middle 1970s, Colt decided to offer a .380 auto, and chose to partner with Star instead of making their very own gun. The gun (to be called the Pony) was to be assembled in the US, presumably by Colt, from a Star DK slide & associated internals, with a U.S. made frame. However, the fixed lanyard loop (to increase height of the gun) and the adjustable sights are typical of features added to get points for the 1968 Gun Control Act, which placed restrictions on importation of small handguns. This may indicate that the guns would be entirely made in Spain after all, and just imported with different markings. Iver Johnson For some reason, after this product was announced, the Colt/Star partnership was dissolved and very few Colt-branded guns seem to have been sold. Iver Johnson bought the U.S. manufacturing rights to the gun, and sold a number of them. Apparently quite a few frames were made in anticipation of the Colt deal, as all the early Johnson serial numbers start with "CPA" (Colt Pony Automatic). It is also possible that some slides were made in the U.S. by Iver Johnson (some manufacturing marks and methods vary), but all the small parts were Spanish imports by Star. Iver Johnson also made at least one commemorative edition based on the Model D Pony, for a US Border Patrol anniversary in 1994; these all have "USBP" serial number prefixes. This gun was also sold under the Starfire name, though I am unclear if this was a pure Star pistol with the requisite modifications to be allowed under CGA '68 or was simply another brand under the Iver Johnson banner. The Iver Johnson pistols have a slightly different frame shape, with a longer "beavertail" to keep the hammer from biting the shooter. The hammer is of the spur type, as a result of the guarding. The sights are smaller and the rear is micrometer adjustable, in contrast to the high visibility combat sights of the Star DK. Firearms International (FI) At some point, FI (Firearms International, not to be confused with FIE) acquired the rights and also sold the model D as an FI-made gun, with the model D designation. No Star branding or importation marks appear, so this may also be a related endeavour where an essentially Star pistol is sold under another name entirely. There are some reports of FI selling the import-marked version as the "Garcia Model 30" as well. This appears to be the same as the Iver Johnson guns, as far as manufacturing methods go, just marketed differently. It was still presumably largely made by Star and simply assembled on a US made frame. (Ref. ‘Pistols of World War I’ by Robert Adamek, http://star-firearms.com/firearms/guns/d/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Bonifacio_Echeverria)

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