1179

EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE SPANISH ASTRA MODEL F

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:8,750.00 USD Estimated At:17,500.00 - 25,000.00 USD
EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE SPANISH ASTRA MODEL F
CURRENT BID
0.00USD
ENTER YOUR MAXIMUM ABSENTEE BID[?]
You must bid at least
8,750.00USD
USD
8,750.00 x 1 unit = 8,750.00USDApplicable fees & taxes are added at checkout.
[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Aug 05 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
SELECT-FIRE MACHINE PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Largo. S# 29910. Bbl. 6 5/16". 1 of only 1,126 Model F select-fire machine pistols mfg. by Astra in 1934-1935 under contract for Spain's Guardia Civil (Civil Guard). In late 1933, Spain's Guardia Civil announced a test trial for a select-fire machine pistol for the Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard). One significant requirement by the Guardia Civil was that the gun have a reduced rate of fire. While Astra's earlier machine pistols (M901, M902, M903) had achieved commercial success, their rate of fire of 800-900 rpm was especially high, leading Astra to develop and implement the "Mecanismo Moderador" (Moderating Mechanism). This fire rate retarder featured a weighted flywheel that connected to the hammer via two pawls and ratchet linkages, effectively reducing the rate of fire to a far more manageable 350 rpm. This mechanism is pictured and detailed in "Astra Firearms and Selected Competitors" by Leonardo M. Antaris. This example is marked "PISTa Ametra ASTRA modo "F" de 9mm (39)/ Unceta y Compania GUERNICA (Espana)" on the sideplate, with a triad of Spanish proofs marked on the right side of the receiver, consisting of a late Eibar proof, */G (1934) date code, and an Eibar ("P" within flaming ordnance bomb) automatic pistol proof (automatic pistol proof repeated on right side of bbl. extension and bbl.). Metal components exhibit a rust blue finish, with some small parts including the trigger, safety lever, and bolt stop exhibiting a nitre blue finish. Bolt and some internal parts / components are polished in-the-white. Interior surfaces are properly polished and jeweled in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece grooved wood grips. Standard fixed blade front sight and tangent V-notch rear sight graduated 50-500. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame (left side exterior and left side beneath grip panel), sideplate, frame internals, bbl./bbl. extension, rear sight assembly, locking block, forward locking pin, bolt, as well as the grips. Rear locking pin (sideplate pin) is absent. MAGS: x1 non-matching (S#: 29904) blued steel 10-rd. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their original factory blue finish, exhibiting some scattered spots and patches of light to mild wear and thinning that is fading to gray patina, scattered superficial handling marks, as well as scattered spots of light surface oxidation overall. Right side of bbl. extension and frame, as well as the left side of the safety lever exhibit patches of dark mild to moderate oxidation. Grip straps show consistent light oxidation / pitting. Sideplate exhibits a patch of dark mild pitting. Nitre blued parts have faded to gray patina in contract areas, with strong coloring remaining in protected areas. Bolt retains a mostly bright appearance, exhibiting scattered spots of age related discoloration. Proper manual mechanics, to include the fire rate reducer, which can be felt when manually cycling the action when the selector lever is at the "A" position. Grips show superficial marks and some impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain sound. Bore is dark with some mild pitting and good string rifling. An exceptionally scarce example of an Astra Model F machine pistol that is seldom offered, let alone seen even in the most advanced collections. THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT CURIO & RELIC MACHINE GUN REQUIRING BATF TRANSFER BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION. FULLY TRANSFERABLE. (03-2080/MLW). CURIO. CLASS III. $17,500-25,000.