The first A100 prototype to be imported into the USA was received by Interarms from the Astra factory in
October 1989. It was essentially an A90 frame with a side magazine release button, with a slide marked "A80", though machined with a flat-topped, angled contour that was proposed to replace the round-topped slide of the A80 and A90. The serial number was P6224. An improved two-piece construction of the slide, as opposed to the earlier (and problematic) 3-piece, had already been introduced by Astra for both models, and this was incorporated on all A100s. This sample had a spur hammer, though a rowel hammer was substituted when serial production commenced.

A100s were not shipped in quantity until June 1990, continuing to March 1993, in calibers 9mm and .45, all in blue, together with some A90s, presumably to fill existing orders and clear out parts inventory. No new A80s were imported after 1990, though many were sent back for factory replacement of the slides, and then returned to Interarms.

M

 

Hey nice, where did you come across this information? Tell me a bit more about the slide production woes.

The serial number for the two part slide jives very much with the production variations for both the A80 and A90. Sometime after P4000, A80s receive what is essentially an early A90 frame, with the mag release on the trigger guard vs heel. I don't see any visible changes for the slide for the A80 over its span of production. R and S production blocks follow and keep the same changes before production ends for the A80, but it could be said that these were spare A80 slides mated with A90 frames to close out production.

The A90 after P9200~, or early R block, the slide style changes from the round, hump slide of the A80 to the new flat top. Another slide variation happens somewhere around the 2000A mark. The slide sees wider taller serrations, and a distinctive flat bar runs the length of the slide. The A100 undergoes the same change around the W1000 block.

Apart from the machining for the manual safety components, I imagine then the A80 and A90 shared the same slide until the A80 was near the end of production. And then the A90 and A100 used the same slide, the first variation flat top, and then later they both shared the second variation flat top slide.

There's no shortage of 40sw and Inox A100s about. If import stopped by March of 1993 for 9mm/45, I suspect though that these were imported by Century vs Interarms sometime later.

Do you have any knowledge on the A-900XS? These seem to be the very final production for Astra, and are much akin to the A90, but with a longer slide, and slightly pebbled grips as seen on the A-75s. From what I can tell they were only ever imported by Turkey.

 

Hey nice, where did you come across this information? Tell me a bit more about the slide production woes.
...

Well, I was there when A80/A90 slides came apart, and was involved in initiating the first recall. The 9mms failed safe by jamming solid, but the .45s broke more dramatically and let the slide fly off to the rear. The story is reported fairly accurately in Antaris's book-- which if you don't have, you should buy.

I never thought the whole A80-90-100 series was worth all the study that you've put into them, so I can't comment on when and how (or in what serial range) this or that variation was introduced, except to say that because the only serial number on the gun is on the frame, you never can tell if any particular example is original. So many had to be repaired that non-original slides and other parts are commonplace. Any Astra imported by Century came not from the factory, but from surplus sold by Astra's customers, mostly in S. America. Many of those guns probably were subjected to arsenal repairs and replacement of parts during their service in the years before disposal-- which defeats any effort to make sense out of variations.

FIE (not Century) replaced Interarms as the exclusive importer from the Astra factory, and as far as I am aware, did not import the A80 or A90.

M

 

I haven't put out too much more info from my study until I lay hands on Dr Antaris's book.

Haha, yeah is the A80/90/100 the greatest thing ever? By no means. It's just that theres very little out there, and to be sure, its a study that no one but myself has asked for . I started because I was unable to find answers about the differences between the models. Understanding the unknown, or the forgotten shrug. "Logic, logic. Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end" -Spock. Serial numbers, block codes, etc, is just a small foothold into understanding what's out there, but they're just statistics, and seldom do numbers ever really tell you much of a real story. I appreciate yours there about the slides, the first hand experience that the numbers dont tell.

Yes, I've noted there's a number of exceptions that pop up, and I imagine those are repairs, replacements, spares, frankenguns, etc. What i mean by that is if every sample found in a range of 100 or 1000 is exactly alike, but one shows up with features that was introduced way later, then I assume that that is a replacement. For example, I found an A100 using the old 7 digit serial number (only the first variation a80s used that), and it had a heel mag release and spur hammer. That doesn't jive with the general trend of things. If one had a double import mark (eaa on the slide and interarms on the frame or vise versa) it would be indicative of a frankengun done here vs a factory replacement (perhaps?). These types of exceptions seem to be about 1 in every 15 or so. Naturally that could all be a logical fallacy akin to GK Chesterton's Moon Man, but that's going philosophical.

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not saying CAI replaced Interarms, but rather once Interarms stopped importing the Astras, Century started at some point, and of course in batches when and where they can find them. And very much like you said, no doubt from a second hand location as the Century samples of the A90 are rather grungy, rusted, or swimming in cosmo. Some of the A60s and Constables look that way. Absolutely, never have seen an FIE imported Astra. Did Garcia become Interarms, or did Garcia go out of business and Interarms pickup on import rights?

 

FI (Firearms International in Washington DC) held the franchise from Astra in the '70s. FI was purchased by Garcia in (I think) NJ. Garcia went bankrupt c. 1978 and Astra took its U.S. representation to Interarms, in Virginia. After a decade, Astra switched again, to FIE (Firearms Import & Export, in Florida).

M

 

Found your post while searching for info on the A100 sights. I have a pristine version without sights. I have been over a year trying find just the height of the original sights so I can make a set. EAA sold me several sets that did not fit at all! The BEST one shot into the ground several FEET in front of the target.
I tried contacting Mr. Antaris several times, but never received a reply.
Surely "someone" has an original that could measure the sights. I just need the level at the lower part of the rear sight notch and the overall height of the front sight. With that, I can attempt to make a set from scratch. It has been M A N Y years since I have done so, but think (I still do "think" in spite of what my kids would tell you) I still can. I could just start "trying" different sizes, but at age 77, I really have other things I need to do with that amount of time, before I run out!
Any help would be appreciated.

 

Found your post while searching for info on the A100 sights. I have a pristine version without sights. I have been over a year trying find just the height of the original sights so I can make a set. EAA sold me several sets that did not fit at all! The BEST one shot into the ground several FEET in front of the target.
I tried contacting Mr. Antaris several times, but never received a reply.
Surely "someone" has an original that could measure the sights. I just need the level at the lower part of the rear sight notch and the overall height of the front sight. With that, I can attempt to make a set from scratch. It has been M A N Y years since I have done so, but think (I still do "think" in spite of what my kids would tell you) I still can. I could just start "trying" different sizes, but at age 77, I really have other things I need to do with that amount of time, before I run out!
Any help would be appreciated.

It's a bit off topic for this post? but do send me a pm on here. Show me your sight and whatever you received from EAA. Are you missing the entire rear sight, or just the rear sight insert?

 

Forgot, my A100 is S/n: 8833D
In like new condition. Not sure what that will tell you/mee.

 

I just found an Astra A100 in 45acp at a pawn shop in Mesa Az. I had some Stars in the past but never an Astra. I was reading you finding and the serial on this one ##445-95A. What caught my eye was the price first and after looking it over. they had it miss marked as a 9mm by the pawn shop. It had only one mag and no box. It is very clean, I am guessing that the last two numbers before the - is the caliber of the gun? This one was all black. I just like the looks of it with the o ring hammer. reminded me of an old Fn Browning Hi Power I had years ago.
Thanks for the info on the serial numbers.

 

I just found an Astra A100 in 45acp at a pawn shop in Mesa Az. I had some Stars in the past but never an Astra. I was reading you finding and the serial on this one ##445-95A. What caught my eye was the price first and after looking it over. they had it miss marked as a 9mm by the pawn shop. It had only one mag and no box. It is very clean, I am guessing that the last two numbers before the - is the caliber of the gun? This one was all black. I just like the looks of it with the o ring hammer. reminded me of an old Fn Browning Hi Power I had years ago.
Thanks for the info on the serial numbers.

Purely coincidence on the serial number they dont relate to the caliber. Calibers were produced in serial number blocks though according to Antaris's book. Yep yep, all A100s have a ring hammer (Some BHPs have a spur hammer but the ring hammer is most iconic).
This one you saw should have all the bells and whistles of a late model A100- Block letters, adjustable front sight, etc. From what I've seen in the wild, the first number of the serial may be 2xxxx-95A; probably late 1995. I've only seen a very small number in the wild from 1996, and none from 1997, production stopped around then.
If you see one, and the price is great, go for it! The trigger break has a "back in there" travel feel, and mags are hard to find. Beyond that I got no complaints . I pick them up on general principle.
When things settle down around here I need to run another survey and see what new ones have floated through. I'm around a sample size of 400: Constable/Constable II, A50/ A60, TS22, A70/75/75L, A80/90/100/900XS.

 

Yup. You're in good company. I think this is the premier forum for these Spanish items.
The common consensus is that the A80 was inspired by the Sig P220, and indeed theyre very identical on the outside. I'd like to do a side by side internal comparison, but I have no sig! Always wanted a P6, they were pretty affordable in days gone by. Online the A80/90/100s are kinda pricey, but in small shops etc, there's a deal to be had on these, and if there isn't, I have a feeling you could talk them down a bit.

 

I started with west German trade in. P6 (aka p225). then p226 with a W german made by, then p228, p220, p230, then another P226 ( all of them with made in German or w. German). p239, and the last one was a p365 SAS. next month I'll do a side by side comparesion. showing the p220 and the P228. All the 2XX series are the old still.

 

I recently picked up a second A100 and was surprised at the number of differences in it and my first one.

MGMIKE is certainly the authority on their reliability but I've really enjoyed shooting mine which (in the limited range use I've given them) have functioned perfectly.

 

Hmm here is what mine looks like. It appears to be far more similar to Phil's top one rather than the bottom one. Mine is a fun and accurate shooter.

 

I went and picked up the Astra I was talking about at the pawn shop. some pictures with some Sig's

 

 

Great uploads guys! Man how did I miss this?
Phil- Absolutely! Look at those differences. There's an early-ish one vs one of the late-ish ones. As far as what I've seen in the wild, you see the thick slide serrations somewhere between the Txxxx and Wxxxx code blocks. HOWEVER, I did note I saw a 5xxxA specimen had a A80/A90 slide; looks like yours does as well! It does have a lot of the features of.. not-very-early? models: the champfer of the grips around the mag release, ambi mag release.
Your second one though, def getting late-ish. Satin all over, dot letters, adjustable front sights, block letters, ambi mag release, and the xxxxx-95A serial number style. After the 09xxx-95A block, things get kinda hazy for the A100. The bulk of what Ive seen after that range is INOX models around the 17xxx-95A block. Such a huge jump in serial number ranges I think is because Astra had to devote other serial blocks to other models that was being produced at the time, to comply with the new Spanish law about serials. Again, dont have Dr Antaris' book yet to validate that.

Deathroll- Wha? No way Yours matches Phil's later model pretty well. Ambi mag release, thick serrations, block letters, adjustable front sight, etc etc . Yours doesn't have the -95A serial or the dot letters, but beyond that . Theres a lot of the xxxxC, D, and E series out there, I'd say its the quintessential A100 iteration.

Phxbird57- Man I didnt think you'd come through . I really appreciate you taking the time to show these side by side. Good music in the video too. I didn't think there would be that many differences

I feel bad about not adding a snap or two myself. The A100 is a late xxxxB series.

 

I finally found time to go to the range with. You guys were not lying about how accurate. sorry about the pictures. I pulled them from a video and my zoom was not working.

 

some better video of some Range time with a A-100 in 45 acp

 

I recently picked up this a80 (never had 1 before) with 4 mags and the original box. https://www.gunboards.com/threads/astra-a-80-45-acp.1249208/unread. after some reading I noticed it does NOT have a decocking lever, as the a-80's don't really have a 'safety' this doesn't bother me. Have you ever seen an A-80 like this. The frame and left grip look like the areas for the decocker were 'filled' in but a very good job. The gun shoots well, ser. # is 1259457 and imported by Interarms.

 

Man im behind!
1,259,4xx is pretty early in the a80s ive seen, with the earliest being 1,252,3xx and the latest (for this serial range type) being around 1,307,3xx before the switch over to the Letter style.
This one is one of the closer ones I have on file to your serial

Hermann Historica

www.hermann-historica.de

I don't think any thing has been filled in and blued over on yours, rather, the decock lever was either removed or broken off. I haven't seen any others like that in the a80-a100 guns, although some of the other astras had a problem with the stamped levers breaking, remove the grip panel and see whatcha got underneath! The decocker should pop out through a slot in the grip panel, and sit about half on the grip and half on the metal (if that makes sense). There is no visible cutout in the metal for the lever, its all under the grip panel. But yeah! thats an early one

 

I can’t contribute much to this interesting discussion so maybe I should stay out. Yet I’d like to add that I bought a Astra-80 in 38 Super of all things, sight unseen from an old friend. It was discovered when his 99 yr. old mom went to a care facility by estate sale people . No one in knew of it. My friend called wanting me to buy it and because he is my friend I did for what he ask sight unseen.
Turns out it’s one of my favorite pistols and I have many. It is in like new shape and finish and doesn’t look fired much at all. He was a pharmacist who was robbed of drugs on three occasions and brought the pistol.
I love adding it to my collection and rely on it for car and home defense.
Mine has a rounded top slide and I think that is beautiful.

 

A picture says a lot but man a story does to! Great hearing them.
Theres a few rare calibers for the A80-A100 series, 9x21 pops up once in awhile (for countries where its illegal to own military calibers), theres some 9mm steyr (9x23), and even a 765 in there (i think thats a custom job), but 38 super seems to be rarer than those, so good find!
The Hump was a constant feature on the A80 iirc, and deleted in the earlier days of the A90 somewhere between the Pxxxx and Rxxxx series. Having a round/flat top A80 is a rare thing. I think this came up on the forum awhile back, and may have been a refit/rebuild at the factory after it was originally built with the Hump style slide. Whats the serial range round about?

 

Box can you post some pics for our viewing pleasure.

 

Let’s see if this works for pics. Sorry I’m so late, I just found these replies to my post.
I was going to buy my friends dad’s A-80 regardless of caliber but when I found it to be in 38 Super I felt like I’d hit the jackpot! I only use it as a house gun and will not put many rounds through it.
I just hope the slide separation problem doesn’t occur with me! Any responses to the slide issue would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

nice

 

 

The 9mmP mags won't work for .38 Super. They have a filler plate crimped into the spine.*
I think I have some factory original .38 Super mags in storage somewhere, both blue and nickel, but I'd have to hunt for them. If $50 each +shipping is acceptable, send me a PM and I will do some digging.

M

* Edit: ...and a shorter follower.
I have some in .45 also, either A80 with bottom catch only, or A90/100 with side catch.

 

To be continued by PM.

M

 

Boxlock20: Check your PMs ("Conversations").

M