[justaguy]

Here is an Astra 400 pistol I picked up last summer at Gander Mt. I didn't think $299 was too bad a price to pay? It came with a holster and 2 mags, The spare mag fits in the holster mag pouch but feels abit loose .. can anyone tell me if they know if the holster was for this pistol? I haven't shot it yet due to no ammo but hope to find some and shoot it soon. By the S/N I think the pistol was made in 1937/38 and sent to an unknow military arsenal, I know later S/N were sent to nazi germany. Any info would be great .. Thank you ... Dave.

 

[bayoned]

I think you did fine on the price. I don't see correct and original holsters very often.

 

[ij70]

http://9mmlargo.com/400/index.htm

 

[geladen]

Holster is correct. I had to hunt for mine.

 

[NavyGunner]

You scored a nice Astra rig. I have 2 one with the same holster with the shoulder strap. The other rigs holster is the later design without the cleaning rod pouch on the back. The chamber is marked 9mm & 38 which means it was made to shoot either the Spanish 9mm Largo (aka 9mm Bergman-Bayard) or .38 ACP Colt Auto ammo. The .38 ACP Colt ammo sometime shows up at gun shops and shows, Remington made it for quite a few years. The difference is that the .38 ACP is semi rimmed so Astra opened up the breech face to accept the slightly larger rim.

DO NOT confuse .38 ACP Colt with the later Colt .38 Super cartridge which will fit and feed but is loaded to much hotter specs and will damage your blowback operated Astra 400. And you have to watch the Spanish 9mm Largo ammo that's for sale as the later date non-corrosive cartridges are loaded hotter than the earlier corrosive ammo. The Spanish adopted the locked breech Star model Super A in 1946 and as they stopped issuing the Astra they loaded their ammo to higher power specs for the Super pistols and SMG's.

There's a wealth of info about your Astra 400 and the ammo at http://www.9mmlargo.com/ & http://www.9mmlargo.com/cartridge/index.htm

Enjoy your Astra they're a blast to shoot once you get used to the stout recoil.

 

[justaguy]

Thank you for the info. Navy Gunner I was wondering if you might have a picture of the shoulder strap? might give me an idea of what to look for at the next gun/military show ... and thank you for telling me what the 38 was for after the 9mm, I've been wondering what that was for, I had read that more than one type ammo could be shot in this pistol but for awhile i thought the 38 was a date ... Dave.

 

[NavyGunner]

Here's a few photos of my 1923 date Carabineros issued M1921 with the complete shoulder strap. The crown in the sunburst on the slide was the marking for the Carabineros which were a border guard unit. I'm still looking for the correct cleaning rod to fit into the pouch on the back of the holster. The later issue cleaning rods with the loop on the end don't fit into the pouch.

 

[justaguy]

Thank you for the pictures Navy Gunner, I just won myself a holter and shoulder strap off ebay for $59 after shipping, not sure if the is too much or not, the holster is just abit less good of shape as the one I have pictured. I was really just after the shoulder strap anyways and will resell the holster.

 

[NavyGunner]

You're welcome, I'm glad that I could help you. It's great that you completed your holster rig. You have to be careful with the shoulder straps as the leather is very thin and can be brittle.