Astra Model 900

The Astra Model 900 is one of many Spanish copies of the German Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol. It shares the same calibre, magazine capacity, and holster type and is generally very similar to the German handgun.

Machine-Pistol Variants

The Basque- manufactured Astra-Unceta y Cia SA Astra 901 is a compact machine-pistol, with a magazine capacity of 10 7.63x25mm Mauser cartridges, which is a considerably smaller capacity than is standard for a machine pistol. The next model, the Astra 902, was provided with a fixed magazine of 20 cartridges and with a lengthened barrel, and Astra 903 had a removable magazine instead of the usual fixed one. Astra later added a mechanism to slow the rate of fire and make the gun more manageable (to an extent) when being fired on full-auto or burst modes, calling the model with this the Model 904. The Model 904 is comparable to the German Mauser 712 'Schnellfeur' Broomhandle pistols, having a detachable magazine, automatic fire capabilties, and general appearance.

The Astra Model 904 was produced in a 9mm Largo variant, the Astra Model 904E, which was identical to the Model 904 in all other respects.

Production and Distribution

* Astra 900: 21,000 weapons from 1927 to 1941 for China, Latin America, Spanish Republicans, and the Wehrmacht (1,050 delivered in 1943).
* Astra 901: 1655 weapons in 1928, destined mainly for China.
* Astra 902: 7075 weapons in 1928 to 1933. Some delivered to China, others delivered to the Wermacht in 1943.
* Astra 903: 3082 weapons in 1932 to 1934. Same users as the 902.
* Astra 904: 90+ weapons in 1934.
* Astra F: 1126 weapons in 1936. Issued to the Guardia Civil during Spanish civil war.
* Astra E: 548 weapons assembled between 1949, 1951 and 1961 from stored parts. Reserved for export to Egypt, India, Iraq and Pakistan.

Numerical data

ources

* Luc GUILLOU & PHILIPPE GOURIO,The Astra Guns, Pardès Editions, 1991

External links

* [http://www.gunsworld.com/spain/astra900_us.html Astra 900 (Spanish Copy) Information]
* [http://www.armas-guerracivil.org/index2.htm Weapons of the Spanish civil war] Spanish only