When you think of European arms manufacturers, your first thought may center Italian firms like Beretta. But did you know that Spain has also historically been an area famous for gunmaking? One of the primary examples of this was known as Star B.A.. Founded by two brothers in 1905, the company produced one of the most remarkable Spanish-made handguns of the 20th century: the Star Model B.
The company's first few designs were modeled after another famous European manufacturer, Mannlicher. But that didn't last. After a few years, Star B.A. created a new handgun that looked more like a Colt 1911 than anything else. By 1933, the design had matured into the Model B, which was chambered in 9mm Parabellum.
"When you look at these guns today, they are beautifully made. The polish on them, I mean they are just lovely guns. It's true. They don't make 'em like that anymore," NRA Media Editorial Director Mark Keefe said. "And that's, of course, because Star's out of business. They couldn't if they wanted to, but they are really top-quality guns in terms of their materials, in terms of their finish. You just rack the slide on one, and you know that this is a well-fitted gun."
This #ThrowbackThursday, our friends at American Rifleman have created a brief and info-packed overview of this fascinating part of firearms history ... enjoy!
