Shooting an Old Star Model B Custom...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello.  The first handgun I purchased as an adult was an Star Model B in the early '70's.  If memory serves, the tariff was about $75.00 or so.  I foolishly let that one get away but toward the end of the following decade I was able to buy another Model B from the last production run announced by the manufacturer, Star Escheverria, in Eibar, Spain. I saw the advertisement in The American Rifleman and I'm glad that I did.  (By that time, the price was about three times what I'd paid for the first one!)

I had my second one customized at Williamson Precision Gunsmithing in Hurst, Texas and have never regretted it, even though some folks will say spending more on custom work than the pistol itself cost was foolish.  Others may have doubts about the quality of a "Spanish pistol", but I have consistently been pleased with the quality of the Star firearms I've purchased and used over the years.  They may indeed have a few more toolmarks in non-critical areas than some more costly handguns, but the things seem to work and in my opinion provide more quality than their price may indicate.  There are features of these older Star pistols that I don't care for but overall, I've been very pleased with the several Star handguns I've used and owned over the years.

Realizing that I'd neglected this pistol for a couple of years, I took it out for a range session recently.  A total of 200 rounds of factory ammunition was used.  It consisted of Federal 115-gr. JHP, Winchester USA 115-gr. FMJ, Corbon 115-gr. DPX +P, some old PMC 115-gr. Starfire JHP's I had (Besides, "Starfire" somehow sounded appropriate), Fiocchi 124-gr. Extrema and Federal's sadly discontinued 124-gr. Nyclad hollow point.

 
Right to left: Winchester USA 115-gr. FMJ, PMC 115-gr. Starfire, Federal 115-gr. JHP, Corbon 115-gr. DPX +P, Fiocchi 124-gr. Extrema using the Hornady XTP bullet, and Federal 124-gr. Nyclad hollow point.



I fired this group using a two-hand hold with my wrists atop two sandbags.  I was sitting at a shooting bench and there was no effort at speed.  Some will say, "What does that have to do with how well you shoot a pistol?"  My answer is that my reason for doing it is to try and get an idea of the mechanical accuracy capability of the handgun I'm shooting.  I believe that the Star Model B is plenty capable of exceeding whatever I might ask of it with respect to accuracy...especially when shooting without a rest.

There were no malfunctions of any kind and the slide never failed to lock rearward after the last shot was fired.


I've been shooting this custom Star Model B around 20 years now with no complaints. This one has had Millett adjustable revolver sights installed along with a serrated front ramp sight.  The front grip strap has been checkered and the slide and frame reblued.  The magazine disconnect is gone but neither trigger work nor accurizing has been done.

For those interested in more on the Star Model B, here's link to a more detailed report:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/shooting_a_customized_9mm_star_model%20B.htm

Best and good shooting.

[fightingquaker13]

The Spanish make some great guns. Nice find. looks like a copy of a Hi-Power and a darn good one. One of my biggest "DOH!" moments in gun trading concerns a spanish gun. I had acquired this O/U Cittori clay's gun. The thing was beautiful, coin finish reciever, ventilated rib, vented barrels, adjustable stock, the whole nine yards. Problem was, I only owned it for duck hunting. I traded a nice Brish SxS for it because it couldn't take steel and I couldn't afford bismuth shot. Anyway, a few trips to the marsh and it was clear that I was going to trash a good gun as I had to rub out little rust spots before I even got home. I walk into a gun shop and there is this beautiful Spanish SxS sidelock that will take steel. It felt like it was made for me, I mean it just plain fit, and the dealer was willing to do an even money trade as he'd never heard of the brand but knew he could move a Cittori.. Problem was, that the dealer was kind of a used car salesman type and I didn't know the brand either. So, given that I didn't trust the guy not to sell me a good looking POS, I went home to think about it and research. Turns out the Saresqueta was one of a number of extremly good Spanish companies. The shotgun he was willing to trade for my $1200 cittori was one of their "best" grades and worth north of $4k. I came back at opening time two days later, and it was gone.
FQ13 who strongly advises you not to sell that gun. As far as I'm concerned, anything stamped "made in Eibar" is worth a good long look.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello and thank you for your response.  I appreciate your taking the time to post it.

Best to you and yours.

[fightingquaker13]

Hello and thank you for your response.  I appreciate your taking the time to post it.

Best to you and yours.

Please!Thank somebody who can tell you the birthdate and pedigree of your piece. Me, I've just been a convert o Spanish SxS guns. AYA, Arieta etc. I absolutely love them, but since they seem to have dropped the "blue collar" lines in favor of the high end stuff, I just admire from afar. Still, its enough reason for me to jump in and buy a Spanish pistol at a gun show if I found one at a good price, just hoping the same production quality was there.
FQ13

[shooter32]

Thanks for the review, Stephen!

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

The Spanish make some great guns. Nice find. looks like a copy of a Hi-Power and a darn good one.  
FQ13 who strongly advises you not to sell that gun. As far as I'm concerned, anything stamped "made in Eibar" is worth a good long look.

+1 on not selling!!

But FQ, your eyes may need adjusting a little......      

Browning Hi-Power


Star


1911

Looks more like a 1911 (in profile shape and base styling) than a Hi-Power.......but that's just my humble opinion.  

Now to my main point:
As to the post, thank you Mr. Camp for the write up.....very informative and it looks like a real great shooter. Any time we can get solid user input, especially on guns and options not normally looked at, it is much  welcome.

[fightingquaker13]

I'm going to disagree Haz. Its got the beavertail, but the ejection port is straight up Browning. Look again at your photos. (Although its kind of a silly argument since both were designed by the same guy ).
FQ13

[PegLeg45]

I'm going to disagree Haz. Its got the beavertail, but the ejection port is straight up Browning. Look again at your photos. (Although its kind of a silly argument since both were designed by the same guy ).
FQ13

Haz?
I'm not that old.

Look, I was just stating an opinion, having worked a lot with these pistolas.

Take another long look at the slide shape, trigger, frame overall shape and so on. Sans a few minor issues such as the grip safety and the extractor, that slide and frame profile is straight 1911.

You're correct in the major similarities being due in large part to the man behind the designs (however, many now believe JMB got much more credit than he deserved for the Hi-Power...but that is another thread and we have spun this one enough).

[fightingquaker13]

Haz?
I'm not that old.

Look, I was just stating an opinion, having worked a lot with these pistolas.

Take another long look at the slide shape, trigger, frame overall shape and so on. Sans a few minor issues such as the grip safety and the extractor, that slide and frame profile is straight 1911.

You're correct in the major similarities being due in large part to the man behind the designs (however, many now believe JMB got much more credit than he deserved for the Hi-Power...but that is another thread and we have spun this one enough).

Sorry Peg and Haz
Maybe I do need to get my eyesight checked. Or, its just that one drunken old reprobate looks a lot like another, much like one Browning designed semi resembles another. Either way, they tend to work well in a fight, but be expensive to feed, and its damned hard to find the safety.
FQ13

[PegLeg45]

Sorry Peg and Haz
Maybe I do need to get my eyesight checked. Or, its just that one drunken old reprobate looks a lot like another, much like one Browning designed semi resembles another. Either way, they tend to work well in a fight, but be expensive to feed, and its damned hard to find the safety.
FQ13

"I find your lack of faith disturbing..."     


You will turn some day.......