Astra Firearms and Selected Competitors is an encyclopedic reference, truly the “final word” on Astra’s firearms. Ranging from the earliest Eibar-type pistols and Campo-Giros to the most modern guns, each of Astra’s models is examined in extraordinary detail. Previously unpublished information covers M300s delivered to the Carabineros, Spanish Navy and Air Force, and there is a far more comprehensive section on the M400s. Many will be drawn to the M900 series chart that references most original destinations! As concerns the WWII years, new tables detail the M200 and M300 Condor Legion guns, their procuring bases and, in some cases, the signatory officer. Pistols made after WWII are treated in the same methodical manner as Astra changed its production to meet commercial demand. Leaving no stone unturned, the book also covers Astra’s revolvers and shotguns. Who would have guessed that Astra made nearly half a million revolvers? As with the pistols, each variation has been carefully detailed as to its historical import and corresponding production. “Selected Competitors” reviews the companies and products that competed with Astra. Just a few of the highlights include a review of ECIA’s pistols, Beistegui Hermanos’ C96-type guns, and Chinese copies. Astra’s M900 arch rival, the Mauser C96, has its own comprehensive chapter as well, lending a completeness that is seldom approached by other books. Noted author/collector Joseph J. Schroeder, Jr. commented, “This is one book that any collector with a serious interest in self-loading pistols must have, even if he’s not an Astra fan!” Author/publisher Brad Simpson cited Astra Firearms and Selected Competitors as “one of the finest reference books on the market.” A must for any serious collector or arms historian, the updated documentation and phenomenal photography set a new milestone in presentation. Specifications: hardbound, slightly oversized (9¼” x 11¼”) and 816 pages. Nearly 2700 high-resolution images with most in spectacular color.

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