Soviet-refinished WWII Star pistols?

carguychris · July 6, 2012, 01:49 PM

Howdy all,

At the risk of letting the cat out of the bag, AIM Surplus is advertising WWII Bulgarian-contract Star Model B pistols for $399/ea + $10 hand select. Catch is, they are Soviet (Russian) capture guns that were refinished postwar.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F3StarB

I've been thinking about getting a Star pistol for a while, but I'm a little nervous about getting a Soviet capture pistol because (a) it's refinished and (b) the Soviets famously liked to mix-and-match parts from different guns during this process, which sometimes results in improper functioning, particularly on a design that requires some degree of hand fitment.

I would be buying this pistol as an occasional fun shooter that has some degree of collector value, NOT because I see this as an investment, or because I specifically "Must Have" a Bulgarian or Nazi WWII Star. That being said, perhaps I would be better off with one of the generic and commonplace $250-$300 vintage C&R Euro police trade-ins that have all-original matching parts BUT lack the pedigree.

What are everyone's thoughts? Feel free to share random vintage Star purchase stories and pictures.

irish52084 · July 6, 2012, 09:12 PM

I don't know anything about the hand fitting being an issue, but those are good looking pistols. I hope they stay in stock for a while, I may "need" one.

Hardcase · July 6, 2012, 09:53 PM

I had given it a little thought, but my concern is that since they only show the left side of the gun, the right side may have a gigantic import billboard. As a shooter, that doesn't mean anything, but as a collector, I wonder what that does to the value. I decided that I just wasn't excited about the gun, so I never followed up.

You can give AIM a call and they'll tell you if they're numbers matching guns and what the import markings look like.

July 6, 2012, 01:49 PM	#1
carguychris Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 7,523	Soviet-refinished WWII Star pistols? Howdy all, At the risk of letting the cat out of the bag, AIM Surplus is advertising WWII Bulgarian-contract Star Model B pistols for $399/ea + $10 hand select. Catch is, they are Soviet (Russian) capture guns that were refinished postwar. http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F3StarB I've been thinking about getting a Star pistol for a while, but I'm a little nervous about getting a Soviet capture pistol because (a) it's refinished and (b) the Soviets famously liked to mix-and-match parts from different guns during this process, which sometimes results in improper functioning, particularly on a design that requires some degree of hand fitment. I would be buying this pistol as an occasional fun shooter that has some degree of collector value, NOT because I see this as an investment, or because I specifically "Must Have" a Bulgarian or Nazi WWII Star. That being said, perhaps I would be better off with one of the generic and commonplace $250-$300 vintage C&R Euro police trade-ins that have all-original matching parts BUT lack the pedigree. What are everyone's thoughts? Feel free to share random vintage Star purchase stories and pictures. __________________ "Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules... MARK IT ZERO!!" - Walter Sobchak

July 6, 2012, 09:53 PM	#3
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	I had given it a little thought, but my concern is that since they only show the left side of the gun, the right side may have a gigantic import billboard. As a shooter, that doesn't mean anything, but as a collector, I wonder what that does to the value. I decided that I just wasn't excited about the gun, so I never followed up. You can give AIM a call and they'll tell you if they're numbers matching guns and what the import markings look like. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

July 6, 2012, 09:12 PM	#2
irish52084 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2011 Location: Washington, the state, not that "other" one. Posts: 514	I don't know anything about the hand fitting being an issue, but those are good looking pistols. I hope they stay in stock for a while, I may "need" one.