Astra 38 special revolver

Ramtuff · March 14, 2011, 10:06 AM

Hi, Ya'll: I have a Astra 38 special revolver that I am told was Spanish made, it look just like a S&W. I have been trying to find out the history of this pistol which I think was made back in the 20's. can anyone help? Thanks Ramtuff

Winchester_73 · March 14, 2011, 10:19 AM

How about pics, a serial number, etc? You gave us way too little info. Pics would be best.

osallent · March 14, 2011, 07:57 PM

How did you come across this Astra? You don't see too many Spanish firearms here in the US. I think I've only ever seen 2 Spanish mousers at the range, and one of my friends has a Star and a Llama (semi-auto pistols).

peterbiltpro · April 29, 2011, 08:08 PM

Thats a good question cause i resently bought one and i was wondering if it from spain as well but it has markings like 38 SPL CTG., C.A.I Georgia UT. and yet i still have no clue if its from Spain or made here in the USA. But its a nice little Revolver I like it.

Winchester_73 · April 29, 2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

I think I've only ever seen 2 Spanish mousers at the range

But how does something "mouse"?

Bill DeShivs · April 29, 2011, 10:47 PM

There are millions of Spanish guns in the US!
Astra guns were made in Spain. CAI was an importer.
Without pictures it is just a good guess, but my bet is both of these guns were made after WW2.

James K · May 1, 2011, 06:45 PM

A bunch of Spanish revolvers were imported in the 1920's and 1930's and were, almost without exception, junk. AFAIK, none were made by Astra, which was not making revolvers at the time, and has always made reasonably good firearms.

The Astra revolvers imported after WWII, notably the Cadix, were of good quality, appear to be well made and seem reliable.

Pictures would help determine just what is involved.

Jim

JiminTexas · May 6, 2011, 10:37 PM

If it is still in one piece you can assume that it is unfired. The Astra revolvers have a bad reutation and it was well earned. I have owned two in my lifetime and that was three too many. One blew a chamber out of the cylander and the other developed such a barrel bulge that I thought that it was pregnant.

RJay · May 6, 2011, 11:26 PM

You know you are getting old when people start posting about strange exotic guns such as Astra's and LLamas and are they really from Spain

Sarge · May 6, 2011, 11:37 PM

You know you're really getting old when-

1. Someone posts about an Astra revolver,

2. you have seen them and fired them,

3. you really don't remember them being all that bad.

Astra made a big .45 Colt DA and I really wish I had bought one. I have a friend with one, and he is entirely happy with it.

No, they're not a Smith.

gyvel · May 7, 2011, 04:39 AM

Something I have seen at least a half a dozen of in my lifetime are Astra .357 revolvers with split forcing cones. A couple were bad enough to split the frame open where the barrel screws in.

I just tried to get what usable parts I could out of them and the rest of the gun went to file 13.

March 14, 2011, 10:06 AM	#1
Ramtuff Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Posts: 1	Astra 38 special revolver Hi, Ya'll: I have a Astra 38 special revolver that I am told was Spanish made, it look just like a S&W. I have been trying to find out the history of this pistol which I think was made back in the 20's. can anyone help? Thanks Ramtuff

March 14, 2011, 10:19 AM	#2
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	How about pics, a serial number, etc? You gave us way too little info. Pics would be best. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

March 14, 2011, 07:57 PM	#3
osallent Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2011 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 116	How did you come across this Astra? You don't see too many Spanish firearms here in the US. I think I've only ever seen 2 Spanish mousers at the range, and one of my friends has a Star and a Llama (semi-auto pistols). __________________ Thank God for Guns!

April 29, 2011, 08:08 PM	#4
peterbiltpro Junior Member Join Date: April 29, 2011 Location: I live in Orr MN Posts: 1	Astra .38 Special Thats a good question cause i resently bought one and i was wondering if it from spain as well but it has markings like 38 SPL CTG., C.A.I Georgia UT. and yet i still have no clue if its from Spain or made here in the USA. But its a nice little Revolver I like it.

April 29, 2011, 10:47 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	There are millions of Spanish guns in the US! Astra guns were made in Spain. CAI was an importer. Without pictures it is just a good guess, but my bet is both of these guns were made after WW2. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

May 1, 2011, 06:45 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	A bunch of Spanish revolvers were imported in the 1920's and 1930's and were, almost without exception, junk. AFAIK, none were made by Astra, which was not making revolvers at the time, and has always made reasonably good firearms. The Astra revolvers imported after WWII, notably the Cadix, were of good quality, appear to be well made and seem reliable. Pictures would help determine just what is involved. Jim

May 6, 2011, 10:37 PM	#8
JiminTexas Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2010 Posts: 149	If it is still in one piece you can assume that it is unfired. The Astra revolvers have a bad reutation and it was well earned. I have owned two in my lifetime and that was three too many. One blew a chamber out of the cylander and the other developed such a barrel bulge that I thought that it was pregnant.

May 6, 2011, 11:26 PM	#9
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	You know you are getting old when people start posting about strange exotic guns such as Astra's and LLamas and are they really from Spain

May 6, 2011, 11:37 PM	#10
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	You know you're really getting old when- 1. Someone posts about an Astra revolver, 2. you have seen them and fired them, 3. you really don't remember them being all that bad. Astra made a big .45 Colt DA and I really wish I had bought one. I have a friend with one, and he is entirely happy with it. No, they're not a Smith. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

May 7, 2011, 04:39 AM	#11
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Something I have seen at least a half a dozen of in my lifetime are Astra .357 revolvers with split forcing cones. A couple were bad enough to split the frame open where the barrel screws in. I just tried to get what usable parts I could out of them and the rest of the gun went to file 13.