New guy, New to me Star 9mm

[Kev]

Just thought I'd introduce myself here on the board.
Been shooting my whole life, from my Dad cocking his old Daisy #25 for me because I was too young to work the action to shooting his WW2 Remington Rand GI issue 45 acp at the age of 12.

My most recent addition this week was a surplus Star Model B Super, Israeli Police surplus online for $260.00 so I couldn't pass it up.
I removed the mag safety it was binding the mag and I honestly don't care for a mag safety.

Here she is in all her 42 year old glory, a beater for sure but she shoots very well.



Took me 3 rounds to get the feel of her..



Well thanks for looking, I hope to be of value to the boards

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Welcome to TFL! Hope you find the forums here interesting and enjoyable.

Though am vaguely familiar with the star 9mm, Israel has made some fine guns.
Not to mention innovative ones. Once again welcome and thanks for sharing.

[dahermit]

Though am vaguely familiar with the star 9mm, Israel has made some fine guns.

Uhhhh. Stars were made in Spain.
Nevertheless, I had a 9MM Star FireStar for awhile. I liked the very small size (no bigger that a PPK), and the fact that it was all steel, albeit it was rather heavy for its size. A neat little gun, too bad Star went out of business.

[Kev]

Thanks for the welcome Wrecking Crew..

Star has (had, past tense) been around since 1902 or so..Made in Spain.
They even made firearms for Nazi Germany during WW2 since they were a neutral Country.

This particular 1911 clone was purchased by Israeli Police under contract in 1971..

I had always had a soft spot for these pistols, I remember walking the big gun shows as a kid when they were about $100.00...

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Uhhhh. Stars were made in Spain.

Gos to show what i mean by vague...lol. Thanks for the correction. I have always assumed they were Israeli made guns and never new they were imports.
Good to know.

My first encounter was in the early 80's. I was still a teenager and a freind of my brother had one. Put a few rounds through it. Remember thinking it was heavier than it looked at the time.

Anyways thanks for the share guys!

[Walt Sherrill]

Originally Posted by kev

This particular 1911 clone was purchased by Israeli Police under contract in 1971..

Don't think the Star Model B is a 1911 clone, but it does LOOK like a 1911.

It shares a similar barrel link design and barrel bushing, but internally, there are quite a few differences. On the definitive STAR-focused website, the author calls it a "1911-inspired" design. Here's a link, with the OP may find useful.

(Later note: a comment below got me thinking... Perhaps I was thinking of the Super B? I don't remember the B models I've owned - including one with Waffenampt -- as having bushings and barrel links. The exploded diagram I've looked at may be mis-marked and is for a Super B. But memory isn't one of the things that works best for me.)

http://star-firearms.com/firearms/guns/b/index.shtml

.

[Kev]

Hey Walt I agree 100%..Perhaps "clone" is too literal...
I am kind of a research geek and when I get into something I tick off my woman with "research" hours in front of a puter screen..lol

Having been shooting a Remington GI issue 45 for most of my life I was instantly aware of the differences, but I have to say I love the hinged trigger on this Star over the pull back trigger of the Remington. I am guessing it breaks with 3 lbs of pressure on it, very nice for an old gun.

I have even found the owners manual in pdf form if there are any future Star owners that may need it

[MarkDozier]

I see a project gun that would a good deep purple cerk-a-cote.

[AirCool65]

Star made some great pistols and in general they're under appreciated here in the USA. I've got a Star Model BM myself and it's solid and reliable. They may be inexpensive, but they're certainly not cheaply made.

[Kev]

I hear ya Aircool65!
Although I am seeing prices rise in both private sector and online.
That might be because of what's going on in general with guns and ammo.
This was 260.00 and worth every penny IMHO.
Similar surplus Stars have jumped almost 100 bucks in the last few months.

I am tempted to get another as a JIC parts gun.

[KyJim]

I have a Star Model B Super. Ergonomic, good trigger and accurate. It is not a 1911 clone. A 1911 uses a barrel link and the Star uses a linkless system similar to a Hi-Power. The Model B Super has a takedown lever rather than a slide stop which has to be removed like a 1911. I believe the earlier Model B pistols had a slide stop that had to be removed. The Model B Super does have a bushing which has to be removed to field strip the pistol.

[LarryFlew]

Love my star B, look, feel and shooting, it's great. Bit hefty cost on spare mags but for now 2 is enough. Also a lot of different mags for similar guns so you need to do your homework when buying them.

[Kev]

You are 100% on the mags Larry..
It came with a bastardized model B mag.
The floor plate is bent down slightly at the mag well in order for it to seat fully.
What is cool is that it is a 9 shot mag..
I am going to grind off that lip on this mag so it doesn't protrude and look fugly like it does. You can see in the pic I posted.
I did buy a correct 8 round mag with the wide floor plate that sits flush with the mag well. $42.00 by you add shipping.
Both mags were a PITA to remove. I removed the mag safety (took 5 minutes) and now either mag flies out smooth as butter.

The weight is perfect to me, makes the 9mm feel like a 32 if even that!

[Ben Dover]

A good rugged old service pistol. Taken care of, it will last a long time.

[erob3]

I think you will find the overwhelming opinion on the Star Model B, and Star pistols as a whole, are going to be positive. I had a Model BS - the "S" represents a mag safety - it was great. If you have not ever seen the movie Pulp Fiction, or it's been a while, pay close attention to the chromed pistols Samuel Jackson and John Travolta take out of the trunk of the car in the first 30 min or so of the movie....both are Star model B's. Just a useless fact.

[Kev]

I actually knew that Erob..So my Super is a plain old B now that I removed the mag safety...lol
Here is the actual gun from PF..I need these grips to replicate a pistol my father had and I learned to shoot on..



Hollywood uses a lot of Stars since they feed blanks more reliably than the usual 1911 pistols they have on hand..

[Jacobie]

U love the look and feel of them, had a firestar in .40, until it slide fired one day on me. Promptly got rid of it.

[Webleymkv]

They even made firearms for Nazi Germany during WW2 since they were a neutral Country.

Actually, the Spanish sold guns to both sides during WWII. IIRC, the Germans particularly liked the Astra 900 because it was a clone of the Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" that they were already familiar with while the British preferred Stars due to the similarities to the 1911's that they got from us and were thus familiar with.

[Kev]

Just came back from the range, my wife doesn't care for it but shot it fairly well for a newbie.
For the money spent, I think it's the best deal going right now.