Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A.

The Star Bonifacio Echeverría SA was a specialized company in the manufacture of handguns. Its head office was with Eibar, with the Basque Country, the area armurière of Spain.

The tradition of manufacture of weapons and the international repute of Spanish steel made it possible this industry to cover an enormous market throughout the world. The weapons of the Star belonged to the official armament of the army and the Spanish police officers as well as other countries.

The light machine gun which it manufactured, in each one of its various versions and during all its marketing, offered a weapon complementary to any using body of the short weapons in its usual equipment. The public agencies, police forces and soldiers, always privilege simplicity, the effectiveness and the robustness.

History

Origins, adoption model 1922

At the end of the 19th century, Jose Cruz Echeverría, father of Julián Echeverría and Bonifacio, held a workshop of arms manufacture of manufacture of old weapons.

The two wire will launch out in the manufacture of modern weapons, and Julián Echeverría will patent a system of automatic pistol which they will start to manufacture in 1905 with the construction of the factory. In 1908, they launch on the market a gun based on the model 1900 of the house Mannlicher, with a gauge of 6,35 mm to detachable charger. Julián Echeverría will give up the company to enter to the School of Arsenal while his/her Bonifacio brother will modernize the installations. In 1914, leaves the Modèle 1914 (the name of the model and the year of launching will be always of topicality throughout the existence of the firm), which is mainly an improvement of the preceding model, especially in the ergonomic part. This model will be chosen by the French Army in a version of gauge 7,65 mm called also Automatic pistol Star. The firm will adopt definitively the name of Star like marks for his production.

In 1919 the name of Star is applied to all the weapons manufactured and the marks Izarra and Estrella (Star) will be also recorded.

The first prototype of gun was called Izarra of the Ruby type. Ten thousand of these guns in gauge 32 ACP STATES were delivered to the French military authorities as well as the Modèle 1914 called also Automatic pistol Star manufactured with twenty-three thousand specimens, whose safety of the striker will be taken again twenty years later on semi-automatic gun French Pa Miss 35S.

The end of the First World War involves the cancellation of the French orders (50 000 guns model 1914), which constrained the firm to seek new outlets for trade. It first of all decides to move its installations and is fixed in the district of Torrekua Eibar, in the Basque Country, and starts to also manufacture light machine guns then launches out in the realization of copies of Colt 1911.
In 1920 the series leaves the Modèle has which will equip Guardia Civil, to replace the Campo-Giro officers and the revolvers of the type Smith&Wesson model 7 gauges 11mm of it troop. An minor amount is manufactured of this model which one called also military Modèle. The modification of the safety of the striker on the cylinder head carried out, leaves then a model which copies the M-1911 Colt which will be called Star model 1921. It was ordered 9.017 units of gun Star model 1921 gauges 9 mm Largo which equipped the sergeants as well as the troop.

It was decided thereafter minor modifications such as black bakelite plates, stainless or chromium chargers, a black bronzing of color of war. This new weapon was called Star model 1922. 21.000 guns Star 1922 gauges 9 mm Largo were delivered to Guardia Civil. To the same time the company presented its compact models gauges of it 25 ACP STATES and 32 ACP STATES, of Mannlicher inspiration but without any success; Guardia Civile wanted a more powerful gauge to deal with the confrontations and shootings of the employers' militia and anarchist-trade unionists of powerful trade union CNT (National confederation of work). The police and military services Spanish of the time had, with good reason, a poor regard of the small gauges 6,35mm and 7,65mm employed by the French Army at the time of conflict 1914/1918. They regarded the ammunition as a completely unsuited ammunition of leisure to make the war. The Spaniards as for them, always had as approaches intellectual rational vis-a-vis the adoption of a weapon or an official gauge an analytical, clear-sighted reasoning whose choices in time and the experiment appeared always right. Always just.

The Spanish civil war, the Thirties

The April 13rd 1931, Eibar is aligned with the remainder of the Spanish cities and proclaims the Second Republic. Star follows in the manufacture of weapons and exports the majority of the production, by dedicating a good part to the supplies for the army of various countries.

In 1933, the Firm creates the Modèle B in 9 mm Parabellum, gauges which will become universal. This gun was a clone of the Colt M1911, its success was striking down and the Star company will obtain a world famous which will not be contradicted any more until the suspension of its activities. 27.000 parts gauges of it 9 mm Parabellum were delivered to the Germans during conflict 1939/1945, then, later, this model will equip the federal police with FRG. It will equip also the South Africa which will order large quantities of them and will be in service until in the years 1980. The end of production of the model B goes back to 1985.

In 1934, the Star leaves the series the models H in the gauge 32 ACP STATES and model HN confined in 380ACP, model I and IN. The difference between the two series will be that models I and IN will be guns with more imposing dimensions and with the higher firepower thanks to the two additional cartridges.

The Star H had a great success with export, in Germany in particular, thanks to its price and its quality of manufacture. It will equip the police officers and the members with the political parties. These guns (series H and I) will know an renewed interest during the Spanish civil war because the belligerents missed of all and especially of weapons. Its production will finish in 1941, date on which the series of the Star S will begin.

During the civil war Eibar remains honest with respect to the government of the Republic until this one loses the Basque territories in April 1937. The Star then passes to the hands nationalists and the production is recovered; it will provide in great quantity the armies of the IIIe Reich.
The firm becomes the official supplier of the bodies of safety and the Spanish army as well as good of other countries.

Years according to war

In 1945, the company Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A. launches on the market new Z-62 under-rifles (and Z-63) and later Z-68 and Z-70 (and Z-70B) which will be employed by the police force and the civil guard. For the guns, the 9 mm Parabellum takes the step on the 9 mm Largo.

In 1946 the model gun has is redrawn, an indicator of loading is envisaged, a safety of striker, more a great power of fire. It will be called Super Star has, operation will be the system Browning has rod gauges 9 mm Largo and will be produced of it up to 1989.

In 1942, models for the sporting disciplines are manufactured, they name Star F 22LR and 22 Shorts, Star FS in the same gauges, they are weapons for the sporting event of Manlicher inspiration the gun is milled in the carcass what ensures a very high degree of accuracy, the production will finish in the years 1967. Export is very flourishing on the private market of the the United States and the Canada.

In the years 1950, the Model IR is replaced by the series S whose resemblance to the Colt M1911 is striking but in compact dimensions. Between 1941 and the 1965 models S 380 ACP STATES and IF 32 ACP STATES replace the model H and I. the model Star S in 9 mm short in equipment in will be armed with the air, the Police force Armed, and various public services. It will be exported in great quantities in the United States, in Chrome versions and traditional black bronzing.

The model Star DK or Starfire manufactured in the years 1957 will be a very popular gun there will be even a version reduced with an aluminum carcass of aviation. Its career stopped in 1968 because of tariff barriers called “GUN CONTROL ACT”, a law on the imports of weapons intended to protect manufactures américaines.
For circumvented this law, the company manufactured the parts in Spain and the assembly was done in the state of the Maryland in a company named “Firearms International Seedling”. The Starfire remade career of 1974 to 1977, then the company was repurchased by “Yver-Johnson “who decided to manufacture compact models in 380 ACP STATES. The X-300 pony had a honourable career into 1985/1990.

Model BM and BKM, FIRESTAR and others

In 1976 appeared the model any steel Star BM which made a great career in the police services, Guardia Civil, and in the soldiers. Confined in popular the 9 mm Parabellum it were the certified copy of the excellent model Star B with a shorter length of gun. A reduced version was born, carcass aluminum of named aviation Star BKM. The two weapons were is of color bronze black or chromium plate. The Star factory ceased the production with the profit of the gun FIRESTAR in the gauges 9 mm, .40 SW, .45 ACP STATES.

In 1980, the firm launches the model of Z-84 under-rifle, based on a previous version called Z-75. It differed from the preceding models by the use of material plastic in its realization, which reduced the weight, and a profit of reliability. For the guns the series S develops which with the characteristic to have an aluminum reinforcement, which reduces the weight of them, and a carcass large capacity equipped with a charger of 15 balls.

To replace the series of the BM and BKM, the factory created in 1975 the model Star PD in 9 mm, and 45 ACP STATES, a reliable compact gun and very precis. The famous gunner Jeff Cooper did not dry up praises on this range of guns. The Star ceased his production in 1991 to concentrate on FIRESTAR declined in 3 gauges 9 mm, .40 SW and .45 ACP STATES. In years 1970/1980, to answer the international invitations to tender of renewal of the handguns of Spanish and foreign administrative services, the company Bonifaccio Etcheveria will leave the series the models Star 28, Star 30, Star 31.

It will be the first semi-automatic gun with double-action and carcass great capacity (15 cartridges) equipped with an ambidextrous safety. On the effect of advertisement and a purely technical level, the weapon appeared interesting but it will be different at the time of the series of tests of the US air force. Vis-a-vis a ammunition too surpuissante, the gun will reveal several defects of youth. The firm of Elgoibar will bitterly regret this trap tended by the American factories, which will propose in all full knowledge of the facts of the more solid weapons, capable to support this excess of power but with average qualities.

The Star 28, whose exit in 1983 took place one year after excellent Llama M-82 of the company Llama-Gabilondo there the CIA, was a suitable weapon and led the factory to make modifications necessary on this concept of weapons with a future. It is thus in all logic that in 1985 the exit of the Star 30, charms the " afficionados" of this prestigious factory. Contracts of government contract with Civil Guardia as of other Spanish administrative services were concluded; the national police force as for it will prefer a reduced version, called model Star 30 km No. In 1990, to answer the civil market of North America, a new version any steel named Star 31, a version compacts Star 31 M declined in the three popular gauges in the USA, 9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP STATES were put in production.

In the same year a new model appeared. Equipped with an identical mechanical design, he was a great success thanks to his surprising precision. Equipped with a double action, of completion money and black bronzes, a charger of 7 cartridges of gauge 9 mm this model compact inaugurated the series of the Firestar. Vis-a-vis a large request of the gigantic North-American market, a version reduced will be produced as well as a gun with a great capacity called Firestar more secured by a charger with double column containing 13 cartridges into 9 para. 1991 see the exit of the Firestar M-40 gauges of them .40 SW of a capacity of 6 cartridges. One year later, the range packs with the appearance of the Firestar M-45 of a capacity 6 cartridges.

The guns of the series Firestar will be considered in the United States as being among the best weapons of coil-defense of the market. 1992 see the end of the manufacture of the model Star PD, and the creation of a model to compete with celebrates it Canadian factory of armament Para-Ordnance who is an enormous success on the other side of the Atlantic thanks to the marketing of his leading product, the P14-45. The new model will be called Mégastar; its manufacture any steel will contain a charger of a capacity of 12 cartridges in .45 ACP STATES.

In the years 1994 the firm will produce guns gross capacity Ultrastar, with polymeric carcasses, a double action, bodies of aiming three points to tritium and always ambidextrous safety. A Mégastar 45 ACP STATES will be also produced out of polymer, for the sporting events. It will be also produced under the mark (A) S.T.A.R, transitory fusion of the two companies in bankruptcy Astra-Unceta there the CIA and Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A..

In 1994 a law called, " US BILL" CRIME; stop the imports of weapon temporarily. It obliges the manufacturers to restrict the capacities and capacities of the chargers to a maximum number of 10 cartridges and thus limits the advantage of such weapons. All exports of the three Spanish manufacturers of weapons, Astra-Unceta there the CIA, Llama Gabilondo there the CIA SA, Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A., underwent full whip this change of legislation and showed the shock by severe financial losses. This liability, that they will trail without being able to reabsorb it, will be one of the multiple causes of the closing of these prestigious factories.

Decline and closing

The international conjuncture and the entry of Spain in the European Economic community will change the destinies of this prestigious company. Mr. Bonifacio Echeverría will take his retirement and the new direction, little justified, will lead the company to be involved in debt. The crisis of the years 1990 will be fatal with the Basque sector (Spanish) of the handguns and others.

In the years 1993, in spite of a legal structure of the company combining private and public shareholding, with the implication of the Basque government, the public authorities will not manage to solve the crisis. And thus on May 27th, 1997, the Star Bonifacio Echeverría SA will close his doors.

During 1998, under the impulses of the Basque government, a new company made up of the fusion of Astra Unceta there the CIA and Star Bonifacio Echeverría SA will be born. This new entity will name (A) S.T.A.R, but its duration will be transitory, périclitant at the end of one year. One wearies oneself of all, except understanding, and the gigantic European market does not escape this economic rule from good sense, what good is it to produce goods that the law prohibits to you to buy?

Production & Models

1905 ; patent of a semi-automatic gun of hammerless type gauges 6,35
Modèle 1908: copy Mannlicher Model 1900 in 6,35 mm
Modèle 1914: gun of the type Ruby gauges 25 ACP STATES, improved Mannlicher system gauges 7,65 mm for the French Army.
Izarra : gun of the hammerless type gauges 25 ACP STATES production 1905 - 1906 minor amounts produced. In 32 ACP STATES 1914 up to 1921 of type Ruby for France, order not balanced;
Estrella : Model 1908, production 1908-1914, of guns Mannlicher
Model Star 1919: star mod.1919, cal 7,65mm there 6,35mm, Manlincher system, very compact, known like gun of trade unionist of the CNT (anarchistic) and UGT (socialist).

Model Star 1920: gun of ordinance of Civil Guardia
Model Star 1921: second generation of the guns of ordinances of Civil Guardia. Strong improvement of the model 1920, it has there no more safety of the dog on the cylinder head, the gun is reforged more resistant, a safety charger, a look which resembles the Colt M1911
Modèle STAR A-40 or Model Star 1922: gun semi-automatic with simple action 9 mm Largo, produced between 1921 and 1945, lawful in Civil Guardia.

Model Star 1931:
Model Star IN-1934: cal 9 mm corto, Mannincher system, manufactured for a police use, keeps attack, police officer.
Modèle Star has Super:
Model Star B:
Model Super-Star: gun simple action, product of 1946 to 1983. A great success of the factory.
Model SUPER-S: gun identical to the Super-Star in gauge 380 ACP STATES and of very reduced size.
Model Star BG:
Model Star BKS:
Model Star BM: gun simple action 9 mm Parabellum, produced of 1972 to 1997, model identical to STAR BKM but out of steel. It will be the weapon in equipment of Guardia Civil.
Model Star BKM: gun simple action 9 mm Parabellum, produced of 1972 to 1997, model identical to STAR BM but aluminum carcass of aviation.
Model Star C:
Model Star D:
Model Star E:
Model Star F:
Model Star H:
Model Star I:
Model Star M:
Model Star P:
Model Star S: gun simple action 380 ACP STATES produces of 1940 to 1983, resembles the model has, but in very small dimensions. Model S of use military.
Model Star S: gun simple action 380 ACP STATES produces of 1940 to 1983, resembles the model has, but in very small dimensions. Model S intended for the civil market.
Model Star 28 DA: the first gun of this series for military use, with double action charger gross capacity, confined in 9 para, system Colt-Browning (cylinder head fixed short recoil of the gun), manufacture any steel.
Model Star 30 M: gun identical to the model 28 DA, extractor reinforced and of more reduced size, and the tiny changes on the level of the block percussion. The Star 30 M has a reputation of solidity, and effectiveness.
Model Star 30 MK: the model 30 MK is identical to the model 30 M but the carcass is out of light alloy, weight 900 grams.
Model Star 30 P: gun of the same series any steel, but of more compact dimensions. Even firepower.
Model Star 30 km No: gun identical to the model P, but the carcass is out of light alloy.
Model Star 31 M: the last gun from this great series, 28/30, the gun with the mouth is machined of conical form, the key of cylinder head is of more important size, and it will be confined in several gauges, 9 para, 40 SW, 9X21. Certain series will have silver plated surface treatment, and other stainless.
Model Firestar:
Model Ultrastar:
Model Megastars:
Model Star Model 316:

Machine pistols

Model Si35, RU35 and TN35: These models are different by rate from shooting and their simplified manufacture. They were used during the Spanish civil war.
Model Z-45: Spanish version of the MP40, sold by the Third Reich with Free according to the program Bär in 1942, which manufactured it in the gauge 9mm largo. The Spaniards benefitted from it to improve it, a more powerful ammunition, and a gun with a clever system of disassembling, to be able to change it in the gauge 9 mm Parabellum of the forces of IIIe Reich. The stick and keeps it hand are out of wood, it exists even a version with a dismountable stick like German MP40, by the chargers of 30,20 cartridges accompany it. The weapon was in official equipment in Spain, Cuba, Chile, Portugal and in Saudi Arabia. It was used during the combat of the war of Sidi Ifni.

Model Z-62 and Z-63: Entered in service in 1963, it is distinguished from Z-62 by the ammunition 9mm largo. The Z-63 light machine gun uses as for him the ammunition of 9mm Parabellum. They are identical, except for minor differences in the internal parts, very robust and reliable.
Model Z-70 and Z-70B: The two weapons adopted the ammunition of NATO 9mm Parabellum, Spain will adopt these two models in units of the Spanish Army.
Model Z-84: This light machine gun was to replace the old models which be in equipment in all the military services and police of the Spanish Kingdom. But it was outclassed in its time by excellent the Heckler and Koch MP5. The Z-84 model was produced for the produce market in the gauge 9mm largo. In the troop of the Spanish army this weapon is called “zeta”.

Code year of manufacture

Since the 1927 all Spanish weapons, tested on the official bench of test of Eibar, are marked or engraved in general on the carcass by letters which represent the year of manufacture.

Table of correspondences letters years of manufacture.

External bonds

http://star-firearms.com/cgi-bin/gm1/index.shtml

http://9mmlargo.com/

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