What happened to Star firearms?

B

BIGSLOWHEAVY

New member
I always had good luck with the Star pistols and I currently seeing them dirt cheap. I would really like to own another Star but I am worried about parts and magazine availability. I noticed that Firestorm is selling something that looks like the Firestars of old. Did this company or another buy Star or what. I would really like to know what happened to Star and whether or not it would be a good Idea to buy another one.
 
Anyone remember the early model Star
"Starlight" 9m/m, that sold for around
$125.00 NIB in the early 70's? Haven't
seen one in year's, and never owned one;
but they were nice looking 9's.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
I have a .40 Star Firestar and love it.Never had any problems at all.I have not seen any around for a while though.
Well made pistol!! :)
 
I own the Star M45 and owned the 9mm.They feel perfect in my hand,although they are heavy.I feel they are the equivalent of $500 single action 45's,in terms of accuracy,because like the CZ ,they have full length rails.The accuracy of both my stars has been excellent.M&M Parts (Mike) has many parts and was a Star armorer.703 739 2150.
tracer
 
THE STAR AND THE ASTRA PISTOLS...

BOTH BRANDS WERE EASILY WORLD CLASS PISTOLS FROM SPAIN. BOTH BRANDS WENT BELLY UP ABOUT THE SAME TIME IN A MERGER FRENZY THAT TRASHED SEVERAL SPANISH GUN COMPANIES. THE SPANISH GOV'T WAS INVOLVED IN THIS AND SOME LEFTISTS IN A CHANGE OF GOV'T REALLY EFFED BOTH OF THESE OLD LINE SPANISH COMPANIES ROYALLY.
I'VE NEVER OWNED A BAD STAR NOR ASTRA PISTOL. JUST BOUGHT A STAR SS 380 NEW IN THE BOX FOR 150 BUCKS THAT SHOOTS LIKE A 22 TARGET PISTOL.
WHOOPS, FORGOT TO ADD THIS: I HAVE HEARD RECENTLY THAT BOTH COMPANIES MAY ARISE LIKE THE PHOENIX FROM THEIR ASHES.
 
A friend of mine has a little Star 9mm pistol with the Stravel (sp?) finish that is darn nice. And those Megastar 10mm pistols were real monsters... :eek:
 
On of my first handgun purchases was the Megastar in .45ACP. Excellent gun. The only problem I ever had with was when using extremely anemic reloads that I bought from the range. The gun would catch the brass. I tried my best to find a load or combination of loads that the gun would not eat flawlessly. I even found that it would feed empty shells placed backwards in the magazine! Of course it was one helluva big gun that was in dire need of a diet. If I'm not mistaken, It weighed 47oz empty. However, the extra weight sure did soak up the recoil. Someone asked if it was my CCW and I just had to laugh. I am 6'4" 280 and never found a place to hide such a gun. Even if I had, everyone could have seen that I was hiding something by the way I leaned from the weight. Definitely not a carry piece, but one of the best guns I've ever fired. Hopefully the will make a comeback.
 
Star PD

Although I'm famillliar with the .45, completely ignorant of a 9mm version. Didn't even know it was available that way.
 
I have a Star Model D .380 (imported by Firearms International in Washington DC, which apparently originally started out as a Colt/Star joint venture, later Iver Johnson bought Colt's interest) that my father bought 25 years ago. It is a fine little pistol, very comparable to the Colt Govt .380 as it is basically a small 1911, SA locked breech design. Very comfortable and pretty accurate. It is getting tough to find parts however...
 
FScott-

Hey, I too have one; but must be the later model. Iver Johnson "Pony". Occasionally see them for sale, also mags.
For parts, I've used Gun Parts Corp., also known as Numrich?
 
Citizen - thanks for the heads up on parts! That little pistol fits my hand very well, but is in need of a new rear sight and probably could use new springs.

From what I understand the Iver Johnson Pony, Star Model D, and Firearms International Model D are all the same pistol.

I like everything about it and would like to carry it but still suffer from a SA cocked and locked aversion, and would prefer to not have to rack the slide in the event of a real need.

Same issue with my Browning Inglis HP.
 
I owned a Star PD and the PD's were made in .45acp only, the 9mm Stars were the Star BM. I had one of those too and it was a nice single stack 9mm, with a very pretty nickle finish.

7th
 
The Megastar is a great well built and accuracte pistol. Americans just went wonder 9 crazy with high 17-round hi caps killing the Star line off since they are quite heavy guns.

Star is apparently gearing up again.

Star_Megastar.gif


I had a blued Megastar in 45 ACP with a pair of 13-round hi caps factory and still wish I had kept it.
 
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