Astra Model 900

The Astra Model 900 is one of many Spanish copies of the German Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol. It shares the same caliber, magazine capacity, and holster type and is generally very similar to the German handgun.

Machine-Pistol Variants
The Basque- manufactured Astra-Unceta y Cia SA Astra 901 is a compact machine-pistol, with a magazine capacity of 10 7.63x25mm Mauser cartridges, which is a considerably smaller capacity than is standard for a machine pistol. The next model, the Astra 902, was provided with a fixed magazine of 20 cartridges and with a lengthened barrel, and Astra 903 had a removable magazine instead of the usual fixed one. Astra later added a mechanism to slow the rate of fire and make the gun more manageable (to an extent) when being fired on full-auto or burst modes, calling the model with this the Model 904. The Model 904 is comparable to the German Mauser 712 'Schnellfeuer' Broomhandle pistols, having a detachable magazine, automatic fire capabilities, and general appearance.

The Astra Model 904 was produced in a 9 mm Largo variant, the Astra Model 904E, which was identical to the Model 904 in all other respects.

Production and Distribution

 * Astra 900: 21,000 weapons from 1927 to 1941 for China, Latin America, Spanish Republicans, and the Wehrmacht (1,050 delivered in 1943).
 * Astra 901: 1655 weapons in 1928, destined mainly for China.
 * Astra 902: 7075 weapons in 1928 to 1933. Some delivered to China, others delivered to the Wehrmacht in 1943.
 * Astra HOPE: 500 weapons made in 1929.
 * Astra 903: 3082 weapons in 1932 to 1934. Same users as the 902.
 * Astra 904: 90+ weapons in 1934.
 * Astra F: 1126 weapons in 1936. Issued to the Guardia Civil during Spanish civil war.
 * Astra E: 548 weapons assembled between 1949, 1951 and 1961 from stored parts. Reserved for export to Egypt, India, Iraq and Pakistan.
 * 8 Astra 900 and 12 Astra 902, as well 9 Astra 400, all rich decorated, was presented to Joseph Stalin during Civil War in 1937.

Users

 * 🇪🇬 egypt
 * 🇮🇳 india
 * 🇮🇶 iraq
 * undefined
 * undefined
 * 🇪🇸 spain