POTD: Request Granted – The Star Model S 380 ACP

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Star Model S was a compact .380 ACP pistol developed in 1935 at the request of the Spanish military for a more practical version of Star’s 1922 Model D pocket pistol. Still small, the Model S had an 8-round magazine and full-sized grip compared to the diminutive Model D. Production was delayed until 1939 by the Spanish Civil War, but once underway the Model S was purchased in large numbers by Spanish police and military forces, including the Air Force. Despite its widespread official adoption, most people mistook the Model S for a civilian pistol. It served for decades with Spanish forces and was also exported. But strict US import laws forced illegally imported surplus examples to be modified, landing the importer in legal trouble. Overall, the Model S represented Star’s successful attempt to scale up their pocket pistol into a military and police sidearm.

“Manufacturer: Star

Model: S

Type: Pistol

Gauge: 380

Barrel: 4 inch round

Finish: blue

Grip: plastic”

Lot 820: Three Star Semi-Automatic Pistols – B) Star Model S Super Pistol. (n.d.-c). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved March 3, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2058/820/three-star-semiautomatic-pistols.

Sam.S

Writer | TheFirearmBlog Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.